In this review, we will be comparing RC65i and Stage 260W, two Passive In-wall speakers from Polk Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk Audio RC65i and JBL Stage 260W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk Audio RC65i | JBL Stage 260W |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 0.75" Hard-Dome | 1" Horn-Loaded |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Polypropylene | 6.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-20kHz | 50-25kHz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 89 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-100 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.7500" x 7.3125" x 2.4070"
274.0 x 186.0 x 62.0mm | 12.2500" x 7.2500" x 3.5625"
312.0 x 185.0 x 91.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk Audio RC65i 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* |
Polk Audio RC65i |
JBL Stage 260W |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both RC65i and Stage 260W are 2-way speakers.
Polk Audio RC65iJBL Stage 260W
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 RC65i |
JBL Stage 260W |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
RC65i features a 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer. On the other hand, the Stage 260W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
RC65i has a frequency range of 60-20kHz whereas Stage 260W has a frequency range of 50-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Stage 260W can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RC65i's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
RC65i and Stage 260W have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. RC65i sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Stage 260W's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk Audio RC65i a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 260W, 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.
RC65i and Stage 260W have the same power range of 20-100 watts.
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
RC65i 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
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 RC65i's and JBL Stage 260W's external dimensions. Polk Audio RC65i has external dimensions of 274.0 x 186.0 x 62.0mm (10.7500-inch x 7.3125-inch x 2.4070-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).
Polk Audio RC65i is 38mm shorter and 29mm less deeper than JBL Stage 260W but it is also 1mm wider.
What's in the Box of Polk Audio RC65i?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of RC65i:
- 2 White in-wall speakers
- 2 White grilles
- 1 Cardboard Mounting Template
- Owners Manual
- Online registration sheet
- Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 260W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 260W:
- In-wall loudspeaker
- Grille
- Cut-Out Template
- Quick Start Guide