JBL Professional | Studio and Recording

New affordable monitors utilise patent-pending Image Control Waveguide derived from flagship M2 monitors

Bringing professional studio reference monitoring to customers at a remarkably affordable price, HARMAN’s JBL Professional today introduced its 3 Series studio monitors. The first studio monitor line to incorporate JBL’s patent-pending Image Control Waveguide, 3 Series is designed to deliver exceptional imaging and detail in any listening environment. With a distinctive appearance, rugged build, pristine sound, and most affordable price points, the new 3 Series will be welcomed by music, post and broadcast production customers working in stereo and surround sound formats.

Photo above: JBL LSR305 (click for hi-res version)

The JBL 3 Series features two models: the LSR305, 5-inch powered studio monitor; and the LSR308, 8-inch powered studio monitor. Both models offer impressive performance, with the LSR305 boasting a response of 43Hz to 24 kHz and a peak SPL of 108 dB, while the LSR308 features a response of 37Hz to 24 kHz and a peak SPL of 112 dB.

Photo above: JBL LSR308 (click for hi-res version)

Leveraging new technology developed for JBL’s flagship M2 Master Reference Monitor launched earlier this year, the 3 Series features JBL’s patent-pending Image Control Waveguide enabling the listener to hear greater depth and ambience in recordings. Surrounding the high frequency tweeter, and located directly above the woofer, the waveguide precisely controls the sound emanating from the monitor in the vertical and horizontal planes. With a complex contour employing tiny, meticulously engineered ridges, the waveguide optimizes the phase relationship of the loudspeakers, and also the blend of directed and reflecting sound arriving at the listening position. The product of intensive R&D, the waveguide design allows subtle detail to be heard, even in a dense mix. The waveguide produces a wide stereo panorama with a rock-solid phantom-center image. In addition, the waveguide enables 3 Series models to deliver neutral sound across an unusually large working space, regardless of room acoustics, eliminating the need for the customer to be positioned directly in front of the monitors when making critical adjustments to the mix.

“Our goal with the 3 Series is to bring a new level of performance and accuracy to the market at most affordable price points,” said Peter Chaikin, Senior Manager, JBL Professional Recording and Broadcast Marketing. “The Image Control Waveguide gives 3 Series a dramatic advantage. It is a remarkable piece of engineering allowing us to deliver a loudspeaker that is more revealing and engaging to listen to. Customers will find, with this waveguide, the 3 Series loudspeakers provide a truly enjoyable listening experience.”

As the sound generating engines, the 3 Series’ long-throw woofer and its damped woven composite tweeter are designed from the ground up to reproduce the powerful transients and micro dynamics of any mix. These drivers deliver impressive deep bass and smooth high-frequency response beyond the range of human hearing. JBL’s patented Slip Stream™ low-frequency port design works in concert with the woofer to produce deep bass response at all playback levels. The double-flared shape of the port is precisely engineered for greater low-frequency extension and reduced turbulence. Efficient Class D amplifiers, provide abundant power to the drivers to deliver the output and dynamic headroom needed for the most demanding production styles.

Each 3 Series model incorporates a range of features to integrate the loudspeakers into a broad range of environments including multiple inputs, a detented volume control and an input sensitivity switch for compatibility with professional and consumer equipment.

Using 3 Series low and high-frequency “TRIM” switches, the user can tailor the loudspeaker’s response to compensate for room acoustics, program material and personal tastes.

To ensure years of reliable performance, 3 Series prototypes were subjected to JBL’s 100-hour power test, in which the loudspeaker is required to play continually at full output for 100 hours without failure.

While most manufacturers take only a single on-axis measurement of the loudspeaker’s performance during development, this doesn’t tell how it will sound in any given room. JBL’s LSR Linear Spatial Reference design criteria requires 72 measurements, yielding more than 1,200 times more data, enabling JBL to engineer a loudspeaker that “sounds right” in any working space. With the LSR design, the 3 Series studio monitors deliver superior accuracy, regardless of the size and shape of the rom, so mixes “hit their mark” when heard on any playback system.

3 Series models are packaged in 5-Colour cartons that explain the technology and feature set in detail.

Pricing and Availability

The JBL LSR 305 is priced at just £129 RRP inc VAT each (RRP £258 inc VAT per pair).
The JBLLSR 308 is priced at just £219 RRP inc VAT (RRP £438 inc VAT per pair).
Both models are available in the UK now.

More information is available at