In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW is a In-wall speaker whereas the Studio 680 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW and JBL Studio 680 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 6.5" Polyplas Woofer
- 45-20kHz Frequency Response
- 91 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:10-70watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 275.0" x 7.1250" x 3.6875"( 275.0 x 181.0 x 94.0mm )
JBL Studio 680 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" PolyPlas Woofer
- 38-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 88 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 200watts
- Weight:22.68kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1036.0" x 8-15/16" x 12-1/16"( 1036.0 x 228.0 x 307.0mm )
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW and Studio 680 are members of JBL's Studio series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
JBL Studio Series History
What size room are the JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW and JBL Studio 680 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 Architectural 6IW |
JBL Studio 680 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Good |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
Average |
(* 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 Architectural 6IW and JBL Studio 680 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
Both Studio 6 Architectural 6IW and Studio 680 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW |
JBL Studio 680 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyplas Woofer . On the other hand, the Studio 680 features a 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" PolyPlas Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW has a frequency range of 45-20kHz whereas Studio 680 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 38Hz, the Studio 680 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 6 Architectural 6IW'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
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW
High Frequency
In-wall Speakers
JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW
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 Architectural 6IW and Studio 680 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Studio 6 Architectural 6IW sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Studio 680's is at 88 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Studio 680, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall Speakers
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW
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 Architectural 6IW can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 6 Architectural 6IW has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS , 130 watts less than the Studio 680.
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 680 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Studio 6 Architectural 6IW has a Spring post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL Studio 680's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 Architectural 6IW's and JBL Studio 680's external dimensions. JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW has external dimensions of 275.0 x 181.0 x 94.0mm ( 10.8125-inch x 7.1250-inch x 3.6875-inch) whereas JBL Studio 680 has external dimensions of 1036.0 x 228.0 x 307.0mm ( 40-3/4-inch x 8-15/16-inch x 12-1/16-inch) .
JBL Studio 680 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 47mm wider, 761mm taller and 213mm deeper than JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW.
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 6 Architectural 6IW:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 680?
Here are the items that come with the Studio 680:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Washers4 Locking-collars4 Foot pads2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
Sensitivity 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Number of Woofers 
High Frequency Response 
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring