What amplifier does the JBL Studio 6 Theater need?

Pick a speaker and tell us how loud you listen and how big the room is. We work out the power it actually needs, check which amplifiers can safely drive its impedance, and rank 293 amplifiers against it.

Your system

Four questions. Nothing is hidden on price.

Passive speakers only - a powered speaker already has its amplifier inside.
Changes the order only. Nothing is hidden for costing too little or too much.
JBL Studio 6 Theater
JBL Studio 6 Theater
In-wall
96 dB · 6 ohm
$2,600 a pair
Full specs →
Power needed
2.5–60 W
per channel, into 6 ohms

To hit 95 dB peaks at 3 m from a pair of JBL Studio 6 Theater, you need at least 2.5 W a channel. Anything from about 5.0 W to 60 W a channel is comfortable; past that, more watts stop buying you anything.

Power is not your constraint. The JBL Studio 6 Theater is efficient enough that essentially any amplifier we list will drive it at this level. Choose on inputs, streaming, phono stage and price instead - and if you like valve amplifiers, this is a speaker that suits them.
Show the working
  • 95 dB target at the seat
  • +4.8 dB for 3.0 m of distance
  • -3 dB for a stereo pair
  • -92.8 dB effective sensitivity
  • 1.2 dB taken off to convert the 6 ohm 2.83V rating to dB per watt
  • 2 dB allowed for optimistic published sensitivity
  • Published sensitivity 96 dB, used as 92.8 dB per watt.

Audiolab 8300A with the JBL Studio 6 Theater

Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (75 W to 115 W).
Full Audiolab 8300A specs · Clear this amp
 
$90 $25,000

189 integrated amplifiers suit the JBL Studio 6 Theater

Also show the 56 we do not recommend
1
MOON 250i v2
MOON 250i v2
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $2,400
Excellent match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (50 W to 100 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
2
Technics SU-GX70
Technics SU-GX70
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 30 W into 8 ohms · $1,999
Excellent match
13 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (30 W to 60 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
3
Denon PMA-1600NE
Denon PMA-1600NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Excellent match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Denon PMA-1700NE
Denon PMA-1700NE
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Excellent match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Technics SU-G700M2 Grand Class
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,700
Excellent match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (70 W to 140 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Cambridge Audio Evo 75
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 75 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Excellent match
17 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (75 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
Rotel S14
Rotel S14
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Excellent match
17 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
8
Audiolab Omnia
Audiolab Omnia
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $2,300
Good match
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (50 W to 75 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
9
Yamaha WXA-70A
Yamaha WXA-70A
Integrated Amplifier · 55 W into 8 ohms · $1,300
Excellent match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (55 W to 105 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
10
Primare I15 Prisma
Primare I15 Prisma
Integrated Amplifier · Class D · 60 W into 8 ohms · $2,195
Good match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (60 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
11
Audiolab 6000A Play
Audiolab 6000A Play
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $1,700
Good match
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (50 W to 75 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
12
Vincent SV-500 MK
Vincent SV-500 MK
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 50 W into 8 ohms · $1,700
Good match
14 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (50 W to 80 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
13
Rotel A14 MKII
Rotel A14 MKII
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,600
Excellent match
17 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (80 W to 150 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
14
Marantz Model 50
Marantz Model 50
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $1,800
Good match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (70 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
15
Marantz Model 40n
Marantz Model 40n
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Good match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (70 W to 100 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
16
Audiolab 8300A
Audiolab 8300A
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,699
Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (75 W to 115 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
17
LEAK Stereo 230
LEAK Stereo 230
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 75 W into 8 ohms · $1,695
Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (75 W to 115 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
18
Musical Fidelity M2si
Musical Fidelity M2si
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 76 W into 8 ohms · $1,299
Excellent match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (76 W to 135 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
19
Roksan Attessa Integrated Amp
Roksan Attessa Integrated Amp
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 80 W into 8 ohms · $2,099
Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (80 W to 130 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
20
Marantz PM8006
Marantz PM8006
Integrated Amplifier · Class A/B · 70 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Good match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (70 W to 100 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.

Showing the best 20 of 189. Narrow it with the price range below, or a different budget split.

48 power amplifiers that would also drive them

Listed separately because they are not a complete system: a power amplifier has no volume control and no inputs to speak of, so you need a preamplifier or a streaming preamp as well. Worth it if you already own one, or if you want to buy the two halves separately.

1
Audiolab 9000P
Audiolab 9000P
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 100 W into 8 ohms · $1,499
Good match
16 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
2
NAD C 268
NAD C 268
Power Amplifier · Class D · 80 W into 8 ohms · $1,299
Good match
15 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
3
Onkyo Icon M-80
Onkyo Icon M-80
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $2,000
Good match
17 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
4
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Rotel RB-1552 MkII
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 130 W into 8 ohms · $1,699
Good match
17 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
5
Parasound Halo A23+
Parasound Halo A23+
Power Amplifier · Class A/AB · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,500
Good match
19 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 2 ohms - stable into anything this speaker will throw at it.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (160 W to 240 W).
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
6
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Advance Paris X-A160 EVO
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 160 W into 8 ohms · $2,499
Good match
18 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
No 4 ohm power rating on file, so we cannot judge current delivery.
Balanced against the price of the speakers.
7
MOON 330A
MOON 330A
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 125 W into 8 ohms · $4,400
Good match
19 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power nearly doubles into 4 ohms (125 W to 250 W) - a stiff supply that copes with hard loads.
Costs more than the speakers - worth it only if you plan to upgrade them later.
8
Parasound NewClassic 2125 v.2
Parasound NewClassic 2125 v.2
Power Amplifier · Class A/B · 150 W into 8 ohms · $1,250
Good match
19 dB of headroom, far more than needed. No harm in it.
Rated down to 4 ohms, comfortable with a 6 ohm speaker.
Power rises usefully into 4 ohms (150 W to 225 W).
Sensible value pick against these speakers.
Were these amplifier recommendations useful?
It helps us tune the matching, and we read every comment.

Sensitivity and impedance figures are the manufacturer's own. We read sensitivity as dB at 2.83 V/1 m and take 2 dB off it, because published figures run high. Treat the result as a well-founded starting point, not a measurement. Full JBL Studio 6 Theater specs.

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