JBL LSR305 vs. Tannoy Reveal 502 | Sound Comparison

These two speakers are considered by many to be the best studio monitors under $400/pair.

This sound test was recorded in my small home office (9' x 12' x 9' H) . Sound was recorded by a calibrated Dayton Audio EMM-6 microphone. Before recording, each monitor's frequency response was flattened as much as possible using their respective native adjustments.

[gunchief]

I used my 502s at a 40th wedding anniversary as a D.J. and ROCKED the small venue apx 50 people...
Amazing sound quality and deep bass...good for small rooms.. or backyard

[KYDY]

All your sound comparison videos are fake... absolutely no left channel output at 6:53. You can't get that with a microphone, even with a pair of them, not in a real room.
You put some EQ on music, that's it...

[zakblue]

Great Test. The Tannoys to me sound a bit more engaging. I love the 305 though, it's a pretty smooth sounding monitor.

[ndujamz]

For mixing Tannoy takes it. I've owned JBL and they bit hyped on the highs..When u mix u want something flat. Most monitors r hyped on the highs and they perceived to sound good for mixing...when they not.

[nataflet]

Listened to a shop to lsr305, tannoy 502, yamaha hs5/hs8, behringer k6 and k6 sounded very very clear and clean, sparkly highs, k6 was the most impressive, then hs5 has no bass below 100hz and hs8 no bass below 60hz, sounds sharp, harsh on highs, sibilant, test song was london grammar - hey now, then was 502 with bad imaging and average clarity, then 305s and boomy bass and natural decay, now I own 305s lol and I'm happy. 305s needs a big space to sound good and small distance from your ears. 305s sound good at medium/high levels, sound good only at ear level and not outside the triangle, very directional but precise sound between them. 305s require EQ if the room is not big enough (i use sonarworks).

[darylloth]

Great comparison. The Tannoys are warmer sounding but the JBLs have better imaging and detail. The soundstage is also deeper with the JBLs. Great job. Edit: At least that's what I can say after hearing them through my modest desktop system. How are yu getting a stereo image using a mono microphone (unless you are using two). The image is shifted slightly to the left on the JBLs.

[nandogroa]

I am a Tannoy fan, but JBL wins this one. The JBL sounded so open, while the Tannoy sounded muffled. Based on this video, I would buy the JBL.

[barjoyaibaharu]

thanks for the great comparison video! I'm looking for front ported monitors due to space constraint, which will you choose between Adam F5 and Tannoy 502?

[phaneronb]

JBLs are more revealing to me TANOYS mids are in the back and bass is bumped up

[Musician_Robert]

The 502 sounds clear and tight. I like.

[antanasmaciulskis]

tannoys seem to have good transient response

[ГерманВельдянский]

Thank you for the video!
I listened attentively with headphones twice: in my opinion, Tannoy - gave out a sound more honestly.
In the low-frequency spectrum, they sound richer, tighter and more legible.
The same feeling remained in the mid-frequency spectrum. He is richer than JBL.
At high frequencies, it seemed, too, more honestly. There are fewer of them than JBL, and they seem to be more truthful. At JBL, they seem to be slightly "upturned"; more sand, squeak. It was annoying.
Of course, all this is subjective, but my choice is Tannoy)

[cubeaceuk]

I have just found this video. The thing I hear is the mid range gets pulled back and less defined when listening to the JBL speakers but have to confess I'm listening via Tannoy Reveal center speakers set as a stereo pair and a Tannoy Reveal 15" sub with internal power amps powering the other pair.

[taku]

When switching from Tannoy to JBL, the former tends to focus more on the mid-low range, while JBL emphasizes the higher frequencies. Personally, I prefer the sound of Tannoy, as it has a nice tonal quality and a flat response. I feel that JBL sounds brighter partly due to the bass port at the rear.

[bosmanragga]

Clearly the Tannoys win, I also like how they look

[johnsweda]

Tannoy are you more natural sounding some resonance in the JBLs

[markototev]

JBL sound like they are the more clear ones if you want to mix on them while the Tannoy sound better perhaps for regular listening. Sound was coming through my Alesis M1 MK2s.

[effebidi]

JBL is too colored on mid-low region for mixing but seems to have a more wide and open space in the mid-high which is a pleasure to listen at . I would go for Tannoy.

[PetrisonRocha]

Too much room sound in this comparison, difficult to evaluate anything.

[argator]

Loved the comparison, both are like perfect for me, Thank you for sharing! 👍🏻🙏🏻