In this review, we will be comparing Studio 6 88LCR and W280-IDC, two Passive In-wall speakers from JBL and Monitor Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 6 88LCR and Monitor Audio W280-IDC first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Studio 6 88LCR Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer
- 43-20kHz Frequency Response
- 96 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:10-175watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 520.0" x 8.7500" x 3.7500"( 520.0 x 223.0 x 96.0mm )
Monitor Audio W280-IDC Key Specs
- 3-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Midrange
- 8" C-CAM Woofer
- 4" Midrange
- 45-30kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:30-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 388.0" x 9.1875" x 3.6875"( 388.0 x 234.0 x 94.0mm )
What size room are the JBL Studio 6 88LCR and Monitor Audio W280-IDC 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 6 88LCR |
Monitor Audio W280-IDC |
| 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 6 88LCR and Monitor Audio W280-IDC 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Studio 6 88LCR is a 2-way design whereas the W280-IDC is a 3-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 |
Monitor Audio W280-IDC |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 4-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
Studio 6 88LCR features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the W280-IDC features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter , a 4" Midrange and 1 x 8" C-CAM Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 6 88LCR has a frequency range of 43-20kHz whereas W280-IDC has a frequency range of 45-30kHz. With a minimum frequency of 43Hz, the Studio 6 88LCR can go slightly deeper then the W280-IDC's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 6 88LCR and W280-IDC have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Studio 6 88LCR sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the W280-IDC's is at 90 dB. This 6 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 6 88LCR a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio W280-IDC, 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 175 watts RMS from the amp the whereas W280-IDC has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 55 watts less than the Studio 6 88LCR.
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 W280-IDC 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 Monitor Audio W280-IDC'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 Monitor Audio W280-IDC has external dimensions of 388.0 x 234.0 x 94.0mm ( 15.2500-inch x 9.1875-inch x 3.6875-inch) .
Monitor Audio W280-IDC is 132mm shorter and 2mm less deeper than JBL Studio 6 88LCR but it is also 11mm wider.
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 Monitor Audio W280-IDC?
Here are the items that come with the W280-IDC:
In-Wall speakerGrillePaint skimInstallation GuideImportant Safety InstructionsCutout Template
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Number of Woofers 
Base Surface Area 
Driver Setup 
High Frequency Response 
Height 
Price per pair*