JBL 4305P

Miniature monitors make for decent entries into streaming-savvy hi-fi

SPEAKER SYSTEM £1799

Like vacuum-packed bags for storage and foldout beds for studio apartments, hi-fi too offers a clever way to fit as much as possible into a small space these days – as the JBL 4305P Studio Monitors capably demonstrate. These miniature bookshelf speakers – just 34cm tall and 23cm deep – pack not only drive units but also Class D amplifiers and digital network circuitry to offer an all-in-one streaming stereo system from just two diminutive cabinets. Convenient or what?

For someone looking to upgrade their single-unit wireless speaker to true stereo sound or simply add affordable hi-fi to their living space in the most space-efficient way possible, the 4305P look to be just the ticket. That they are more modest versions of the five-star 4329P system we called “sophisticated“ and “lovable beasts” helps their case too. So, are the 4305P miniature marvels or try-hard do-it-alls that bite off a little more than they can chew?

The 4305P may be physically dwarfed by the 4329P, but they don’t concede any of that classic retro look JBL has kept consistent across both its passive and active Studio Monitor models. It’s an aesthetic that screams functional more than it does fancy, but actually we are quite taken with our all-black sample’s minimalist aesthetic, which can be spiced up somewhat by removing the grille to bear the navy blue baffle, 13cm fibre-composite cone woofer and dual front-firing bass ports. We imagine the alternative, arguably more handsome, dark blue and walnut finish (seen here) will be a popular choice with this model for buyers who are particularly partial to the heritage look.