In this review, we will be comparing Studio 690 and C 97 II, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Jamo. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 690 and Jamo C 97 II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Studio 690 and Jamo C 97 II 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Studio 690 and Jamo C 97 II 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Studio 690 is a 2-way design whereas the C 97 II is a 3-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 690 |
Jamo C 97 II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 6-inch |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6-inch
|
Studio 690 features a 1" compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" PolyPlas Woofer . On the other hand, the C 97 II features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 3 x 6" Composite Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas C 97 II has a frequency range of 32-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the C 97 II can go slightly deeper then the Studio 690's min frequency of 36Hz.
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 690 and C 97 II have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Studio 690 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the C 97 II's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Studio 690 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo C 97 II, 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 690 can handle a max power of 250 watts RMS from the amp the whereas C 97 II has a max power handling value of 180 watts RMS, 70 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 690 and C 97 II features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
JBL Studio 690's 5-Way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Jamo C 97 II's Posts terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Studio 690 and C 97 II 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 690's and Jamo C 97 II's external dimensions. 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) whereas Jamo C 97 II has external dimensions of 1070.0 x 248.0 x 402.0mm ( 42-1/8 x 9-3/4 x 15-13/16inch) .
Jamo C 97 II is 51mm narrower and 26mm shorter than JBL Studio 690 but it is also 19mm deeper.
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 690 is approximately 1145.2cm2 / 177.5inch2 and base area of the Jamo C 97 II is approximately 997.0cm2 / 154.5inch2. The Studio 690 requires 15% more surface area than the C 97 II which gives it a small disadvantage 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 690 weighs 29.45kg / 64.8lbs and the Jamo C 97 II weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the Studio 690 20% heavier than the C 97 II.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 690 and C 97 II'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 690?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Studio 690:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Spike feet4 Washers4 Locking-collars4 Foot-pads2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of Jamo C 97 II?
Here are the items that come with the C 97 II:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outrigger feet4 Spikes (pre-installed on outrigger feet)4 Rubber feet8 Machine screws2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Hex-keyUser ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
180 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1070mm
vs
1096mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
997cm2 (248x402mm)
vs
1145cm2 (299x383mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
1378USD
vs
1498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Studio 690 |
Jamo Concert 9 Series C 97 II |
| Brand |
JBL |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
50-180 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
32-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6" |
| Woofer Composition |
PolyPlas |
Composite |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
6" |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
1070.0mm (42.1") |
| Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
248.0mm (9.8") |
| Depth |
383.0mm (15.1") |
402.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
29.45kg (64.8lbs) |
24.55kg (54lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Wood, Dark Wood |
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 |