In this review, we will be comparing IWSub 1010 and Stage 260W, two Passive In-wall speakers from Definitive Technology and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Definitive IWSub 1010 and JBL Stage 260W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Definitive IWSub 1010 Key Specs
- 1-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 10" Not given Woofer
- 16-200Hz Frequency Response
- 0 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 4ohms
- Power Range:up to 275watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 505.0" x 14.3750" x 3.8125"( 505.0 x 366.0 x 97.0mm )
JBL Stage 260W Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer
- 50-25kHz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 312.0" x 7.2500" x 3.5625"( 312.0 x 185.0 x 91.0mm )
What size room are the Definitive IWSub 1010 and JBL Stage 260W 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 IWSub 1010 |
JBL Stage 260W |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Bad |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Definitive IWSub 1010 and JBL Stage 260W compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that IWSub 1010 is a 1-way design whereas the Stage 260W is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
Definitive IWSub 1010 |
JBL Stage 260W |
|
Driver Setup
|
1-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
IWSub 1010 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 10" Not given Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 260W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
IWSub 1010 has a frequency range of 16-200Hz whereas Stage 260W has a frequency range of 50-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the IWSub 1010 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 260W's min frequency of 50Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
IWSub 1010 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Stage 260W which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the IWSub 1010 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. IWSub 1010 sensitivity is rated at 0 dB and the Stage 260W's is rated at 87 dB. This 87 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 260W a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive IWSub 1010, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
IWSub 1010 can handle a max power of 275 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 260W has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 175 watts less than the IWSub 1010.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
IWSub 1010 features Spring clip type posts and Stage 260W has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 IWSub 1010's and JBL Stage 260W's external dimensions. Definitive IWSub 1010 has external dimensions of 505.0 x 366.0 x 97.0mm ( 19.8750-inch x 14.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch) whereas JBL Stage 260W has external dimensions of 312.0 x 185.0 x 91.0mm ( 12.2500-inch x 7.2500-inch x 3.5625-inch) .
Definitive IWSub 1010 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 181mm wider, 193mm taller and 6mm deeper than JBL Stage 260W.
What's in the Box of Definitive IWSub 1010?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of IWSub 1010:
In-wall subwooferGrille (attached)7 Self-adhesive foam gaskets6 ScrewsWall-templatePaint maskOwners ManualOnline Product Registration card
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 260W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 260W:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
Max Input Power 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response 
Passive Radiator 
Driver Setup 
Nominal Impedance 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*