Short answer: the JBL COL800. It ranks #11 of 23 column and line array PA speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $577; the JBL CBT 50LA-1 ranks #17, rated 3.1/5, and costs $585, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
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. Watch for: 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 case for the JBL CBT 50LA-1: A Constant Beamwidth Technology column from the same JBL CBT range as the measured JBL CBT 70J-1 and JBL CBT 1000, with eight 2” full-range drivers in a 528mm tall cabinet. Watch for: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers.
Buy the JBL COL800. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL CBT 50LA-1 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 CBT 50LA-1 has not been measured yet. Its rating is estimated from related models, with a likely range of 2.7 to 3.5, so treat this verdict as provisional.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL COL800 | JBL CBT 50LA-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $577.00 Passive | $585.00 each Passive |
| Ranked | #11 of 23 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers | #17 of 23 in Column and Line Array PA Speakers Estimated |
| Rigging | M6 inserts on back, top, bottom and sides; wall and L-brackets included | 10 x M6 rear inserts; swivel/tilt wall bracket included |
| Passive | Yes | Yes |
| Configuration | Passive slim column (8 ohm or 70V/100V) | Passive Constant Beamwidth Technology line array column |
| Drivers | 4x 5” x 2.25” racetrack woofers, 2x 0.8” tweeters | 8x 2” full-range drivers |
| Frequency Response | 85Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 80Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 31.5”H x 4”W x 3.7”D (800 x 102 x 93 mm) | 20.8” (528 mm) tall |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous pink noise (600W peak) | 150W continuous |
| Maximum SPL | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 115dB continuous (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 160° x 60°, 10° down-tilt | 150° horizontal, 20° vertical |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m) | - |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | - |
| DSP | No (passive) | No (passive) |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) | 9 lbs (4.1 kg) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | - |
| TRS Input | No | - |
| Optical Input | No | - |
| Coaxial Input | No | - |
| USB Input | No | - |
| HDMI Input | No | - |
| AES Input | No | - |
| Aux Input | No | - |
| Microphone Input | No | - |
| Guitar Input | No | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 115Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 85.6Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.67 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.34 | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL COL800:
- Alcons Audio QRP40 vs JBL COL800
- Alcons Audio QRP20 vs JBL COL800
- L-Acoustics SOKA vs JBL COL800
- JBL CBT 70J-1 vs JBL COL800
- JBL COL800 vs JBL COL600
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 COL800: $577.00 Passive B&H Photo Video eBay
Same family: the JBL COL600 (smaller model, ranked lower, rated 3.3/5).
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 →
| Released | 2023 (3 years ago) |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous pink noise (600W peak) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Rigging | M6 inserts on back, top, bottom and sides; wall and L-brackets included |
| 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
JBL CBT 50LA-1: $585.00 each Passive Estimated Amazon eBay
Same family: the JBL CBT 70J-1 (larger model, ranked higher, rated 3.4/5), the JBL CBT 100LA-1 (larger model, ranked lower, estimated 3.1/5), the JBL CBT 200LA-1 (larger model, ranked higher, estimated 3.2/5) and the JBL CBT 1000 (larger model, ranked higher, rated 4.1/5).
Pros: A Constant Beamwidth Technology column from the same JBL CBT range as the measured JBL CBT 70J-1 and JBL CBT 1000, with eight 2” full-range drivers in a 528mm tall cabinet. It keeps a steady 150° horizontal and 20° vertical pattern across frequency, which helps speech intelligibility in reverberant rooms, and JBL rates it at 115dB continuous.
Cons: No independent measurements yet, so it can’t be compared with ranked PA speakers. Its 2” drivers have no separate woofer or tweeter and roll off below 80Hz, so music needs a subwoofer, and it requires an external amplifier.
Full JBL CBT 50LA-1 review and specifications →
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
|---|---|
| Bluetooth | No |
| Configuration | Passive Constant Beamwidth Technology line array column |
| Coverage | 150° horizontal, 20° vertical |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Dimensions | 20.8” (528 mm) tall |
| Drivers | 8x 2” full-range drivers |
| Frequency Response | 80Hz - 20kHz (manufacturer specified) |
| Maximum SPL | 115dB continuous (manufacturer specified) |
| Passive | Yes |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous |
| Rigging | 10 x M6 rear inserts; swivel/tilt wall bracket included |
| Weight | 9 lbs (4.1 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