JBL 104-BT Review 2026
|

This Compact JBL Monitor Solves a Problem Most Desks Have

BySimone

For more than seven decades, JBL has shaped how the world listens. From cinema sound systems and recording studios to cars, bars, and living rooms, the three letters have become shorthand for powerful, confident sound. JBL’s legacy was built on scale and impact—but what happens when that heritage is condensed into a compact desktop monitor?

After spending time with the JBL 104-BT, the answer is clearer than expected: JBL hasn’t downsized its identity. It has simply refined it.

A familiar idea, rethought for the modern desk

At first glance, the JBL 104-BT inevitably recalls one of the brand’s most successful speakers of all time—the Control One. That compact two-way design still hangs from ceilings in cafés and bars across the world. But the resemblance is mostly visual. The 104-BT is a thoroughly modern concept, designed for today’s desks, creators, and compact workspaces.

Check Out: Klipsch ProMedia 2.1 Review

This is a powered monitor system, built as a master–slave pair. All electronics live inside the master speaker, including two 30-watt Class D amplifiers, input selection, and volume control. The second speaker is connected via speaker cable, keeping the system simple and clutter-free.

Close-up Shot of JBL 104-BT coaxial desktop speakers placed on a desk beside a laptop while testing the sound running audio production software

Bluetooth connectivity is included, but it’s clearly positioned as a convenience feature rather than a replacement for wired listening—ideal for quick playback from a phone or tablet when working or relaxing.

Coaxial drivers: the heart of the 104-BT

The defining feature of the JBL 104-BT is its coaxial driver design. Instead of separating tweeter and woofer vertically, JBL places a 19 mm soft-dome tweeter directly in the center of the 118 mm woofer/midrange driver.

This configuration offers real acoustic advantages. The cone itself acts as a waveguide for the tweeter, helping to maintain consistent directivity through the crossover region. The result is a higher ratio of direct to reflected sound—exactly what you want on a desk, where reflections from walls and furniture can quickly blur detail.

JBL uses a first-order passive crossover at around 1.7 kHz. This wide overlap rewards careful listening position alignment, but when you’re seated correctly, imaging snaps sharply into focus.

Compact cabinet, surprisingly confident bass

The neatly contoured plastic enclosure features a rear bass reflex port using JBL’s patented Slip Stream design, intended to reduce turbulence and audible port noise. Rubber inserts on the base help decouple the speakers from the desk, preventing unwanted vibrations at higher levels.

Officially, JBL rates the frequency response at 88 Hz to 20 kHz. In practice, however, room gain and nearfield placement allow the speaker to sound fuller than the numbers suggest. Bass doesn’t feel anaemic or token—it has enough weight to support the vast majority of music without immediately calling for a subwoofer.

Pair of JBL 104-BT compact studio monitors in black finish

Listening impressions: precision first, fun included

The first thing that stands out when listening to the JBL 104-BT is imaging precision. Instruments lock firmly into place, and the center image is sharply defined. Stereo width is convincing, especially considering the compact cabinet size.

Tonally, the balance is clean and modern. The midrange is clear and articulate, making the speaker well-suited for editing, podcast work, and casual mixing. Bass extension is impressive for a monitor of this size, delivering a believable foundation for acoustic instruments and electronic music alike.

Compared directly with significantly more expensive compact systems, the JBL gives up some midrange warmth and refinement. Vocals can sound slightly leaner, and on highly analytical recordings, sibilants are a bit more exposed. But context matters: this is a €200 speaker pair delivering clarity, scale, and output that feel almost out of proportion to its footprint.

You May Like: Klipsch RP-6000F II Review

Perhaps most surprising is the level of stability. The 104-BT remains composed even when pushed, making it equally comfortable on a desk or paired with a TV across a small room.

Who the JBL 104-BT is really for

The JBL 104-BT isn’t trying to replace large studio monitors or high-end nearfield references. Instead, it targets a space that many speakers miss: the intersection of serious sound and real-world usability.

Music lovers, content creators, streamers, and semi-professional engineers will all find something to like here. It’s revealing enough to work on, enjoyable enough to live with, and powerful enough to surprise anyone who assumes small speakers must sound small.

Rear view of JBL 104-BT speakers displaying bass reflex port, TRS and RCA inputs, speaker terminals, and power connection.

Conclusion

The JBL 104-BT feels like a natural evolution of JBL’s compact speaker philosophy. It takes the accessibility and toughness that made the Control One a global success and updates it with coaxial precision, modern connectivity, and a desktop-friendly design.

For the price, it delivers imaging accuracy, respectable bass, and unexpected loudness—all wrapped in a system that fits comfortably into modern workspaces. It doesn’t just honor JBL’s legacy; it translates it for today.

Read: JBL Tune 235NC Review

JBL 104-BT Specifications

  • Type: Powered desktop monitor (master–slave)
  • Amplification: 2 × 30 W Class D
  • Driver configuration: Coaxial (118 mm woofer / 19 mm tweeter)
  • Crossover: Passive, first order (~1.7 kHz)
  • Frequency response: 88 Hz – 20 kHz (manufacturer spec)
  • Inputs: Balanced TRS, RCA, Bluetooth
  • Dimensions (H × W × D): 247 × 153 × 124 mm
  • Weight: 2.06 kg (master), 1.7 kg (slave)
  • Finish: Black or White

Similar Posts