In this review, we will be comparing Studio 2 55IW and IWSub 1010, two Passive In-wall speakers from JBL and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 2 55IW and Definitive IWSub 1010 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Studio 2 55IW and Definitive IWSub 1010 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Studio 2 55IW and Definitive IWSub 1010 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Studio 2 55IW is a 2-way design whereas the IWSub 1010 is a 1-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 Studio 2 55IW |
Definitive IWSub 1010 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
1-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 10-inch
|
Studio 2 55IW features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the IWSub 1010 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 10" Not given Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 2 55IW has a frequency range of 40-20kHz whereas IWSub 1010 has a frequency range of 16-200Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the IWSub 1010 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 2 55IW's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
Impedance and Sensitivity
Studio 2 55IW is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the IWSub 1010 which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the IWSub 1010 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 2 55IW sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the IWSub 1010's is rated at 0 dB. This 88 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 2 55IW a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive IWSub 1010, 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.
Studio 2 55IW can handle a max power of 275 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 2 55IW has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 155 watts less than the IWSub 1010.
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
Studio 2 55IW features Spring post type posts and IWSub 1010 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 Studio 2 55IW's and Definitive IWSub 1010's external dimensions. JBL Studio 2 55IW has external dimensions of 359.0 x 164.0 x 86.0mm ( 14.1250-inch x 6.4375-inch x 3.3750-inch) whereas Definitive IWSub 1010 has external dimensions of 505.0 x 366.0 x 97.0mm ( 19.8750-inch x 14.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch) .
Definitive IWSub 1010 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 202mm wider, 146mm taller and 11mm deeper than JBL Studio 2 55IW.
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 2 55IW?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 2 55IW:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCloth scrimCut-Out TemplateInstruction Manual
What's in the Box of Definitive IWSub 1010?
Here are the items that come with the IWSub 1010:
In-wall subwooferGrille (attached)7 Self-adhesive foam gaskets6 ScrewsWall-templatePaint maskOwners ManualOnline Product Registration card