In this review, we will be comparing Studio 680 and Studio 690, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by JBL Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 680 and JBL Studio 690 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
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 )
JBL Studio 690 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer
- 36-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:up to 250watts
- Weight:29.45kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1096.0" x 11-3/4" x 15-1/16"( 1096.0 x 299.0 x 383.0mm )
Studio 680 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 680 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 680 |
JBL Studio 690 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 680 and JBL Studio 690 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 680 and Studio 690 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 680 |
JBL Studio 690 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 8-inch
|
Studio 680 features a 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 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 680 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the Studio 690 can go slightly deeper then the Studio 680's min frequency of 38Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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 680 and Studio 690 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Studio 680 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the Studio 690's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 690 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Studio 680, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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 680 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 680 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the Studio 690.
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
Both Studio 680 and Studio 690 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
JBL Studio 680's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
JBL Studio 690's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Studio 680 and Studio 690 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 680's and JBL Studio 690's external dimensions. 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) 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 71mm wider, 60mm taller and 76mm deeper than JBL Studio 680.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the JBL Studio 680 is approximately 700.0cm2 / 108.5inch2 and base area of the JBL Studio 690 is approximately 1145.2cm2 / 177.5inch2. The Studio 680 requires 39% less surface area than the Studio 690 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL Studio 680 weighs 22.68kg / 49.9lbs and the JBL Studio 690 weighs 29.45kg / 64.8lbs. This makes the Studio 690 30% heavier than the Studio 680.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 680 and Studio 690's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 680?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 680:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Washers4 Locking-collars4 Foot pads2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of JBL Studio 690?
Here are the items that come with the Studio 690:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Washers4 Locking-collars4 Foot-pads2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card