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DJ Tech Reviews

JBL 306P MKII

A bi-amped 6.5-inch monitor with deep bass and a wide sweet spot for the money, but an audible hiss at idle.

JBL 306P MkII studio monitor, front three-quarter view

Photos: JBL Professional

All retailers and the price history

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90%

of 10 reviews recommend it4.5/5 from 44 Thomann owners

See reviews
Best for
Home studios and DJs who want fuller bass than a 5-inch monitor gives.
Skip it if
You work in a very quiet room, or need sub-bass without a subwoofer.

The Internet’s Opinion

From 10 professional reviews and 31 owner reviews: a fair amount of evidence.

Nine of ten professional reviews recommend it, and owners at Thomann and Guitar Center give the same reasons: clear, detailed sound, deep bass for a 6.5-inch woofer and a price few rivals match. The recurring reservations are a hiss you can hear when nothing plays, a narrow dip around the crossover, and a few units that cut out or drop into standby.

9 recommend1 mixed0 avoid

What people praise

  • Clear, detailed sound that lets you hear into a mix
  • Hard to beat for the price
  • Deep, punchy bass for its size
Show 3 more
  • Wide stereo image and a broad sweet spot
  • Boundary EQ and HF Trim switches help it fit the room
  • Solidly built and good-looking

What to know first

  • Audible hiss or hum when nothing is playing
  • Narrow dip around the 1.4 to 1.6 kHz crossover
  • Bass falls away below about 50 Hz; sub-bass needs a subwoofer
Show 4 more
  • Some units cut out, drop in level or fall into standby during use
  • Rear port and strong bass need space from the wall
  • Glossy plastic front looks cheap or shows marks
  • Limits and turns unpleasant when pushed very loud

Owner ratings, as the retailers publish them

  • Thomann4.5/5from 44 ratings · read Oct 15, 2026
  • Guitar Center5.0/5from 10 ratings · read Oct 15, 2026
See the 10 reviews behind this

Video reviews

  • Tracen FitzpatrickNov 2020Recommends

    JBL Speakers - 306P MkII Review

    JBL Speakers - 306P MkII Review

    Tracen FitzpatrickNov 2020Recommends
  • Joe N TellDec 2019Mixed

    JBL 306P MKII Review | Get Them While They're on Sale!

    JBL 306P MKII Review | Get Them While They're on Sale!

    Joe N TellDec 2019Mixed

Plays from YouTube when you press play. Picked from the reviews counted above, including one that disagrees where there is one.

Prices

Before you buy

Released
February 2018
Status
Current

Works with

  • Audio interfaces, mixers and DJ gearXLR or 1/4" TRS

    Balanced XLR and 1/4" TRS inputs with a +4 dBu / -10 dBV input-sensitivity switch and a volume control, for audio interfaces, mixing consoles and other production equipment Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

  • Consumer sources (phones, laptops, hi-fi)Adapter cable needed

    The manual says unbalanced consumer sources can use the 1/4" input with an unbalanced plug and the -10 dBV setting, but the only sockets are XLR and 1/4" TRS; there is no RCA or 3.5 mm input Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

  • JBL LSR310S subwooferOptional sub

    The 10-inch LSR310S pairs with the 3 Series MkII: the source feeds the subwoofer, its outputs feed the monitors, and the monitors are set to -10 dBV Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

  • Desk or near-wall placementBoundary EQ switch

    Boundary EQ (LF shelf at 50 Hz: 0, -1.5 or -3 dB) offsets bass build-up on a desk or near a wall; HF Trim sets -2, 0 or +2 dB Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

  • Any mains voltage100–240 V

    100–240 V AC (±10%), 50/60 Hz, so it works at home and abroad; each speaker takes its own IEC power cord Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

You’ll also need

  • A second speakerSold singly

    Each carton holds one monitor, a power cord, a quick setup guide and four rubber pads; a stereo pair means buying two Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

  • Balanced audio cablesNot in the box

    No signal cables are included; JBL says to connect equipment with balanced outputs using balanced XLR or 1/4" TRS cables Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

  • A line-level sourceInterface or mixer

    The inputs are line level, made for computer audio interfaces, mixing consoles and production equipment; the only sockets are one XLR and one 1/4" TRS Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

  • Speaker standsRecommended

    JBL recommends stands rather than the work surface to reduce resonance and keep the low end intact; rubber pads are supplied for desk use Manufacturer spec sheet (JBL Professional), checked 2026-10-11

Key specs

Configuration
Powered 6" two-way studio monitor, bi-amplified, ported
Woofer size
6.5 in
LF driver
165 mm (6.5")
Amplifier power (total)
112 W
Amplifier power
112 W (LF: 56 W, HF: 56 W; Class D)
Max SPL
110 dB peak (92 dB continuous)
All 14 specifications
Low-frequency extension
47 Hz
Frequency response
47 Hz – 20 kHz (±3 dB); 39 Hz – 24 kHz (-10 dB)
Inputs
1 x XLR, 1 x 1/4" TRS (balanced)
Weight
6.1 kg (13.42 lb)
HF driver
25 mm (1") soft dome
Crossover
1425 Hz, 4th-order acoustic Linkwitz-Riley
Dimensions (W x H x D)
224 x 361 x 282 mm (8.8 x 14.2 x 11.1 in)
Tweeter size
1 in

14 of 14 figures sourced; hover one for its source

Our take

Rory TassellWritten from the sources on this page, not from a loan unit.

Nine of ten professional reviews recommend it, and the 31 owner reviews read agree on why: clear, detailed sound, deep bass for its size and a wide sweet spot at a budget price. The recurring complaint, raised by ten reviewers and owners, is a hiss or hum you can hear when nothing plays; measurements also show a narrow dip near the crossover. Buy it for a home studio or DJ desk; in a very quiet room, listen before you commit.

What it is

Status, October 2026: current. JBL Professional still lists the 306P MkII.

What it is

The 306P MkII is a powered two-way studio monitor with a 6.5-inch woofer from JBL Professional, part of Harman (JBL Professional product page). JBL announced the 3 Series MkII in January 2018 for that year's NAMM Show as an update to the original 3 Series, in three sizes: the 305P MkII with a 5-inch woofer, the 306P MkII and the 308P MkII with an 8-inch woofer.

It pairs a 165 mm (6.5") woofer with a 25 mm (1") soft-dome tweeter in JBL's Image Control Waveguide, which comes from the M2 Master Reference Monitor. The crossover sits at 1425 Hz. Two Class D amplifiers give 56 W each, 112 W in total, and a Slip Stream port extends the bass. JBL quotes 47 Hz to 20 kHz at ±3 dB and a peak output of 110 dB.

The inputs are one balanced XLR and one balanced 1/4" TRS, with a +4 dBu / -10 dBV sensitivity switch and a volume control. There is no RCA or 3.5 mm input. Boundary EQ cuts the bass shelf at 50 Hz by 1.5 or 3 dB for a desk or wall position, and HF Trim sets the treble to -2, 0 or +2 dB. JBL's LSR310S 10-inch subwoofer pairs with the series.

Each monitor measures 224 x 361 x 282 mm, weighs 6.1 kg and runs on 100 to 240 V. It is sold singly. The carton holds one monitor, a power cord, a quick setup guide and four rubber pads; signal cables are not included.