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JBL Stage 280W vs JBL Stage 250WL Comparison

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JBL Stage 280W

Passive In-wall | 42-25kHz

JBL Stage 280W
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JBL Stage 250WL

Passive In-wall | 52-25kHz

JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage 280W JBL Stage 280W
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JBL Stage 250WL JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage 280W
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JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage 280W vs JBL Stage 250WL Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Stage 280W and Stage 250WL, two Passive In-wall speakers by JBL

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Stage 280W and JBL Stage 250WL first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

JBL Stage 280W Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
  • 8" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 42-25kHz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-120watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 374.0" x 9.3750" x 3.8750"( 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm )

JBL Stage 250WL Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 52-25kHz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-120watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 461.0" x 6.3750" x 3.8125"( 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm )

Stage 280W and Stage 250WL are members of JBL's Stage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

JBL Stage Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
JBL A130
  
Bookshelf 55-40k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 5.25"
JBL A120
  
Bookshelf 60-40k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 4.5"
JBL Stage A190
  
Floor-standing 36-40k Hz 91 dB6Ω 2 x 8"
JBL Stage A180
  
Floor-standing 40-40k Hz 90 dB6Ω 2 x 6.5"
JBL Stage A135C
  
Center Channel 75-40k Hz 90 dB6Ω 6 x 3"
JBL Stage A170
  
Floor-standing 44-40k Hz 89 dB6Ω 2 x 5.25"
JBL Stage A125C
  
Center Channel 75-40k Hz 88 dB6Ω 2 x 5.24"
JBL Stage 280W
In-wall 42-25kHz 90 dB8Ω 1 x 8"
JBL Stage 260W
  
In-wall 50-25kHz 87 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
JBL Stage 250WL
In-wall 52-25kHz 90 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"

What size room are the JBL Stage 280W and JBL Stage 250WL 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 280W JBL Stage 250WL
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage 280W and JBL Stage 250WL 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 280W and Stage 250WL are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL Stage 280W JBL Stage 250WL
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 8-inch 2 x 5.25-inch

Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 250WL features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz whereas Stage 250WL has a frequency range of 52-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Stage 280W can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 250WL's min frequency of 52Hz.

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 In-wall class in our database.

Low Frequency

In-wall Speakers

Stage 280W
Stage 250WL
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

In-wall Speakers

JBL Stage 280W
JBL Stage 250WL
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 280W and Stage 250WL have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.

Sensitivity

In-wall Speakers

Stage 280W
Stage 250WL
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 280W and Stage 250WL has the same power range of 20-120 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 280W features Spring post type posts and Stage 250WL has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

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 280W's and JBL Stage 250WL's external dimensions. JBL Stage 280W has external dimensions of 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm ( 14.6875-inch x 9.3750-inch x 3.8750-inch) whereas JBL Stage 250WL has external dimensions of 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm ( 18.1250-inch x 6.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch) .

JBL Stage 250WL is 77mm narrower and 2mm less deeper than JBL Stage 280W but it is also 87mm taller.

What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 280W:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Quick Start Guide
  • What's in the Box of JBL Stage 250WL?

    Here are the items that come with the Stage 250WL:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Quick Start Guide

  • Reasons to choose JBL Stage 280W over JBL Stage 250WL
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 42 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Height 374mm vs 461mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 450USD vs 500USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage 250WL over JBL Stage 280W

    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Base Surface Area 157cm2 vs 236cm2 Takes less floor space
    JBL Stage 280W vs JBL Stage 250WL Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage 280W JBL Stage 250WL
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Passive In-wall Speaker Passive In-wall Speaker
    Power Range 20-120 watts 20-120 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 90 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 42-25kHz 52-25kHz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 8" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Polycellulose Polycellulose
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Horn-Loaded Horn-Loaded
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver N/A" N/A"
    Physical Specs
    Height 374.0mm (14.7") 461.0mm (18.1")
    Width 239.0mm (9.4") 162.0mm (6.4")
    Depth 99.0mm (3.9") 97.0mm (3.8")
    Enclosure In-wall In-wall
    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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