Infinity Reference 253 vs JBL Stage 2 280F

Short answer: the Infinity Reference 253. It ranks #46 of 54 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $400; the JBL Stage 2 280F ranks #47 and costs $529.95, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.

What the Infinity Reference 253 offers: Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is fairly smooth and well controlled. Watch for: CEA2034 spinorama and predicted in-room response both show elevated treble above 4kHz (“too hot”), a dip around 2kHz, and bass shelved down relative to the midrange.

What the JBL Stage 2 280F offers: Genuinely impressive output capability and low compression/distortion for the price, courtesy of the dual 8” woofers - the reviewer’s standout praise for this pair. Watch for: Explicitly called out as disappointing relative to expectations for the JBL name and this price point - lacks native linearity compared to similarly-priced alternatives like the Polk Reserve R500, which the reviewer recommends instead for anyone who doesn’t want to rely on EQ.

Buy the Infinity Reference 253. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Stage 2 280F and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.

If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 54 floorstanding speakers instead.

Specifications Side By Side

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• Definitive Technology BP-9020 vs Infinity Reference 253
• Sony SS-CS3 vs JBL Stage 2 280F

The Two Speakers In Full

Infinity Reference 253: $400 used, Discontinued

Pros: Horizontal beamwidth of about ±60 degrees is fairly smooth and well controlled. Really amazing value for the performance.

Cons: CEA2034 spinorama and predicted in-room response both show elevated treble above 4kHz (“too hot”), a dip around 2kHz, and bass shelved down relative to the midrange. Vertical directivity requires staying at or below the tweeter axis for accurate tonal balance. Distortion at 96dB SPL/1m is broadly elevated above the reviewer’s audibility threshold across much of the midrange. Minimum impedance dips to 4.2 ohms. Discontinued.

Full Infinity Reference 253 review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	38Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review)
Dimensions	40.3"H x 6.8"W x 12.4"D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm)
Discontinued	Yes
Drivers	Dual 5.25" (130mm) CMMD™ woofers, 5.25" (130mm) flat-piston CMMD™ midrange, 1" (25mm) CMMD™ tweeter
Impedance	6 ohms
Sensitivity	86.9dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 88dB manufacturer specified)
Weight	39.2 lbs / 17.8 kg each
Woofer Cabinet	ported, rear

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• Links
  • Official Infinity Reference 253 Website
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Audio Science Review Infinity Reference 253
  • Reddit Search for Infinity Reference 253 Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • Infinity Reference 253 vs Definitive Technology BP-9020
  • Infinity Reference 253 vs Focal Chora 816

JBL Stage 2 280F: $529.95 Amazon

Pros: Genuinely impressive output capability and low compression/distortion for the price, courtesy of the dual 8” woofers - the reviewer’s standout praise for this pair. High sensitivity (89.5dB measured) and low impedance make it easy to drive. Decent bass extension (F3 48Hz, F10 30Hz) reaches about 50Hz in-room. Horizontal dispersion is reasonably consistent (~55 degrees), meaning the speaker takes reasonably well to EQ correction.

Cons: Explicitly called out as disappointing relative to expectations for the JBL name and this price point - lacks native linearity compared to similarly-priced alternatives like the Polk Reserve R500, which the reviewer recommends instead for anyone who doesn’t want to rely on EQ. Treble falls off a cliff above about 10-12kHz, giving a notable lack of air/space that needs real correction (a wide +Q0.5 boost from 10-20kHz) to fix. A sharp impedance resonance around 900Hz-1.1kHz is nearly impossible to EQ out cleanly even with narrow filters. Elevated multitone distortion in the 600Hz-2.5kHz range, tied to the midwoofer rather than the tweeter. Compared to the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-6000F II/RP-8000F II, this JBL is less directive and native-flat but does extend roughly 20Hz deeper in the bass - a real tradeoff either way, not a clean win.

Full JBL Stage 2 280F review and specifications →

Bass Extension (-10dB)	30Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Bass Extension (-3dB)	48Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Crossover Frequency	1.1kHz, 2.1kHz
Dimensions	43.8" x 14.1" x 16.5" (1113 x 358 x 419 mm)
Drivers	1" anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8" polycellulose woofers
Impedance	6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner)
Output Power	125W RMS
Sensitivity	89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner)
Weight	55.1 lbs / 25 kg (55.2 lb) each
Woofer Cabinet	ported, rear

As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.

• Links
  • Official JBL Stage 2 280F Product Page
• Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
  • Erin’s Audio Corner: Why JBL’s New Budget “Stage 2” Speakers Miss the Mark For Me.
  • Erin’s Audio Corner Website: JBL Stage 2 280F
  • Reddit Search for JBL Stage 2 280F Review
• Head-to-Head Comparisons
  • JBL Stage 2 280F vs Sony SS-CS3
  • JBL Stage 2 280F vs Monolith Encore T6