In this review, we will be comparing Stage 280W and RC55i, two Passive In-wall speakers from JBL and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 280W and Polk Audio RC55i 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 )
Polk Audio RC55i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer
- 70-20kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 245.0" x 6.1875" x 2.0120"( 245.0 x 158.0 x 52.0mm )
What size room are the JBL Stage 280W and Polk Audio RC55i 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 |
Polk Audio RC55i |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Polk Audio RC55i 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
Both Stage 280W and RC55i are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 280W |
Polk Audio RC55i |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
0.75-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the RC55i features a 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polypropylene Woofer .
Frequency Response
Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz whereas RC55i has a frequency range of 70-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Stage 280W can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RC55i's min frequency of 70Hz.
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
High Frequency
In-wall 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 280W and RC55i have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Stage 280W sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RC55i's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280W a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio RC55i, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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 280W can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RC55i has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Stage 280W.
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 clip type posts and RC55i has a Spring clip 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 Polk Audio RC55i'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 Polk Audio RC55i has external dimensions of 245.0 x 158.0 x 52.0mm ( 9.6250-inch x 6.1875-inch x 2.0120-inch) .
JBL Stage 280W is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 81mm wider, 129mm taller and 47mm deeper than Polk Audio RC55i.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 280W:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Polk Audio RC55i?
Here are the items that come with the RC55i:
2 White in-wall speakers2 White grilles1 Cardboard Mounting TemplateOwners ManualOnline registration sheetProduct Registration Card
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair*