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JBL Studio 2 8IW vs JBL Studio 6 Theater Comparison

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JBL Studio 2 8IW

Passive In-wall | 30-20kHz

JBL Studio 2 8IW
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JBL Studio 6 Theater

Passive In-wall | 65-20kHz

JBL Studio 6 Theater
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JBL Studio 2 8IW JBL Studio 2 8IW
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JBL Studio 6 Theater JBL Studio 6 Theater
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JBL Studio 2 8IW
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JBL Studio 6 Theater
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JBL Studio 2 8IW vs JBL Studio 6 Theater Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Studio 2 8IW and Studio 6 Theater, two Passive In-wall speakers by JBL

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Studio 2 8IW and JBL Studio 6 Theater first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

JBL Studio 2 8IW Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 8" PolyPlas Woofer
  • 30-20kHz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 100watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 304.0" x 8.9375" x 3.6875"( 304.0 x 228.0 x 94.0mm )

JBL Studio 6 Theater Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
  • 4 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer
  • 65-20kHz Frequency Response
  • 96 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:10-150watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 643.0" x 6.2500" x 3.7500"( 643.0 x 159.0 x 96.0mm )

Studio 2 8IW and Studio 6 Theater are members of JBL's Studio series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

JBL Studio Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
JBL Studio 630
  
Bookshelf 45-40k Hz 85 dB6Ω 1 x 6.25"
JBL Studio 620
  
Bookshelf 50-40k Hz 84 dB6Ω 1 x 5.25"
JBL Studio 680
  
Floor-standing 38-40k Hz 88 dB6Ω 2 x 6.5"
JBL Studio 690
  
Floor-standing 36-40k Hz 90 dB6Ω 2 x 8"
JBL Studio 6 88LCR
  
In-wall 43-20kHz 96 dB6Ω 2 x 8"
JBL Studio 2 55IW
  
In-wall 40-20kHz 88 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"
JBL Studio 6 Theater
In-wall 65-20kHz 96 dB6Ω 4 x 5.25"
JBL Studio 6 66LCR
  
In-wall 45-20kHz 94 dB6Ω 2 x 6.5"
JBL Studio 6 Architectural 8IW
  
In-wall 43-20kHz 93 dB6Ω 1 x 8"
JBL Studio 2 8IW
In-wall 30-20kHz 88 dB8Ω 1 x 8"

What size room are the JBL Studio 2 8IW and JBL Studio 6 Theater 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 8IW JBL Studio 6 Theater
Near-field Average Poor
Small Room Good Average
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Average
Very Large Room Bad 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 8IW and JBL Studio 6 Theater compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Studio 2 8IW and Studio 6 Theater are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL Studio 2 8IW JBL Studio 6 Theater
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 8-inch 4 x 5.25-inch

Studio 2 8IW features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the Studio 6 Theater features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer .

Frequency Response

Studio 2 8IW has a frequency range of 30-20kHz whereas Studio 6 Theater has a frequency range of 65-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Studio 2 8IW can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 6 Theater's min frequency of 65Hz.

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

Studio 2 8IW
Studio 6 Theater
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

In-wall Speakers

JBL Studio 2 8IW
JBL Studio 6 Theater
Min
Average
Max

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 8IW is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the Studio 6 Theater which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 2 8IW sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Studio 6 Theater's is rated at 96 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 6 Theater a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Studio 2 8IW, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

In-wall Speakers

Studio 2 8IW
Studio 6 Theater
Min
Average
Max

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 8IW can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 2 8IW has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Studio 6 Theater.

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 8IW features Spring posts type posts and Studio 6 Theater has a Spring posts 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 8IW's and JBL Studio 6 Theater's external dimensions. JBL Studio 2 8IW has external dimensions of 304.0 x 228.0 x 94.0mm ( 11.9375-inch x 8.9375-inch x 3.6875-inch) whereas JBL Studio 6 Theater has external dimensions of 643.0 x 159.0 x 96.0mm ( 25.3125-inch x 6.2500-inch x 3.7500-inch) .

JBL Studio 2 8IW is 339mm shorter and 2mm less deeper than JBL Studio 6 Theater but it is also 69mm wider.

What's in the Box of JBL Studio 2 8IW?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 2 8IW:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cloth scrim
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Instruction Manual
  • What's in the Box of JBL Studio 6 Theater?

    Here are the items that come with the Studio 6 Theater:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Quick Start Guide

  • Reasons to choose JBL Studio 2 8IW over JBL Studio 6 Theater
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 30 Hz vs 65 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Height 304mm vs 643mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Price per pair* 700USD vs 2600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL Studio 6 Theater over JBL Studio 2 8IW

    Max Input Power 150 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 96 dB vs 88 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Number of Woofers 4 vs 1 More woofers
    Base Surface Area 152cm2 vs 214cm2 Takes less floor space
    JBL Studio 2 8IW vs JBL Studio 6 Theater Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Studio 2 8IW JBL Studio 6 Theater
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Passive In-wall Speaker Passive In-wall Speaker
    Power Range up to 100 watts 10-150 watts
    Sensitivity 88 dB 96 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 30-20kHz 65-20kHz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 4
    Woofer Size 8" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition PolyPlas PolyPlas
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Hard-Dome Horn-Loaded
    Aimable Tweeter Yes No
    Midrange Driver N/A" N/A"
    Physical Specs
    Height 304.0mm (12") 643.0mm (25.3")
    Width 228.0mm (9") 159.0mm (6.3")
    Depth 94.0mm (3.7") 96.0mm (3.8")
    Enclosure In-wall In-wall
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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