In this review, we will be comparing 265 RT and Stage 280W, two Passive In-wall speakers from Polk Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio 265 RT and JBL Stage 280W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk Audio 265 RT | JBL Stage 280W |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Horn-Loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Polymer Composite | 8" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25kHz | 42-25kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 91 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 10-200 watts | 20-120 watts |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 19.1875" x 7.2500" x 3-9/16"
488.0 x 185.0 x 90.4mm | 14.6875" x 9.3750" x 3.8750"
374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk Audio 265 RT and JBL Stage 280W 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* |
Polk Audio 265 RT |
JBL Stage 280W |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both 265 RT and Stage 280W are 2-way speakers.
Polk Audio 265 RTJBL Stage 280W
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk Audio 265 RT |
JBL Stage 280W |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
265 RT features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polymer Composite Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
265 RT has a frequency range of 45-25kHz whereas Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Stage 280W can go slightly deeper then the 265 RT's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the In-wall class in our database.
Low Frequency
In-wall 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
265 RT and Stage 280W have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 265 RT sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the Stage 280W's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk Audio 265 RT a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 280W, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
265 RT can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas Stage 280W has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the 265 RT.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
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
265 RT features Spring clip type posts and Stage 280W has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers 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 Polk Audio 265 RT's and JBL Stage 280W's external dimensions. Polk Audio 265 RT has external dimensions of 488.0 x 185.0 x 90.4mm (19.1875-inch x 7.2500-inch x 0.0000-inch) whereas JBL Stage 280W has external dimensions of 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm (14.6875-inch x 9.3750-inch x 3.8750-inch).
Polk Audio 265 RT is 54mm narrower and 8.6mm less deeper than JBL Stage 280W but it is also 114mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk Audio 265 RT and JBL Stage 280W in scale.
Comparison image of Polk Audio 265 RT and JBL Stage 280W Size and External Dimensions
What's in the Box of Polk Audio 265 RT?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 265 RT:
- In-wall speaker
- Foam rubber port plug
- White metal grille
- Mounting template
- Owners Manual
- Sheer-Grille Painting instructions
- Online Registration Card
- Polk Audio product brochure
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 280W:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Cut-Out Template
- Quick Start Guide