In this review, we will be comparing Stage 250B and XT20, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 250B and Polk XT20 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 250B | Polk XT20 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polycellulose | 6.5" Bi-laminate paper |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 38-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs | 5.45kg / 12lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 13-1/16" x 7-9/16" x 11-1/16"
332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Stage 250B and Polk XT20 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 |
Polk XT20 |
| 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.)
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 XT20 are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage 250BPolk XT20
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 |
Polk XT20 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Stage 250B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the XT20 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 250B has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas XT20 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the XT20 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 250B's min frequency of 55Hz.
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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the XT20 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Stage 250B sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the XT20's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk XT20 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
XT20 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Stage 250B has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the XT20.
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 XT20 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 Stage 250B's and Polk XT20'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 Polk XT20 has external dimensions of 332.0 x 193.0 x 281.0mm (13-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 11-1/16inch).
JBL Stage 250B is 11mm shorter and 39mm less deeper than Polk XT20 but it is also 9mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage 250B and Polk XT20 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage 250B and Polk XT20 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 Polk XT20 is approximately 542.3cm2 / 84.1inch2. The Stage 250B requires 10% less surface area than the XT20 which gives it a small advantage 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 Polk XT20 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 Polk XT20 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs. This makes the Stage 250B 3% heavier than the XT20.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 250B and XT20'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 Polk XT20?
Here are the items that come with the XT20:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (attached)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Height |
321mm
vs
332mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
488cm2
vs
542cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
38 Hz
vs
55 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage 250B |
Polk Audio Monitor XT20 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
38-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Bi-laminate paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
321.0mm (12.6") |
332.0mm (13.1") |
| Width |
202.0mm (8") |
193.0mm (7.6") |
| Depth |
242.0mm (9.5") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
5.64kg (12.4lbs) |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
24-28" |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk XT20 digs deeper - 38Hz against 55Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk XT20 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | B | Polk XT20 takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | Polk XT20 is cheaper - $299 against $399, about 25% less. |
A JBL Stage 250B B Polk XT20
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?
Polk XT20 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take JBL Stage 250B if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 55Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $100 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.