In this review, we will be comparing Studio 2 55IW and W150-LCR, 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 W150-LCR first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Studio 2 55IW | Monitor Audio W150-LCR |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Monitor Audio
United Kingdom · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas | 2 x 5" Metal Matrix Polymer |
|---|
| Frequency response | 40-20kHz | 60-30kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 120 watts | 30-100 watts |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 14.1250" x 6.4375" x 3.3750"
359.0 x 164.0 x 86.0mm | 13.8750" x 5.7500" x 4.0000"
353.0 x 147.0 x 102.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Studio 2 55IW and Monitor Audio W150-LCR 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 W150-LCR |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.
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Drivers
Both Studio 2 55IW and W150-LCR are 2-way speakers.
JBL Studio 2 55IWMonitor Audio W150-LCR
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 2 55IW |
Monitor Audio W150-LCR |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
Studio 2 55IW features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer. On the other hand, the W150-LCR features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5" Metal Matrix Polymer Woofer.
Frequency Response
Studio 2 55IW has a frequency range of 40-20kHz whereas W150-LCR has a frequency range of 60-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Studio 2 55IW can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the W150-LCR's min frequency of 60Hz.
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 W150-LCR have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
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.
Studio 2 55IW can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas W150-LCR has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Studio 2 55IW.
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 W150-LCR 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 W150-LCR'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 W150-LCR has external dimensions of 353.0 x 147.0 x 102.0mm (13.8750-inch x 5.7500-inch x 4.0000-inch).
Monitor Audio W150-LCR is 17mm narrower and 6mm shorter than JBL Studio 2 55IW but it is also 16mm deeper.
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 W150-LCR?
Here are the items that come with the W150-LCR:
- In-wall speaker
- Grille
- Paint skim
- Installation Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Cutout Template