In this review, we will be comparing Studio 2 55IW and IWS-10, two Passive In-wall speakers from JBL and Monitor Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 2 55IW and Monitor Audio IWS-10 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Studio 2 55IW | Monitor Audio IWS-10 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 1-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas | 10" C-CAM/RDT |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-20kHz | 28-120Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 150 watts |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.1250" x 6.4375" x 3.3750"
359.0 x 164.0 x 86.0mm | 11.0000" x 11.0000" x 3.5625"
280.0 x 280.0 x 91.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Studio 2 55IW and Monitor Audio IWS-10 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 |
Monitor Audio IWS-10 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Studio 2 55IW is a 2-way design whereas the IWS-10 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.
JBL Studio 2 55IWMonitor Audio IWS-10
TweeterWoofer
Drivers drawn to scale and directly comparable. Cabinet outlines are indicative: full dimensions are not published for both. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 2 55IW |
Monitor Audio IWS-10 |
|
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 IWS-10 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 10" C-CAM/RDT Woofer.
Frequency Response
Studio 2 55IW has a frequency range of 40-20kHz whereas IWS-10 has a frequency range of 28-120Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the IWS-10 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 2 55IW's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Studio 2 55IW and IWS-10 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 IWS-10's is at 86 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 2 55IW a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio IWS-10, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
IWS-10 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas Studio 2 55IW has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the IWS-10.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Studio 2 55IW features Spring post type posts and IWS-10 has a Spring post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Monitor Audio IWS-10'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 Monitor Audio IWS-10 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 280.0 x 91.0mm (11.0000-inch x 11.0000-inch x 3.5625-inch).
JBL Studio 2 55IW is 116mm narrower and 5mm less deeper than Monitor Audio IWS-10 but it is also 79mm 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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- Cloth scrim
- Cut-Out Template
- Instruction Manual
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio IWS-10?
Here are the items that come with the IWS-10:
- In-wall passive subwoofer
- Grille (pre-installed)
- Installation Guide
- Template
- Important Safety Instructions