Short answer: the JBL AC16, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #13 of 26 surface-mount and background music speakers by sound quality, rated 2.8/5, at $674; the Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 ranks #14, rated 2.7/5, and costs $709, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 26 surface-mount and background music speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the JBL Control 24CT instead, ranked #1 at $350.
The case for the JBL AC16: A compact JBL Professional installation speaker from the same AC range as the measured JBL AC25: a single 6.5” woofer with a compression driver on a waveguide. The tradeoff: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Why pick the Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2: A weather-resistant surface-mount installation speaker from Electro-Voice with an 8” woofer and a tweeter. The tradeoff: The on-axis response is uneven (1.84 average deviation).
Buy the JBL AC16. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Worth knowing: the JBL AC16 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.4 to 3.2, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL AC16 | Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $674.00 each Passive | $709.00 per pair Passive |
| Ranked | #13 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers Estimated | #14 of 26 in Surface-Mount and Background Music Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65Hz (manufacturer specified) | 92.5Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Rigging | 5 x M8 points; 4 x M6 rear for OmniMount/MultiMount | Pre-assembled wall/ceiling bracket (90° horizontal, 45° vertical swivel) |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way installation speaker | - |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer, 1” compression driver | 8” woofer, tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | - |
| Coverage | 90° x 90° | - |
| Power Handling | 250W | - |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (manufacturer specified) | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | - |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) | 11.2 lbs (5.1 kg) |
| XLR Input | No | - |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| DSP | No (passive) | - |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 65.9Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 0.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.15 |
| DIY Kit | - | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL AC16 compares with other leading options:
- Yamaha VXS8 vs JBL AC16
- JBL AC16 vs JBL AC25
- JBL AC16 vs Yamaha VXS1ML
- Yamaha VXS8 vs Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2
- Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 vs JBL AC25
Prices on this page were last checked October 11, 2026 at 4:59 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL AC16: $674.00 each Passive Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the JBL AC15 (smaller model, ranked lower, estimated 2.6/5), the JBL AC25 (larger model, ranked lower, rated 2.6/5), the JBL AC26 (larger model, ranked higher, estimated 2.9/5), the JBL AC18/26 (larger model, ranked higher, estimated 3/5) and the JBL AC28/26 (larger model, ranked higher, estimated 3.1/5).
Pros: A compact JBL Professional installation speaker from the same AC range as the measured JBL AC25: a single 6.5” woofer with a compression driver on a waveguide. JBL rates it at 90dB sensitivity and 110dB maximum SPL with 90° x 90° coverage and bass to 55Hz (-10dB), in an enclosure weighing 7.2 kg with mounting points for walls and ceilings.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. It is a passive installation speaker that needs an amplifier and, for best results, JBL’s recommended EQ, and the only measured AC model scored poorly, so treat the estimate with caution.
Full JBL AC16 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 65Hz (manufacturer specified) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way installation speaker |
| Coverage | 90° x 90° |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Drivers | 6.5” woofer, 1” compression driver |
| Frequency Response | 55Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 110dB (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 250W |
| Rigging | 5 x M8 points; 4 x M6 rear for OmniMount/MultiMount |
| Sensitivity | 90dB |
| Weight | 15.9 lbs (7.2 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2: $709.00 per pair Passive Amazon eBay
Same family: the Electro-Voice EVID-S4.2 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.5/5), the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 2.6/5) and the Electro-Voice EVID-S5.2X (smaller model, ranked higher, rated 3.3/5).
Pros: A weather-resistant surface-mount installation speaker from Electro-Voice with an 8” woofer and a tweeter. EV’s measurements show a preference score of 0.84 that reaches 4.15 with an ideal subwoofer, with 0.75 listening window deviation.
Cons: The on-axis response is uneven (1.84 average deviation). The data comes from EV. Bass reaches 92.5Hz (-3dB) and about 66Hz (-10dB).
Full Electro-Voice EVID-S8.2 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 65.9Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 92.5Hz (measured, manufacturer data via spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Drivers | 8” woofer, tweeter |
| Maximum SPL | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Rigging | Pre-assembled wall/ceiling bracket (90° horizontal, 45° vertical swivel) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.15 |
| Weight | 11.2 lbs (5.1 kg) |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons