In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage 245C is a Center Channel speaker whereas the Stage 280F is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 245C and JBL Stage 280F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 245C | JBL Stage 280F |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4 x 4.5" Polycellulose | 2 x 8" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 82-25k Hz | 39-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 91 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 12.00kg / 26.4lbs | 25.09kg / 55.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 6-1/8" x 29-1/8" x 8-1/2"
156.0 x 740.0 x 216.0mm | 43-13/16" x 14-1/8" x 16-1/2"
1113.0 x 359.0 x 420.0mm |
|---|
Stage 245C and Stage 280F are members of JBL's Stage 2 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
JBL Stage 2 Series
History
What size room are the JBL Stage 245C and JBL Stage 280F 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* |
JBL Stage 245C |
JBL Stage 280F |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Stage 245C is a 2-way design whereas the Stage 280F is a 3-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.
JBL Stage 245CJBL Stage 280F
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 245C |
JBL Stage 280F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
4 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Stage 245C features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 4 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 280F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 245C has a frequency range of 82-25k Hz whereas Stage 280F has a frequency range of 39-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 39Hz, the Stage 280F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 245C's min frequency of 82Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
Stage 245C and Stage 280F have the same Impedance of 6 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 91 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Stage 280F can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas Stage 245C has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Stage 280F.
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
Stage 245C features 5-Way post type posts and Stage 280F has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Stage 245C and Stage 280F have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 Stage 245C's and JBL Stage 280F's external dimensions. JBL Stage 245C has external dimensions of 156.0 x 740.0 x 216.0mm (6-1/8 x 29-1/8 x 8-1/2 inch) whereas JBL Stage 280F has external dimensions of 1113.0 x 359.0 x 420.0mm (43-13/16inch x 14-1/8inch x 16-1/2inch).
JBL Stage 245C is 957mm shorter and 204mm less deeper than JBL Stage 280F but it is also 381mm wider.
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 Stage 245C is approximately 1598.4cm2 / 247.8inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage 280F is approximately 1507.8cm2 / 233.7inch2. The Stage 245C requires 6% more surface area than the Stage 280F which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 245C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 245C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker Grille 6 Self-adhesive rubber pads Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280F?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 280F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinth 4 Spikes 4 Screws Hex-key Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions