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JBL Stage 260F vs JBL Stage 280F Comparison

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JBL Stage 260F

Passive Floor-standing | 45-25k Hz

JBL Stage 260F
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JBL Stage 280F

Passive Floor-standing | 39-25k Hz

JBL Stage 280F
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JBL Stage 260F JBL Stage 260F
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JBL Stage 280F JBL Stage 280F
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JBL Stage 260F
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JBL Stage 280F
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JBL Stage 260F vs JBL Stage 280F Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Stage 260F and Stage 280F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by JBL

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Stage 260F and JBL Stage 280F first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

JBL Stage 260F Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 45-25k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-225watts
  • Weight:19.55kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1037.0" x 12-1/4" x 14-5/16"( 1037.0 x 312.0 x 364.0mm )

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 260F 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
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
JBL Stage 280F
Floor-standing 39-25k Hz 91 dB6Ω 2 x 8"
JBL Stage 250B
  
Bookshelf 55-25k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 5.25"
JBL Stage 260F
Floor-standing 45-25k Hz 90 dB6Ω 2 x 6.5"
JBL Stage 240B
  
Bookshelf 65-25k Hz 85 dB6Ω 1 x 4.5"
JBL Stage 245C
  
Center Channel 82-25k Hz 91 dB6Ω 4 x 4.5"
JBL Stage 240H
  
Surround 100-25k Hz 85 dB6Ω 1 x 4.5"

What size room are the JBL Stage 260F 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 260F JBL Stage 280F
Near-field Bad Bad
Small Room Poor Poor
Mid-size Room Average Average
Large Room Good Good
Very Large Room Average 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 260F 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.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Stage 260F and Stage 280F are 3-way speakers.

Driver JBL Stage 260F JBL Stage 280F
Driver Setup 3-way 3-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 6.5-inch 2 x 8-inch

Stage 260F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 280F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

Stage 260F has a frequency range of 45-25k 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 260F's min frequency of 45Hz.

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 Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

Stage 260F
Stage 280F
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

JBL Stage 260F
JBL Stage 280F
Min
Average
Max

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 260F and Stage 280F have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Stage 260F sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the Stage 280F's is at 91 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 260F, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

Stage 260F
Stage 280F
Min
Average
Max

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 260F and Stage 280F has the same power range of 20-225 watts.

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 260F 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 260F 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 260F's and JBL Stage 280F's external dimensions. JBL Stage 260F has external dimensions of 1037.0 x 312.0 x 364.0mm ( 40-13/16inch x 12-1/4inch x 14-5/16inch ) 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 47mm wider, 76mm taller and 56mm deeper than JBL Stage 260F.

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 260F is approximately 1135.7cm2 / 176.0inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage 280F is approximately 1507.8cm2 / 233.7inch2. The Stage 260F requires 25% less surface area than the Stage 280F which gives it a small advantage 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 Stage 260F weighs 19.55kg / 43lbs and the JBL Stage 280F weighs 25.09kg / 55.2lbs. This makes the Stage 280F 28% heavier than the Stage 260F.

Here is a comparison of how Stage 260F and Stage 280F's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.

Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
JBL Stage 260F
JBL Stage 280F
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of JBL Stage 260F?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 260F:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinth 4 Spikes 4 Screws Hex-key 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

  • Reasons to choose JBL Stage 260F over JBL Stage 280F
    Height 1037mm vs 1113mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 1135cm2 vs 1507cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 999USD vs 1199USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage 280F over JBL Stage 260F

    Sensitivity 91 dB vs 90 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 6.5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 39 Hz vs 45 Hz Generates deeper bass
    JBL Stage 260F vs JBL Stage 280F Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage 260F JBL Stage 280F
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-225 watts 20-225 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 91 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 45-25k Hz 39-25k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 8"
    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 N/A" N/A"
    Firing Direction rear rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 1037.0mm (40.8") 1113.0mm (43.8")
    Width 312.0mm (12.3") 359.0mm (14.1")
    Depth 364.0mm (14.3") 420.0mm (16.5")
    Weight 19.55kg (43lbs) 25.09kg (55.2lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF/Wood-grain vinyl MDF/Wood-grain vinyl
    Available Colors Espresso,Latte Espresso,Latte
    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

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