Theyre also compact and come with a decent amount of connectivity, though theres no USB.
Theres also no sub out.
Buyer beware, however, that these are not ideal as reference monitors.
JBL 104-BT backside port selection(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Theyre not quite as immersive as thebest gaming headsets, but theyre more than immersive enough.
However, reference monitors they are not.
Thats why you should consider them not for music production.
Considering the sound quality, thats pretty good value as well.
Of course, for that price, the JBL 104-BT should include a sub out at the very least.
As far as alternatives go, theEdifier MR4are worth a consideration.
JBL 104-BT backside port selection(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Of course, they retail for a bit more at $249 (255 / AU$471).
They work fairly well as reference speakers as well, though they have a slightly scooped mid-range.
Both speaker boxes are ported on the back as well to improve bass response.
Controls on the front of the JBL 104-BT(Image credit: Future / James Holland)
Theres also an LED indicator when you have something connected via Bluetooth.
Unfortunately, theres no sub out a fateful omission as well discuss later.
And, though far from a deal breaker, theres no physical digital connectivity like USB.
Since theres no subwoofer or sub out, youre limited on the low end.
You just wont feel all of it.
That said, theres a boost in the low-mids to compensate for that.
This boost is probably the biggest deterrent for using these speakers as reference monitors.
The high-end isnt too sharp and it isnt too muted either.
However, what really jumped out at me was the center channel.
The JBL 104-BT is a stereo speaker system with just two speaker boxes.
If you keep that in mind, these are an easy pair of speakers to recommend.
Should I buy JBL 104-BT Compact Desktop Reference Monitors?
The low-mids, in particular, are very rich sounding.
They also come with USB-C connectivity.
Just be aware the mid-range is a little scooped if you plan to use them for music production.
music production, despite the accessible price tag.
