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JBL Studio 6 Theater vs JBL Studio 2 55IW Comparison

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JBL Studio 6 Theater

Passive In-wall | 65-20kHz

JBL Studio 6 Theater
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JBL Studio 2 55IW

Passive In-wall | 40-20kHz

JBL Studio 2 55IW
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JBL Studio 6 Theater JBL Studio 6 Theater
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JBL Studio 2 55IW JBL Studio 2 55IW
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JBL Studio 6 Theater
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JBL Studio 2 55IW
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JBL Studio 6 Theater vs JBL Studio 2 55IW Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Studio 6 Theater and Studio 2 55IW, two Passive In-wall speakers by JBL

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Studio 6 Theater and JBL Studio 2 55IW first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 )

JBL Studio 2 55IW Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer
  • 40-20kHz Frequency Response
  • 88 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:up to 120watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 359.0" x 6.4375" x 3.3750"( 359.0 x 164.0 x 86.0mm )

Studio 6 Theater and Studio 2 55IW 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 6 Theater and JBL Studio 2 55IW 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 Theater JBL Studio 2 55IW
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 Theater and JBL Studio 2 55IW 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 6 Theater and Studio 2 55IW are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL Studio 6 Theater JBL Studio 2 55IW
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 4 x 5.25-inch 2 x 5.25-inch

Studio 6 Theater features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 4 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the Studio 2 55IW features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" PolyPlas Woofer .

Frequency Response

Studio 6 Theater has a frequency range of 65-20kHz whereas Studio 2 55IW has a frequency range of 40-20kHz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the Studio 2 55IW 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 6 Theater
Studio 2 55IW
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

In-wall Speakers

JBL Studio 6 Theater
JBL Studio 2 55IW
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 6 Theater is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Studio 2 55IW which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 6 Theater sensitivity is rated at 96 dB and the Studio 2 55IW's is rated at 88 dB. This 8 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 6 Theater a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Studio 2 55IW, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

In-wall Speakers

Studio 6 Theater
Studio 2 55IW
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 6 Theater can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 2 55IW has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 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 6 Theater features Spring posts type posts and Studio 2 55IW 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 6 Theater's and JBL Studio 2 55IW's external dimensions. 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) whereas JBL Studio 2 55IW has external dimensions of 359.0 x 164.0 x 86.0mm ( 14.1250-inch x 6.4375-inch x 3.3750-inch) .

JBL Studio 2 55IW is 284mm shorter and 10mm less deeper than JBL Studio 6 Theater but it is also 5mm wider.

What's in the Box of JBL Studio 6 Theater?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 6 Theater:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Quick Start Guide
  • What's in the Box of JBL Studio 2 55IW?

    Here are the items that come with the Studio 2 55IW:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cloth scrim
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Instruction Manual

  • Reasons to choose JBL Studio 6 Theater over JBL Studio 2 55IW
    Max Input Power 150 watts vs 120 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 2 More woofers

    Reasons to choose JBL Studio 2 55IW over JBL Studio 6 Theater

    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Low Frequency Response 40 Hz vs 65 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Height 359mm vs 643mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 141cm2 vs 152cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 600USD vs 2600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    JBL Studio 6 Theater vs JBL Studio 2 55IW Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Studio 6 Theater JBL Studio 2 55IW
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Passive In-wall Speaker Passive In-wall Speaker
    Power Range 10-150 watts up to 120 watts
    Sensitivity 96 dB 88 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 65-20kHz 40-20kHz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 4 2
    Woofer Size 5.25" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition PolyPlas PolyPlas
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Horn-Loaded Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No Yes
    Midrange Driver N/A" N/A"
    Physical Specs
    Height 643.0mm (25.3") 359.0mm (14.1")
    Width 159.0mm (6.3") 164.0mm (6.5")
    Depth 96.0mm (3.8") 86.0mm (3.4")
    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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