In this review, we will be comparing Summit Ama and Classic 100TI, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Spendor.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Summit Ama and Spendor Classic 100TI first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Summit Ama | Spendor Classic 100TI |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Spendor
United Kingdom · founded 1969 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 3-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1.5" Compression Driver | 0.87" |
|---|
| Midrange | — | 7.09" |
|---|
| Woofer | 8" Hybrid Carbon Cellulose Composite (HC4) | 12.2" |
|---|
| Frequency response | 34-25k Hz | 25-25k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 84 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | — |
|---|
| Weight | 26.30kg / 57.9lbs | 36.02kg / 79.2lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 18-3/4" x 12-1/8" x 13-1/4"
476.3 x 308.0 x 336.0mm | 27.5" x 14.5" x 17"
698.5 x 368.3 x 431.8mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Summit Ama and Spendor Classic 100TI 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 Summit Ama |
Spendor Classic 100TI |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
No way |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Summit Ama is a 2-way design whereas the Classic 100TI 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.
JBL Summit AmaSpendor Classic 100TI
TweeterMidrangeWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Summit Ama |
Spendor Classic 100TI |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
3-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1.5-inch
|
0.87-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
1 x 7.09-inch |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
1 x 12.2-inch
|
Summit Ama features a 1.5" Teonex Compression Driver Tweeter and 1 x 8" Hybrid Carbon Cellulose Composite (HC4) Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1600 Hz. On the other hand, the Classic 100TI features a 0.87" Tweeter, a 7.09" Midrange and 1 x 12.2" Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 490 Hz, 3.6 kHz.
Frequency Response
Summit Ama has a frequency range of 34-25k Hz whereas Classic 100TI has a frequency range of 25-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 25Hz, the Classic 100TI can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Summit Ama's min frequency of 34Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Summit Ama is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the Classic 100TI which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Summit Ama can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Summit Ama sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the Classic 100TI's is rated at 89 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Spendor Classic 100TI a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Summit Ama, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
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
Summit Ama features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Classic 100TI has a Binding post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Summit Ama's and Spendor Classic 100TI's external dimensions. JBL Summit Ama has external dimensions of 476.3 x 308.0 x 336.0mm (18-3/4 x 12-1/8 x 13-1/4inch) whereas Spendor Classic 100TI has external dimensions of 698.5 x 368.3 x 431.8mm (27.5 x 14.5 x 17inch).
Spendor Classic 100TI is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 60.3mm wider, 222.2mm taller and 95.8mm deeper than JBL Summit Ama.
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.
Spendor Classic 100TI needs about 54% more floor or shelf area. Spendor Classic 100TI is 96mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Spendor Classic 100TI is 222mm 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 Summit Ama is approximately 1034.9cm2 / 160.4inch2 and base area of the Spendor Classic 100TI is approximately 1590.3cm2 / 246.5inch2. The Summit Ama requires 35% less surface area than the Classic 100TI 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 Summit Ama weighs 26.30kg / 57.9lbs and the Spendor Classic 100TI weighs 36.02kg / 79.2lbs. This makes the Classic 100TI 37% heavier than the Summit Ama.
Here is a comparison of how Summit Ama and Classic 100TI's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
 Height |
476mm
vs
698mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1034cm2
vs
1590cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
19995USD
vs
19998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
84 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
12.2 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
25 Hz
vs
34 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
JBL Summit Ama |
Spendor Classic 100TI |
| Brand |
JBL |
Spendor |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Sensitivity |
84 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
34-25k Hz |
25-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12.2" |
| Woofer Composition |
Hybrid Carbon Cellulose Composite (HC4) |
|
| Tweeter Size |
1.5" |
0.87" |
| Tweeter Type |
Compression Driver |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
7.09" |
| Crossover Frequency |
1600 Hz |
490 Hz, 3.6 kHz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
476.3mm (18.8") |
698.5mm (27.5") |
| Width |
308.0mm (12.1") |
368.3mm (14.5") |
| Depth |
336.0mm (13.2") |
431.8mm (17") |
| Weight |
26.30kg (57.9lbs) |
36.02kg (79.2lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
|
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
|
| Labor Warranty |
|
|
A generation apart: JBL Summit Ama is the newer design, against a 2017 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 | Spendor Classic 100TI digs deeper - 25Hz against 34Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Spendor Classic 100TI is more sensitive (89dB vs 84dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Spendor Classic 100TI is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Size | depends | JBL Summit Ama is easier to place; Spendor Classic 100TI is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | JBL Summit Ama: bi-amping. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($19,995 vs $19,998 a pair). |
A JBL Summit Ama B Spendor Classic 100TI
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?
Spendor Classic 100TI 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 34Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate JBL Summit Ama the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Spendor Classic 100TI for near-field listening and a small 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.