In this review, we will be comparing Studio 690 and R-820F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 690 and Klipsch R-820F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
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 )
Klipsch R-820F Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer
- 35-21k Hz Frequency Response
- 97 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 150watts
- Weight:24.55kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1096.0" x 10-7/8" x 16-3/4"( 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm )
What size room are the JBL Studio 690 and Klipsch R-820F 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 690 |
Klipsch R-820F |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Studio 690 and Klipsch R-820F 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 690 and R-820F are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 690 |
Klipsch R-820F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
2 x 8-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 R-820F features a 1" Tweeter and 2 x 8" Copper-spun IMG Woofer .
Frequency Response
Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas R-820F has a frequency range of 35-21k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the R-820F 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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the R-820F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Studio 690 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the R-820F's is rated at 97 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-820F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Studio 690, 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 R-820F has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 100 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
Studio 690 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. R-820F has a 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
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 Klipsch R-820F'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 Klipsch R-820F has external dimensions of 1096.0 x 277.0 x 426.0mm ( 43-1/8 x 10-7/8 x 16-3/4inch) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Studio 690 and Klipsch R-820F in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Studio 690 and Klipsch R-820F Size and External Dimensions
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 Klipsch R-820F is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2. The Studio 690 requires 3% less surface area than the R-820F 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 690 weighs 29.45kg / 64.8lbs and the Klipsch R-820F weighs 24.55kg / 54lbs. This makes the Studio 690 20% heavier than the R-820F.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 690 and R-820F'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 Klipsch R-820F?
Here are the items that come with the R-820F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (installed)2 Feet4 ScrewsQuick Setup GuideImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty InformationLoudspeaker Feet note
 Max Input Power |
250 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Base Surface Area |
1145cm2
vs
1180cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
1198USD
vs
1498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Studio 690 |
Klipsch Reference R-820F |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
up to 150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
35-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
PolyPlas |
Copper-spun IMG |
| 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 |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
| Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Depth |
383.0mm (15.1") |
426.0mm (16.8") |
| 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 |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |