In this review, we will be comparing 100 IW LCR5 and Stage 250WL, two Passive In-wall speakers from Focal and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal 100 IW LCR5 and JBL Stage 250WL first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Focal 100 IW LCR5 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer
- 55-23kHz Frequency Response
- 90.5 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:25-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 415.0" x 5.8130" x 3.2500"( 415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm )
JBL Stage 250WL Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
- 52-25kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 461.0" x 6.3750" x 3.8125"( 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm )
What size room are the Focal 100 IW LCR5 and JBL Stage 250WL 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* |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
JBL Stage 250WL |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Focal 100 IW LCR5 and JBL Stage 250WL compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both 100 IW LCR5 and Stage 250WL are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Focal 100 IW LCR5 |
JBL Stage 250WL |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.125-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
100 IW LCR5 features a 1" Inverted Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.125" Polyglass Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 250WL features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
100 IW LCR5 has a frequency range of 55-23kHz whereas Stage 250WL has a frequency range of 52-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Stage 250WL can go slightly deeper then the 100 IW LCR5's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
100 IW LCR5 and Stage 250WL have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 100 IW LCR5 sensitivity is rated at 90.5 dB and the Stage 250WL's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Focal 100 IW LCR5 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 250WL, 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.
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
100 IW LCR5 features Spring post type posts and Stage 250WL has a Spring post 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 Focal 100 IW LCR5's and JBL Stage 250WL's external dimensions. Focal 100 IW LCR5 has external dimensions of 415.0 x 148.0 x 83.0mm ( 16.3130-inch x 5.8130-inch x 3.2500-inch) whereas JBL Stage 250WL has external dimensions of 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm ( 18.1250-inch x 6.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch) .
JBL Stage 250WL is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14mm wider, 46mm taller and 14mm deeper than Focal 100 IW LCR5.
What's in the Box of Focal 100 IW LCR5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 100 IW LCR5:
One in-wall speaker1 metal-mesh grill (white)Cut-out templateUser manual
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 250WL?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 250WL:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
Sensitivity 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response 
Price per pair*