Short answer: the JBL COL800. Both are rated 3.4/5 for sound quality (#12 and #11 of 33 column and line array 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: A passive column with switchable vertical coverage for long or medium rooms, a speech or music switch, and a wall bracket included. 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: A slim column that blends into a wall, with very wide coverage and a transformer option for distributed speech and background music. 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.
Prices on this page were last checked November 7, 2026 at 7:34 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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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL CBT 70J-1 | JBL COL800 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,480.00 Passive | $577.00 Passive |
| Ranked | #11 of 33 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers | #12 of 33 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers |
| Rigging | 10 x M6 rear inserts; swivel/tilt wall bracket included | M6 inserts on back, top, bottom and sides; wall and L-brackets included |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| 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) |
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