In this review, we will be comparing L100 Classic 80 and Synchrony T600, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and PSB.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL L100 Classic 80 and PSB Synchrony T600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL L100 Classic 80 | PSB Synchrony T600 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | PSB
Canada · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Midrange | 5.25" | 5.25" |
|---|
| Woofer | 12" Pulp | 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40Hz-40k Hz | 24-23k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 4 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 26.59kg / 58.5lbs | 34.90kg / 76.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 25-5/16" x 15-3/8" x 14-7/16"
643.0 x 391.0 x 367.0mm | 41-1/4" x 9" x 13-1/2"
1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both L100 Classic 80 and Synchrony T600 are 3-way speakers.
JBL L100 Classic 80PSB Synchrony T600
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL L100 Classic 80 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
1 x 5.25-inch |
1 x 5.25-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 12-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
L100 Classic 80 features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 1 x 12" Pulp Woofer. On the other hand, the Synchrony T600 features a 1" titanium with ferrofluid cooling and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter, a 5.25" Midrange and 3 x 6.5" Carbon fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 450Hz and 1800Hz.
Frequency Response
L100 Classic 80 has a frequency range of 40Hz-40k Hz whereas Synchrony T600 has a frequency range of 24-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Synchrony T600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the L100 Classic 80's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
L100 Classic 80 and Synchrony T600 have the same Impedance of 4 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. L100 Classic 80 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Synchrony T600's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL L100 Classic 80 a more sensitive speaker compared to PSB Synchrony T600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
One thing to keep in mind that the lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit comared to higher impedance speakers especially at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the L100 Classic 80 and the L100 Classic 80 can provide this impedance level.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Synchrony T600 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas L100 Classic 80 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the Synchrony T600.
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
Both L100 Classic 80 and Synchrony T600 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
PSB Synchrony T600's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 JBL L100 Classic 80's and PSB Synchrony T600's external dimensions. JBL L100 Classic 80 has external dimensions of 643.0 x 391.0 x 367.0mm (25-5/16inch x 15-3/8inch x 14-7/16inch) whereas PSB Synchrony T600 has external dimensions of 1048.0 x 228.0 x 343.0mm (41-1/4 x 9 x 13-1/2inch).
PSB Synchrony T600 is 163mm narrower and 24mm less deeper than JBL L100 Classic 80 but it is also 405mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL L100 Classic 80 and PSB Synchrony T600 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL L100 Classic 80 and PSB Synchrony T600 Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the JBL L100 Classic 80 is approximately 1435.0cm2 / 222.4inch2 and base area of the PSB Synchrony T600 is approximately 782.0cm2 / 121.2inch2. The L100 Classic 80 requires 84% more surface area than the Synchrony T600 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL L100 Classic 80 weighs 26.59kg / 58.5lbs and the PSB Synchrony T600 weighs 34.90kg / 76.8lbs. This makes the Synchrony T600 31% heavier than the L100 Classic 80.
Here is a comparison of how L100 Classic 80 and Synchrony T600's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL L100 Classic 80?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of L100 Classic 80:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- 2 Speaker stands
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of PSB Synchrony T600?
Here are the items that come with the Synchrony T600:
- Floorstanding loudspeakr
- Grille
- 2 Binding-post jumpers (pre-installed)
- 4 Isolation feet
- 2 Port plugs
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
643mm
vs
1048mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
6999USD
vs
8000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
782cm2
vs
1435cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL L100 Classic 80 |
PSB Synchrony T600 |
| Brand |
JBL |
PSB |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
4 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40Hz-40k Hz |
24-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Pulp |
Carbon fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
5.25" |
5.25" |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
450Hz and 1800Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
643.0mm (25.3") |
1048.0mm (41.3") |
| Width |
391.0mm (15.4") |
228.0mm (9") |
| Depth |
367.0mm (14.4") |
343.0mm (13.5") |
| Weight |
26.59kg (58.5lbs) |
34.90kg (76.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/wood veneer |
MDF/Lacquer |
| Available Colors |
Oak |
Gloss Black, Satin Walnut |
| Recommended Stand Height |
9.3125" |
n/a |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5Yrs(spkr) / 1yr(stand) |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5Yrs(spkr) / 1yr(stand) |
5 Years |
A generation apart: JBL L100 Classic 80 is the newer design, against a 2022 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | PSB Synchrony T600 digs deeper - 24Hz against 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | PSB Synchrony T600 takes more power (300W vs 200W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL L100 Classic 80: bi-amping; PSB Synchrony T600: bi-amping. JBL L100 Classic 80 sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | JBL L100 Classic 80 is cheaper - $6,999 against $8,000, about 13% less. |
A JBL L100 Classic 80 B PSB Synchrony T600
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: PSB Synchrony T600 measures better, JBL L100 Classic 80 costs about about 14% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 40Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL L100 Classic 80 much easier to justify.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.