In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage 250B is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Stage 280F is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 250B and JBL Stage 280F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Stage 250B Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
- 55-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-150watts
- Weight:5.64kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 321.0" x 7-15/16" x 9-1/2"( 321.0 x 202.0 x 242.0mm )
JBL Stage 280F Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer
- 39-25k Hz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-225watts
- Weight:25.09kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1113.0" x 14-1/8" x 16-1/2"( 1113.0 x 359.0 x 420.0mm )
Stage 250B 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 250B 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 250B |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage 250B and JBL Stage 280F 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Stage 250B 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.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 250B |
JBL Stage 280F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Stage 250B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 280F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
Stage 250B has a frequency range of 55-25k 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 250B'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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Stage 250B and Stage 280F 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 280F's is at 91 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 250B, 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. 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.
Stage 250B can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 250B has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS , 75 watts less than the Stage 280F.
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
Stage 250B 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 250B 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
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 JBL Stage 250B's and JBL Stage 280F'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 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 280F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 157mm wider, 792mm taller and 178mm deeper than JBL Stage 250B.
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 280F is approximately 1507.8cm2 / 233.7inch2. The Stage 250B requires 68% less surface area than the Stage 280F which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 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
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Driver Setup 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
Dolby Atmos Drivers