In this review, we will be comparing RC65i 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 RC65i and JBL Stage 280W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk Audio RC65i Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer
- 60-20kHz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 274.0" x 7.3125" x 2.4070"( 274.0 x 186.0 x 62.0mm )
JBL Stage 280W Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 8" Polycellulose Woofer
- 42-25kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 374.0" x 9.3750" x 3.8750"( 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm )
What size room are the Polk Audio RC65i 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 RC65i |
JBL Stage 280W |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk Audio RC65i and JBL Stage 280W 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 RC65i and Stage 280W are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk Audio RC65i |
JBL Stage 280W |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
RC65i features a 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
RC65i has a frequency range of 60-20kHz whereas Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Stage 280W can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the RC65i's min frequency of 60Hz.
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
RC65i and Stage 280W 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 280W's is at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280W a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk Audio RC65i, 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.
RC65i can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS from the amp the whereas RC65i has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the Stage 280W.
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
RC65i 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
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 Polk Audio RC65i's and JBL Stage 280W'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 280W has external dimensions of 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm ( 14.6875-inch x 9.3750-inch x 3.8750-inch) .
JBL Stage 280W is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 53mm wider, 100mm taller and 37mm deeper than Polk Audio RC65i.
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 speakers2 White grilles1 Cardboard Mounting TemplateOwners ManualOnline registration sheetProduct Registration Card
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 280W:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
Sensitivity 
Woofer Size 
High Frequency Response