In this review, we will be comparing DI 5.5S and Stage 280W, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive DI 5.5S and JBL Stage 280W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Definitive DI 5.5S | JBL Stage 280W |
|---|
| Brand | Definitive Technology
United States · founded 1990 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Horn-Loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polymer | 8" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-30kHz | 42-25kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-175 watts | 20-120 watts |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6.3125" x 6.3125" x 3.6250"
161.0 x 161.0 x 93.0mm | 14.6875" x 9.3750" x 3.8750"
374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Definitive DI 5.5S and JBL Stage 280W speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
Definitive DI 5.5S |
JBL Stage 280W |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both DI 5.5S and Stage 280W are 2-way speakers.
Definitive DI 5.5SJBL Stage 280W
TweeterWoofer
Drivers drawn to scale and directly comparable. Cabinet outlines are indicative: full dimensions are not published for both. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Definitive DI 5.5S |
JBL Stage 280W |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
DI 5.5S features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polymer Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
DI 5.5S has a frequency range of 28-30kHz whereas Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the DI 5.5S can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 280W's min frequency of 42Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
DI 5.5S and Stage 280W have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. DI 5.5S sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Stage 280W's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280W a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive DI 5.5S, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
DI 5.5S can handle a max power of 175 watts RMS, whereas Stage 280W has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the DI 5.5S.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
DI 5.5S features Spring clip type posts and Stage 280W has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Definitive DI 5.5S's and JBL Stage 280W's external dimensions. Definitive DI 5.5S has external dimensions of 161.0 x 161.0 x 93.0mm (6.3125-inch x 6.3125-inch x 3.6250-inch) whereas JBL Stage 280W has external dimensions of 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm (14.6875-inch x 9.3750-inch x 3.8750-inch).
JBL Stage 280W is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 78mm wider, 213mm taller and 6mm deeper than Definitive DI 5.5S.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
JBL Stage 280W needs about 58% more floor or shelf area. JBL Stage 280W is 213mm taller.
What's in the Box of Definitive DI 5.5S?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of DI 5.5S:
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 280W:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Cut-Out Template
- Quick Start Guide