In this review, we will be comparing Studio 6 88LCR and IW Sub Reference, two Passive In-wall speakers from JBL and Definitive Technology. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 6 88LCR and Definitive IW Sub Reference first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Studio 6 88LCR and Definitive IW Sub Reference 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Studio 6 88LCR and Definitive IW Sub Reference 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 6 88LCR is a 2-way design whereas the IW Sub Reference 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 6 88LCR |
Definitive IW Sub Reference |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
1-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 13-inch
|
Studio 6 88LCR features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the IW Sub Reference features a " Tweeter and 1 x 13" Not given Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 6 88LCR has a frequency range of 43-20kHz whereas IW Sub Reference has a frequency range of 14-200Hz. With a minimum frequency of 14Hz, the IW Sub Reference can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 6 88LCR's min frequency of 43Hz.
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
Definitive IW Sub Reference
Impedance and Sensitivity
Studio 6 88LCR is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the IW Sub Reference which has a nominal impedance of 4 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the IW Sub Reference can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 6 88LCR sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the IW Sub Reference's is rated at ---. This 96 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 6 88LCR a more sensitive speaker compared to Definitive IW Sub Reference, 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 6 88LCR can handle a max power of 275 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 6 88LCR has a max power handling value of 175 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the IW Sub Reference.
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 6 88LCR features Spring post type posts and IW Sub Reference 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 6 88LCR's and Definitive IW Sub Reference's external dimensions. JBL Studio 6 88LCR has external dimensions of 520.0 x 223.0 x 96.0mm ( 20.4375-inch x 8.7500-inch x 3.7500-inch) whereas Definitive IW Sub Reference has external dimensions of 639.0 x 366.0 x 102.0mm ( 25.1250-inch x 14.3750-inch x 4.0000-inch) .
Definitive IW Sub Reference is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 143mm wider, 119mm taller and 6mm deeper than JBL Studio 6 88LCR.
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 6 88LCR?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 6 88LCR:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
What's in the Box of Definitive IW Sub Reference?
Here are the items that come with the IW Sub Reference:
In-wall subwooferGrille (attached)4 Long self-adhesive foam gaskets3 Short self-adhesive foam gaskets8 ScrewsWall-templatePaint maskOwners ManualOnline Product Registration card