JBL LSR305 Review – STILL A CLASSIC?

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Hi friend and welcome!

Do you want to take your studio game to the next level? Ever thought about how much better your compositions would sound with some better gear? Well read on and check out my JBL LSR 305 review. These puppies pack quite a punch!

Before we get started, grab a snack, sit back and relax because…

You’ve come to the right place!

What I will bring you in this review

1. Ratings/Price
2. Specifications
3. Introduction
4. Summary
5. Pros
6. Cons
7. What you will need?
8. Consensus/Conclusion
9. Final Word

Now without further ado, let’s get rolling!

JBL LSR 305

Price: Check Amazon! | Check Sweetwater! | Check B&H! | Check eBay!

Specifications

• Powered: Yes
• Power Configuration: Bi-amped
• LF Driver Size: 5″
• HF Driver Size: 1″
• HF Driver Type: Soft Dome
• LF Driver Power Amp: 41W
• HF Driver Power Amp: 41W
• Total Power: 82W
• Frequency Range: 43Hz-24kHz
• Crossover Frequency: 1725Hz
• Maximum Peak SPL: 108 dB
• Enclosure Type: Ported
• Input Types: 1x XLR, 1x 1/4″ TRS. What is XLR?
• Height: 11.75″
• Width: 7.28″
• Depth: 9.88″
• Weight: 10.12 lbs.

Introduction

Like you, I needed a good mixing/reference solution and waited quite a long time before deciding to purchase any kind of monitor!

• Related: What are studio monitors?

I don’t really know why.

Perhaps I was intimidated by all the technical jargon that goes along with higher-end audio equipment.

For the longest time, I used my computer’s internal Soundcard (whichever laptop I was using at the time), and my mixes suffered.

It wasn’t until I purchased the Sony MDR 7506s that my beat quality improved tenfold.

• Check out some of my Beats!

However, it is common knowledge that you shouldn’t rely on headphones alone to mix.

With that in mind, my next task was figuring out which monitors got the best reviews, packed a hefty punch, remained flat enough to mix on, and were also easy on the wallet.

I scoured the internet and read as much as I could.

I read every single Amazon review, then went to as many other sites as possible.

I literally went back and forth for weeks before finally arriving at a decision.

I had never heard of the name JBL before, so I put extra care into making sure there was a universal consensus about how good these are.

To put it bluntly, the hype was real.

It’s almost like buying your first smartphone.

You can never go back to a flip phone or even a slide phone for that matter.

The convenience of a smartphone is priceless in today’s fast-paced society.

Likewise,

I could never go back to laptop speakers, standard computer speakers, or even a pair of Logitechs!

The difference in sound quality is night and day.

They are everything I wanted and needed, and then some.

Are these the best ever? No, of course not.

Are they the best entry-level monitors? I would say so.

Are they the best bang for the buck?

Well, the Presonus Eris e3.5s may have something to say about that, but I’d venture to say the 305s will probably be your first really good pair of speakers/monitors.

Summary

The LSR 305 is by all accounts an entry-level studio monitor meant to satisfy the needs of the producer/engineer looking for exceptional, reference-level sound quality at an affordable price.

They are active, meaning they don’t need a separate amp to power.

• Related: Passive vs. Active Speakers: Which Are Best For YOU?

They do however need AC (alternating current) power.

AC simply means the power frequently reverses direction many times per second.

The standard is 60Hz, with hertz being your typical unit of measure.

Do you want a hertz doughnut?

Basically, just plug these bad boys into the outlet from your JBLs and shut up. Just kidding 😀

These monitors come with two power cables, as each needs its own power source.

Basically, they are MONO speakers and need 2 separate cables running from the back into whatever you are using to receive and transmit the signal.

Some common sources and DACs (Digital to Analog interfaces/mixers) that are used with the JBLs:

An audio interface.

I  previously owned a Scarlett 2i2 and had to sell it due to incompatibility issues with Windows 10 after I upgraded laptops. What does an audio interface do?

I loved my time with it and highly recommend the 3rd generation model.

Right now I have the Universal Audio Volt 2 and also love it.

The 2i2 was a beast of a unit and served me well for a long time; connecting to the JBLs magnificently. The 305s use 2 balanced TRS line output jacks and go really well with the combo balanced TRS to XLR cables.

You could also go with the Scarlett solo, which has unbalanced RCA outputs rather than balanced TRS. TRS vs. TS.

Update: The Scarlett Solo 3rd Generation has balanced TRS Outputs and is cheaper than a 2i2 if you only need one input on the front.

• A mixer. An entry-level option would be the Behringer Xenyx 802. Gets pretty nice reviews!

I will outline some different connections in the “What you will need” section below.

Pros

• Amazing detail from bass to the high end.
  
• Impressively flat and neutral, with just a touch of warmth.
• Nice stereo imaging. Positioning these at the right spot makes them almost disappear if you will.
• Bass reaches down to 43Hz.
• They breathe life into old songs, allowing you to hear those subtle nuances that were previously absent. They are very accurate.
  
• Startling clarity.
• Great at capturing highs; can really be pushed to max volume and remain crystal clear.
• Perfect for mixing, but also work well for general listening as all-purpose speakers.
• Rock-solid build.
• Image control waveguide technology proves to be really beneficial in producing pristine, crystal clear sound, and a wider stereo image. This same technology was used in JBL’s higher-end model monitors (upwards of $20k).

Cons

• No protective grills on the woofer.
• The bass is ported on the back, which may present problems if your monitors are up near a wall or corner of the room. If this is the case, you should invest in some acoustic foam (mentioned earlier).
• Tweeter material seems fragile. I did gently touch my finger on it and can confirm this. Just be extra careful I suppose. I haven’t had an issue with them, however.
• Some say they are too bulky and look ugly. While I can see the bulky complaint, they aren’t ugly in my opinion. They are kind of big, however, so be aware if you are really strapped for space.

What you will need?

You will need some sort of receiver, interface, or mixer (as mentioned above), acting as a mediator/middleman of sorts, to transmit signals between the computer and the speakers.

• Related: Bit Depth vs. Sample Rate – Or how your computer processes sound
• Related: Beginners Guide: What is a USB DAC?

As for cables,

you may not necessarily need all of the following cables.

This is just to kind of get you started and show that there are a lot of ways to connect speakers to an interface or mixer!

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Some different options (either/or):

Scarlett Solo (3rd Generation):

• Balanced TRS to XLR (my preferred option)

For the Scarlett 2i2:

• 2 balanced TRS to XLR cables (my preferred option)
• 2 balanced TRS to TRS cables

For the Behringer UCA 202:

• dual 1/4 in. TS to dual RCA

For a typical mixer:

• XLR female to dual XLR male

For your iPad:

• 3.5 mm TRS to Dual XLR

For your home audio receiver:

Your receiver basically takes the audio in from your CD player, turntable, etc., and releases it out again, amplifying the sound out of the JBLs. (not unlike the other setups).

If you plan to use these in a home theater setup, you will need to check the manual (or the back) of your receiver to see which audio-out cable you will need. A common one would be:

Dual 1/4″ TS to Dual RCA.

The RCA cables would run from your receiver to each of the monitors.

You would use the RCA outs on your receiver, as they are meant to send a signal to another device (in this case the monitors).

Placement

They are near-field monitors, meaning that they sound best when you’re near them!

Sounds obvious, but the farther you are away, the less impact the sound has.

This is especially true for the higher frequencies that lose a bit of energy at a greater distance.

That said, you want them both facing diagonally toward you, creating a 3-point equilateral triangle.

They will also sound much better at ear level.

This means you should invest in some stands (if space allows), build 2 simple shelving units on the wall, or MacGyver something to get them elevated to around ear level.

All of this really depends on your studio space.

You’ll know you have them situated properly when you sit squarely in the middle of both speakers and close your eyes.

The Soundstage will open up and you’ll be able to place instruments and voices better.

The sound should also feel like it’s coming from the center, back a bit, and/or up, with sound also coming from the sides – if the engineer/producer did a good job of spacing things out.

How the music is imaged depends entirely on the song and can vary from track to track.

Acoustics

Being that the bass is ported on the rear, you may want to consider some Acoustic Sound Treatment in the form of a couple of acoustic foam panels and try to place the monitors as far away from the wall as you can.

It’s impossible to get a perfect sound in a bedroom, but taking this extra step will help the sound coming out of the JBLs immensely.

If you plan on having these sitting on your desk, some panels will go a long way in improving the overall sound coming out of them.

That said, I actually do not have any treatment and still love the sound of the monitors.

If you can’t invest in panels at the moment, just make sure to place them far enough away from the wall.

Setup

All you have to do is purchase:

1. The JBL LSR305
2. A Focusrite Scarlett Solo
3. TRS to XLR balanced cables (my preferred option)

Just plug the TRS ends into the back of the Solo, and connect the other XLR ends to each of the monitors (right and left).

All that’s left to do now is connect the Solo to your PC’s USB power, and the 305’s to standard AC power.

Now you’re ready for music! It’s that simple 🙂

Consensus/Conclusion

JBL’s LSR305 is a great monitor that excels in both mixing and reference applications.

They can also be used as all-purpose computer speakers, and do quite fantastic in this regard.

They provide a decently flat, honest representation of your mix, and are the best resting at ear level.

The only glaring complaint is that they’re ugly (to some people like my friend David). I personally happen to love the look of them. 

The rest of the cons that I pointed out are rather nit-picky but had to be addressed.

Final Word

If you want to be blown away by the sound, the LSR 305s are definitely the ticket.

They provide a virtually unmatched reference-quality sound at this price point, and by most accounts blow everything else out of the water.

The reviews on Amazon speak for themselves!

Learn More:

 

 

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Well, that’s about it for today folks! I hope you’ve enjoyed my JBL LSR 305 review and came away with some valuable insight.

Questions? Comments? Requests? Did I miss the mark on something? Please let me know down below or Contact me!!

If you love what I do here and want to support the blog and channel in a more personal way, check me out on Patreon and discover all the value I have to offer you.

Just want to make a one-time donation? Click here. Your support is greatly appreciated and helps keep this site running!

Any experience with the 305? I’d love to hear from you. Until next time…

All the best and God bless,

 

 

-Stu

[Xtr@Ba$eHitZ]

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