In this review, we will be comparing IWS-10 and Stage 260W, two Passive In-wall speakers from Monitor Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Monitor Audio IWS-10 and JBL Stage 260W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Monitor Audio IWS-10 Key Specs
- 1-way Design
- " Tweeter
- 10" C-CAM/RDT Woofer
- 28-120Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:150watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 280.0" x 11.0000" x 3.5625"( 280.0 x 280.0 x 91.0mm )
JBL Stage 260W Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer
- 50-25kHz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 312.0" x 7.2500" x 3.5625"( 312.0 x 185.0 x 91.0mm )
What size room are the Monitor Audio IWS-10 and JBL Stage 260W 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* |
Monitor Audio IWS-10 |
JBL Stage 260W |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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 Monitor Audio IWS-10 and JBL Stage 260W 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 IWS-10 is a 1-way design whereas the Stage 260W is a 2-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 |
Monitor Audio IWS-10 |
JBL Stage 260W |
|
Driver Setup
|
1-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 10-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
IWS-10 features a " Tweeter and 1 x 10" C-CAM/RDT Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 260W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
IWS-10 has a frequency range of 28-120Hz whereas Stage 260W has a frequency range of 50-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the IWS-10 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 260W's min frequency of 50Hz.
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 In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall Speakers
High Frequency
In-wall 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
IWS-10 and Stage 260W have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. IWS-10 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Stage 260W's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 260W a more sensitive speaker compared to Monitor Audio IWS-10, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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.
IWS-10 can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 260W has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the IWS-10.
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
IWS-10 features Spring clip type posts and Stage 260W has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/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 Monitor Audio IWS-10's and JBL Stage 260W's external dimensions. Monitor Audio IWS-10 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 280.0 x 91.0mm ( 11.0000-inch x 11.0000-inch x 3.5625-inch) whereas JBL Stage 260W has external dimensions of 312.0 x 185.0 x 91.0mm ( 12.2500-inch x 7.2500-inch x 3.5625-inch) .
What's in the Box of Monitor Audio IWS-10?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of IWS-10:
In-wall passive subwooferGrille (pre-installed)Installation GuideTemplateImportant Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 260W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 260W:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide