In this review, we will be comparing Studio 690 and S60, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Studio 690 and Polk S60 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 )
Polk S60 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 26-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-300watts
- Weight:23.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1131.0" x 11-3/4" x 15-3/4"( 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm )
What size room are the JBL Studio 690 and Polk S60 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 |
Polk S60 |
| 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 690 and Polk S60 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 S60 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Studio 690 |
Polk S60 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6.5-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 S60 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
Studio 690 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas S60 has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the S60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 S60 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 90 dBdB.
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 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Studio 690 has a max power handling value of 250 watts RMS , 50 watts less than the S60.
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 S60 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
Polk S60's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Studio 690 has a rear firing port whereas S60 has a bottom firing ports. Polk S60's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL Studio 690 with its rear-firing port.
Polk S60 Port
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 Polk S60'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 Polk S60 has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm ( 44-1/2 x 11-3/4 x 15-3/4inch) .
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Studio 690 and Polk S60 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Studio 690 and Polk S60 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 Polk S60 is approximately 1199.0cm2 / 185.8inch2. The Studio 690 requires 4% less surface area than the S60 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 Polk S60 weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the Studio 690 25% heavier than the S60.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 690 and S60'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 Polk S60?
Here are the items that come with the S60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1096mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1145cm2
vs
1199cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
250 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Price per pair* |
898USD
vs
1498USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Studio 690 |
Polk Audio Signature S60 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 250 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
PolyPlas |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
compression driver with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1096.0mm (43.1") |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
| Width |
299.0mm (11.8") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
383.0mm (15.1") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
29.45kg (64.8lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
| 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 |