In this review, we will be comparing Studio 2 55IW and IWSUB8, two Passive In-wall speakers from JBL and Focal. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 2 55IW and Focal IWSUB8 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Studio 2 55IW Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer
- 40-20kHz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 359.0" x 6.4375" x 3.3750"( 359.0 x 164.0 x 86.0mm )
Focal IWSUB8 Key Specs
- 1-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 8" Polyglass Woofer
- 34-140HzHz Frequency Response
- --- Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 200watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 347.0" x 13.6250" x 4.2500"( 347.0 x 347.0 x 108.0mm )
What size room are the JBL Studio 2 55IW and Focal IWSUB8 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 Studio 2 55IW |
Focal IWSUB8 |
| 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 Studio 2 55IW and Focal IWSUB8 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 Studio 2 55IW is a 2-way design whereas the IWSUB8 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 |
Focal IWSUB8 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
1-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Studio 2 55IW features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the IWSUB8 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polyglass Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 2 55IW has a frequency range of 40-20kHz whereas IWSUB8 has a frequency range of 34-140HzHz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the IWSUB8 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
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
Studio 2 55IW and IWSUB8 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Studio 2 55IW sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the IWSUB8's is at ---. This 88 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 2 55IW a more sensitive speaker compared to Focal IWSUB8, 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 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 2 55IW has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 80 watts less than the IWSUB8.
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 IWSUB8 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 Focal IWSUB8'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 Focal IWSUB8 has external dimensions of 347.0 x 347.0 x 108.0mm ( 13.6250-inch x 13.6250-inch x 4.2500-inch) .
JBL Studio 2 55IW is 183mm narrower and 22mm less deeper than Focal IWSUB8 but it is also 12mm taller.
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 Focal IWSUB8?
Here are the items that come with the IWSUB8:
Passive in-wall subwooferMagnetic mounting frameMetal-mesh grille2 Angled mounting bracketsThirty-six 30mm screwsTwelve 13.5
Driver Setup 
Number of Woofers 
Base Surface Area 
Max Input Power 
High Frequency Response 
Height 
Price per pair*