In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW is a In-wall speaker whereas the Studio 690 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW and JBL Studio 690 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW | JBL Studio 690 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Horn-Loaded | 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polyplas | 2 x 8" PolyPlas |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20kHz | 36-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-70 watts | up to 250 watts |
|---|
| Weight | — | 29.45kg / 64.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.8125" x 7.1250" x 3.6875"
275.0 x 181.0 x 94.0mm | 43-1/8" x 11-3/4" x 15-1/16"
1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm |
|---|
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW and Studio 690 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 690 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 690 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Studio 6 Architectural 6IW and Studio 690 are 2-way speakers.
JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IWJBL Studio 690
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 6 Architectural 6IW |
JBL Studio 690 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polyplas Woofer. On the other hand, the Studio 690 features a 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer.
Frequency Response
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW has a frequency range of 45-20kHz whereas Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Studio 690 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 6 Architectural 6IW's min frequency of 45Hz.
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
Studio 6 Architectural 6IW
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 6 Architectural 6IW and Studio 690 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 690's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Studio 690, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Studio 690 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS, whereas Studio 6 Architectural 6IW has a max power handling value of 70 watts RMS, 180 watts less than the Studio 690.
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.
JBL Studio 6 Architectural 6IW
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Studio 690 features 5-Way 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 690's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or 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 6 Architectural 6IW's and JBL Studio 690'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 690 has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm (43-1/8-inch x 11-3/4-inch x 15-1/16-inch).
JBL Studio 690 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 118mm wider, 821mm taller and 289mm 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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- Cut-Out Template
- Quick Start Guide
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 690?
Here are the items that come with the Studio 690:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Washers
- 4 Locking-collars
- 4 Foot-pads
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card