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.
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 )
Monitor Audio IWS-10 Key Specs
- 1-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 10" C-CAM/RDT Woofer
- 28-120Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:150watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Studio 2 55IW and Monitor Audio IWS-10 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 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.
| 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.
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 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. 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 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 2 55IW has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 30 watts less than the IWS-10.
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 IWS-10 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 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 loudspeakerGrilleCloth scrimCut-Out TemplateInstruction Manual
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio IWS-10?
Here are the items that come with the IWS-10:
In-wall passive subwooferGrille (pre-installed)Installation GuideTemplateImportant Safety Instructions