Short answer: the JBL COL800. Both are rated 3.4/5 for sound quality (#11 and #10 of 13 line array and installation pa speakers), and the JBL COL800 costs $577 against $1,480 for the JBL CBT 70J-1, and with sound quality even, the cheaper one is the better buy.
Why pick the JBL CBT 70J-1: Independently measured by Audio Science Review, with a 5.87 preference score with an ideal subwoofer and a 3.20 directivity-index deviation. Watch for: Bass measures 120Hz at -3dB and about 62Hz at -10dB, and the standalone score is only 2.95, so it needs a subwoofer for music.
What the JBL COL800 does well: Manufacturer measurements give a 6.34 preference score with an ideal subwoofer from a slim 93mm-deep column that blends into a wall. The catch: Bass measures 115Hz at -3dB and about 86Hz at -10dB, and output tops out at 116dB, so it suits speech and background music rather than loud programs.
Buy the JBL COL800. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $903 less than the JBL CBT 70J-1.
Still deciding? The full PA & Live Sound rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL CBT 70J-1 | JBL COL800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,480.00 | $577.00 |
| Ranked | #10 of 13 in Line Array and Installation PA Speakers | #11 of 13 in Line Array and Installation PA Speakers |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way Constant Beamwidth Technology column | Passive slim column (8 ohm or 70V/100V) |
| Drivers | 4x 5” neodymium woofers, 16x 1” neodymium tweeters | 4x 5” x 2.25” racetrack woofers, 2x 0.8” tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 85Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 27.3”H x 6.7”W x 9.3”D (694 x 170 x 237 mm) | 31.5”H x 4”W x 3.7”D (800 x 102 x 93 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Power Handling | 500W (2,000W peak) | 150W continuous pink noise (600W peak) |
| Maximum SPL | 131dB peak (narrow, speech mode, manufacturer specified) | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | Switchable 25° or 45° vertical | 160° x 60°, 10° down-tilt |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| DSP | No (passive) | No (passive) |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 120.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) | 115Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 61.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) | about 85.6Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.95 | 2.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.87 | 6.34 |
| Sensitivity | - | 88dB (2.83V/1m) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL CBT 70J-1:
- JBL CBT 1000 vs JBL CBT 70J-1
- Alcons Audio QRP20 vs JBL CBT 70J-1
- L-Acoustics SOKA vs JBL CBT 70J-1
- JBL CBT 70J-1 vs JBL COL600
- JBL CBT 70J-1 vs Coda Audio CoRay4
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL CBT 70J-1: $1,480.00 Passive B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Independently measured by Audio Science Review, with a 5.87 preference score with an ideal subwoofer and a 3.20 directivity-index deviation. Sixteen 1-inch tweeters and four 5-inch woofers give switchable 25° or 45° vertical coverage for long-throw or medium rooms, with a 131dB peak and a speech or music voicing switch. A pan and tilt wall bracket is included. Measured bass extension of 120.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass measures 120Hz at -3dB and about 62Hz at -10dB, and the standalone score is only 2.95, so it needs a subwoofer for music. A 4.0dB reference band and 0.573 listening-window deviation mean tonal balance is uneven. It is passive and needs an external amplifier.
Full JBL CBT 70J-1 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 61.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 120.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way Constant Beamwidth Technology column |
| Coverage | Switchable 25° or 45° vertical |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Dimensions | 27.3”H x 6.7”W x 9.3”D (694 x 170 x 237 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x 5” neodymium woofers, 16x 1” neodymium tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 131dB peak (narrow, speech mode, manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Power Handling | 500W (2,000W peak) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.87 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL COL800: $577.00 Passive B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Manufacturer measurements give a 6.34 preference score with an ideal subwoofer from a slim 93mm-deep column that blends into a wall. Four racetrack woofers and two tweeters give wide 160° horizontal coverage with a built-in 10° downward tilt, and a 70V/100V transformer or 8 ohm direct mode suits distributed systems. Measured bass extension of 115Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass measures 115Hz at -3dB and about 86Hz at -10dB, and output tops out at 116dB, so it suits speech and background music rather than loud programs. The data is manufacturer supplied, rated low quality, and the standalone score is 2.67.
Full JBL COL800 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 85.6Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 115Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Passive slim column (8 ohm or 70V/100V) |
| Coverage | 160° x 60°, 10° down-tilt |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Dimensions | 31.5”H x 4”W x 3.7”D (800 x 102 x 93 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x 5” x 2.25” racetrack woofers, 2x 0.8” tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 85Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous pink noise (600W peak) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.67 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.34 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons