In this review, we will be comparing Studio 680 and RP-280F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 680 and Klipsch RP-280F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Studio 680 | Klipsch RP-280F |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" PolyPlas | 2 x 8" Cerametallic |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-40k Hz | 32-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 98 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 200 watts | up to 150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 22.68kg / 49.9lbs | 28.41kg / 62.5lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40-3/4" x 8-15/16" x 12-1/16"
1036.0 x 228.0 x 307.0mm | 43-1/16" x 10-9/16" x 17-3/8"
1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Studio 680 and Klipsch RP-280F 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 |
Klipsch RP-280F |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Studio 680 and RP-280F are 2-way speakers.
JBL Studio 680Klipsch RP-280F
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 680 |
Klipsch RP-280F |
|
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 RP-280F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 8" Cerametallic Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1750 Hz.
Frequency Response
Studio 680 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas RP-280F has a frequency range of 32-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the RP-280F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 680's min frequency of 38Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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 680 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the RP-280F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 680 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the RP-280F's is rated at 98 dB. This 10 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-280F 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Studio 680 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas RP-280F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Studio 680.
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.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Both Studio 680 and RP-280F 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
Klipsch RP-280F's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Studio 680 and RP-280F 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
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 680's and Klipsch RP-280F'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 Klipsch RP-280F has external dimensions of 1094.0 x 269.0 x 442.0mm (43-1/16 x 10-9/16 x 17-3/8inch).
Klipsch RP-280F is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 41mm wider, 58mm taller and 135mm deeper than JBL Studio 680.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch RP-280F needs about 70% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch RP-280F is 135mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Klipsch RP-280F is 58mm taller.
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 Klipsch RP-280F is approximately 1189.0cm2 / 184.3inch2. The Studio 680 requires 41% less surface area than the RP-280F 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 Klipsch RP-280F weighs 28.41kg / 62.5lbs. This makes the RP-280F 25% heavier than the Studio 680.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 680 and RP-280F'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 loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet
- 4 Washers
- 4 Locking-collars
- 4 Foot pads
- 2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Klipsch RP-280F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-280F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker (Ebony)
- Speaker base
- Detachable magnetic grille
- Four 1-inch #6 Wood screws
- 4 Spike feet
- 6 Rubber feet
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
- Important Safety Instructions
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
1036mm
vs
1094mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
700cm2
vs
1189cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
98 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
JBL Studio 680 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-280F |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 200 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
98 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
32-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
PolyPlas |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1750 Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1036.0mm (40.8") |
1094.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
228.0mm (9") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
307.0mm (12.1") |
442.0mm (17.4") |
| Weight |
22.68kg (49.9lbs) |
28.41kg (62.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Wood, Dark Wood |
Walnut, Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: JBL Studio 680 is the newer design, against a 2015 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Klipsch RP-280F digs deeper - 32Hz against 38Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch RP-280F is more sensitive (98dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Klipsch RP-280F is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | JBL Studio 680 takes more power (200W vs 150W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | JBL Studio 680 is easier to place; Klipsch RP-280F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | JBL Studio 680: bi-amping; Klipsch RP-280F: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($1,198 vs $1,198 a pair). |
A JBL Studio 680 B Klipsch RP-280F
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Klipsch RP-280F has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 38Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate JBL Studio 680 the better fit for a very large room, and Klipsch RP-280F for a mid-size room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.