Short answer: the JBL COL800. It ranks #11 of 13 line array and installation pa speakers by sound quality, rated 3.4/5, at $577. The JBL COL600 ranks #12, rated 3.3/5, at $386, $191 cheaper, not enough of a saving to outweigh the sound-quality gap.
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.
What the JBL COL600 does well: Manufacturer measurements give a 6.11 preference score with an ideal subwoofer and a 2.1dB reference band from a 598mm column only 93mm deep. The tradeoff: Bass measures 106Hz at -3dB and about 78Hz at -10dB, and output tops out at 111dB, so it is for speech and background music.
Buy the JBL COL800. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $191 with the JBL COL600 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL COL800 | JBL COL600 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $577.00 | $386.00 |
| Ranked | #11 of 13 in Line Array and Installation PA Speakers | #12 of 13 in Line Array and Installation PA Speakers |
| Configuration | Passive slim column (8 ohm or 70V/100V) | Passive slim column (8 ohm or 70V/100V) |
| Drivers | 4x 5” x 2.25” racetrack woofers, 2x 0.8” tweeters | 2x 5” x 2.25” racetrack woofers, 1x 1” tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 85Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 70Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 31.5”H x 4”W x 3.7”D (800 x 102 x 93 mm) | 23.5”H x 4”W x 3.7”D (598 x 102 x 93 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous pink noise (600W peak) | 80W continuous pink noise (320W peak) |
| Maximum SPL | 116dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 111dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 160° x 60°, 10° down-tilt | 160° x 110°, 10° down-tilt |
| Sensitivity | 88dB (2.83V/1m) | 86dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| DSP | No (passive) | No (passive) |
| Weight | 11.5 lbs (5.2 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 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) | 115Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 106Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 85.6Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | about 77.7Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.67 | 2.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.34 | 6.11 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL COL800 compares with other leading options:
- 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 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
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
JBL COL600: $386.00 Passive B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Manufacturer measurements give a 6.11 preference score with an ideal subwoofer and a 2.1dB reference band from a 598mm column only 93mm deep. Two racetrack woofers and a 1-inch tweeter give 160° x 110° coverage with a 10° downward tilt, and a 70V/100V transformer or 8 ohm direct mode suits restaurants, shops and meeting rooms. Measured bass extension of 106Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass measures 106Hz at -3dB and about 78Hz at -10dB, and output tops out at 111dB, so it is for speech and background music. The data is manufacturer supplied, rated low quality, and the standalone score is 2.64.
Full JBL COL600 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 77.7Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 106Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Passive slim column (8 ohm or 70V/100V) |
| Coverage | 160° x 110°, 10° down-tilt |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Dimensions | 23.5”H x 4”W x 3.7”D (598 x 102 x 93 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 5” x 2.25” racetrack woofers, 1x 1” tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 111dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Power Handling | 80W continuous pink noise (320W peak) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.64 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.11 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons