In this review, we will be comparing Stage 280F and Concord, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and KLH. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 280F and KLH Concord first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage 280F and KLH Concord 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 280F is a 3-way design whereas the Concord 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.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 280F |
KLH Concord |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Stage 280F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer .
Frequency Response
Stage 280F has a frequency range of 39-25k Hz whereas Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 280F's min frequency of 39Hz.
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
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 280F is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Concord which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Stage 280F sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Concord's is rated at 94 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the KLH Concord a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 280F, 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. 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 280F can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Concord has a max power handling value of watts RMS, 225 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 280F features 5-Way post type posts and Concord has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
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 280F's and KLH Concord'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 KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm ( 40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) .
JBL Stage 280F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 147mm wider, 87mm taller and 40mm deeper than KLH Concord.
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 KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2. The Stage 280F requires 87% more surface area than the Concord which gives it a small disadvantage 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 280F weighs 25.09kg / 55.2lbs and the KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the Stage 280F 23% heavier than the Concord.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 280F and Concord's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
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 KLH Concord?
Here are the items that come with the Concord:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)4 Protective discs4 Rubber feetPort plugManualATTENTION! note
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Sensitivity |
94 dB
vs
91 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1026mm
vs
1113mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2 (212x380mm)
vs
1507cm2 (359x420mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1000USD
vs
1199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage 280F |
KLH Concord |
| Brand |
JBL |
KLH |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
up to 225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
94 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
39-25k Hz |
28-23k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1113.0mm (43.8") |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
| Width |
359.0mm (14.1") |
212.0mm (8.3") |
| Depth |
420.0mm (16.5") |
380.0mm (15") |
| Weight |
25.09kg (55.2lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
10 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
10 Years |