In this review, we will be comparing Stage 250B and Stage 240B, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 250B and JBL Stage 240B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 250B | JBL Stage 240B |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polycellulose | 4.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 65-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 25-75 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs | 4.59kg / 10.1lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 9-1/2"
321.0 x 202.0 x 242.0mm | 10-3/4" x 6-15/16" x 8-1/2"
274.0 x 177.0 x 216.0mm |
|---|
Stage 250B and Stage 240B 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 250B and JBL Stage 240B 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 250B |
JBL Stage 240B |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Stage 250B and Stage 240B are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage 250BJBL Stage 240B
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 250B |
JBL Stage 240B |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Stage 250B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 240B features a 1" Hard-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 250B has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas Stage 240B has a frequency range of 65-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Stage 250B can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 240B's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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 250B and Stage 240B have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Stage 250B sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Stage 240B's is at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 250B a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 240B, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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 250B can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Stage 240B has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 75 watts less than the Stage 250B.
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 250B features 5-Way post type posts and Stage 240B has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Stage 250B and Stage 240B 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 250B's and JBL Stage 240B's external dimensions. JBL Stage 250B has external dimensions of 321.0 x 202.0 x 242.0mm (12-5/8inch x 7-15/16inch x 9-1/2inch) whereas JBL Stage 240B has external dimensions of 274.0 x 177.0 x 216.0mm (10-3/4inch x 6-15/16inch x 8-1/2inch).
JBL Stage 250B is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 25mm wider, 47mm taller and 26mm deeper than JBL Stage 240B.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage 250B and JBL Stage 240B in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage 250B and JBL Stage 240B 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 Stage 250B is approximately 488.8cm2 / 75.8inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage 240B is approximately 382.3cm2 / 59.3inch2. The Stage 250B requires 28% more surface area than the Stage 240B which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of JBL Stage 250B and JBL Stage 240B on a Media Console
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 Stage 250B weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the JBL Stage 240B weighs 4.59kg / 10.1lbs. This makes the Stage 250B 23% heavier than the Stage 240B.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 250B and Stage 240B's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 250B?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 250B:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 240B?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 240B:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 2 Foam plugs 2 Wall-brackets 4 Mounting screws 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
274mm
vs
321mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
382cm2
vs
488cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage 250B |
JBL Stage 240B |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
25-75 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
65-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Hard-dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
274.0mm (10.8") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
177.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
242.0mm (9.5") |
216.0mm (8.5") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
4.59kg (10.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
Espresso,Latte |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
Siblings in JBL's Stage 2 series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | JBL Stage 250B digs deeper - 55Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | JBL Stage 250B takes more power (150W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | JBL Stage 240B is easier to place; JBL Stage 250B is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage 240B is cheaper - $299 against $399, about 25% less. |
A JBL Stage 250B B JBL Stage 240B
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: JBL Stage 250B measures better, JBL Stage 240B costs about about 33% 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 65Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL Stage 240B much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate JBL Stage 250B the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and JBL Stage 240B for near-field listening and a small room.
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.