In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage 280F is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Stage 250B is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 280F and JBL Stage 250B first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 280F | JBL Stage 250B |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 8" Polycellulose | 5.25" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 39-25k Hz | 55-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-225 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 25.09kg / 55.2lbs | 5.64kg / 12.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 43-13/16" x 14-1/8" x 16-1/2"
1113.0 x 359.0 x 420.0mm | 12-5/8" x 7-15/16" x 9-1/2"
321.0 x 202.0 x 242.0mm |
|---|
Stage 280F and Stage 250B 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 280F and JBL Stage 250B 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 280F |
JBL Stage 250B |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Stage 280F is a 3-way design whereas the Stage 250B is a 2-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 280FJBL Stage 250B
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 280F |
JBL Stage 250B |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Stage 280F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 250B features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 280F has a frequency range of 39-25k Hz whereas Stage 250B has a frequency range of 55-25k 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.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 280F and Stage 250B have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Stage 280F sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Stage 250B's is at 86 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
Floor-standing 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 250B 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 280F features 5-Way post type posts and Stage 250B has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Stage 280F and Stage 250B 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 280F's and JBL Stage 250B's external dimensions. 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) whereas 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).
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 280F is approximately 1507.8cm2 / 233.7inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage 250B is approximately 488.8cm2 / 75.8inch2. The Stage 280F requires 208% more surface area than the Stage 250B which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 280F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinth 4 Spikes 4 Screws Hex-key Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 250B?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 250B:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions