In this review, we will be comparing Passif 50 and HDI-1600, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from PSB and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Passif 50 and JBL HDI-1600 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the PSB Passif 50 and JBL HDI-1600 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 PSB Passif 50 and JBL HDI-1600 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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Drivers
Both Passif 50 and HDI-1600 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
PSB Passif 50 |
JBL HDI-1600 |
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
Passif 50 features a 1" titanium dome with ferrofluid and neodymium magnet Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" cast aluminum basket, paper cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1800Hz. On the other hand, the HDI-1600 features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Aluminum Woofer .
Frequency Response
Passif 50 has a frequency range of 50-20k Hz whereas HDI-1600 has a frequency range of 40-30k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the HDI-1600 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Passif 50'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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Passif 50 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the HDI-1600 which has a nominal impedance of 4 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 HDI-1600 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Passif 50 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the HDI-1600's is rated at 85 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the PSB Passif 50 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL HDI-1600, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf 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.
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 Passif 50 and HDI-1600 features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 PSB Passif 50's and JBL HDI-1600's external dimensions. PSB Passif 50 has external dimensions of 660 × 280 × 254mm ( 26 x 11 x 10-inch) whereas JBL HDI-1600 has external dimensions of 383.0 x 232.0 x 289.0mm ( 15-1/16 x 9-1/8 x 11-3/8inch) .
JBL HDI-1600 is 48mm narrower and 277mm shorter than PSB Passif 50 but it is also 35mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Passif 50 and JBL HDI-1600 in scale.
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 PSB Passif 50 is approximately 712.0cm2 / 110.4inch2 and base area of the JBL HDI-1600 is approximately 670.5cm2 / 103.9inch2. The Passif 50 requires 6% more surface area than the HDI-1600 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 PSB Passif 50 weighs 13.70kg / 30.1lbs and the JBL HDI-1600 weighs 9.98kg / 22lbs. This makes the Passif 50 37% heavier than the HDI-1600.
Here is a comparison of how Passif 50 and HDI-1600's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL HDI-1600?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-1600:
Bookshelf loudspeaker
Grille
2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)
4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
Owner's Manual
Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Nominal Impedance |
6 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Passive Radiator |
one 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
50 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
383mm
vs
660mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
670cm2 (232x289mm)
vs
712cm2 (280x254mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
1980USD
vs
2499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
PSB Passif 50 |
JBL HDI-1600 |
Brand |
PSB |
JBL |
Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
Power Range |
30-200 Watts watts |
15-200 watts |
Sensitivity |
87 dB |
85 dB |
Impedance |
6 ohms |
4 ohms |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
50-20k Hz |
40-30k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
Woofer Composition |
cast aluminum basket, paper cone |
Aluminum |
Woofer Surround Material |
cast aluminum basket, paper cone |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Dome |
Horn-Loaded |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
1800Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
660.0mm (26") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
Width |
280.0mm (11") |
232.0mm (9.1") |
Depth |
254.0mm (10") |
289.0mm (11.4") |
Weight |
13.70kg (30.1lbs) |
9.98kg (22lbs) |
Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
open-grain walnut veneer |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
Available Colors |
Open-Grain Walnut |
Walnut,Black,Oak |
Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
22-26" |
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 |