In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Studio 2 55IW is a In-wall speaker whereas the Studio 690 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 2 55IW and JBL Studio 690 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 )
JBL Studio 690 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer
- 36-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 250watts
- Weight:29.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1096.0" x 11-3/4" x 15-1/16"( 1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm )
Studio 2 55IW and Studio 690 are members of JBL's Studio series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
JBL Studio Series History
What size room are the JBL Studio 2 55IW and JBL Studio 690 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 |
JBL Studio 690 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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 JBL Studio 690 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 Studio 2 55IW and Studio 690 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 2 55IW |
JBL Studio 690 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Studio 2 55IW features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the Studio 690 features a 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 2 55IW has a frequency range of 40-20kHz whereas Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Studio 690 can go slightly deeper then 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 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Studio 690 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 2 55IW sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Studio 690's is rated at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 690 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Studio 2 55IW, 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 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 2 55IW has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 130 watts less than the Studio 690.
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 690 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Studio 2 55IW has a Spring posts which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL Studio 690's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 JBL Studio 690'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 JBL Studio 690 has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm ( 43-1/8-inch x 11-3/4-inch x 15-1/16-inch) .
JBL Studio 690 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 135mm wider, 737mm taller and 297mm 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 JBL Studio 690?
Here are the items that come with the Studio 690:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Washers4 Locking-collars4 Foot-pads2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
Nominal Impedance 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response 
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring