Short answer: the JBL Control 25-1, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #12 of 13 outdoor speakers by sound quality (rated 2.4/5) at $470 and is still sold new; the JBL Control 25T ranks #13 (rated 2.2/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 13 outdoor speakers, and the JBL Stage XD-5, ranked #7 at $499.95, is a better place to start if sound quality matters.
Why pick the JBL Control 25-1: Direct successor to the long-standing Control 25T with an upgraded 5.25” woven-fiberglass cone woofer, 0.75” PEI diaphragm fluid-cooled tweeter, and wider 100° x 100° constant directivity coverage. The catch: Compact commercial form factor and voice-optimized voicing limit deep bass extension, with low-end rolling off rapidly below 85Hz (-3dB) and 60Hz (-10dB).
The case for the JBL Control 25T: Durable commercial outdoor construction with included InvisiBall multi-angle mounting system and built-in multi-tap 70V/100V transformer (30W, 15W, 7.5W taps). The tradeoff: Vendor spinorama measurements show a sharply band-limited frequency response optimized for commercial voice paging rather than music, yielding a low 0.32 preference score.
Buy the JBL Control 25-1. It is rated higher for sound quality and still sold new, while the JBL Control 25T is discontinued.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Control 25-1 | JBL Control 25T | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $470.00 per pair | $350 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #12 of 13 in Outdoor Speakers | #13 of 13 in Outdoor Speakers |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way | Passive 2-way |
| Drivers | 5.25” (135mm) woven-fiberglass cone woofer with WeatherEdge, 0.75” (19mm) PEI diaphragm tweeter with fluid cooling | 5.25” (135mm) polypropylene coated woofer with WeatherEdge, 0.75” (19mm) titanium coated polycarbonate tweeter |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (1W @ 1m) | 88dB |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 100W continuous / 200W program | 150W |
| Coverage | 100° x 100° | - |
| Enclosure | High impact polystyrene (HIPS), IP44 weather-resistant | Ported high-impact polystyrene, all-weather |
| Dimensions | 9.6”H x 7.4”W x 5.7”D (243 x 188 x 145 mm) | 9.3”H x 7.4”W x 5.9”D (236 x 188 x 149 mm) |
| Weight | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
| Frequency Response | 85Hz - 17kHz (+/- 3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Frequency Response (-10dB) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 150.0Hz (measured, JBL vendor data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | - | 128.0Hz (measured, JBL vendor data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 112.0Hz (measured, JBL vendor data on spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | - | 0.32 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | - | 4.69 |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More top alternatives to JBL Control 25-1:
- JBL Control X Wireless vs JBL Control 25-1
- Revel M80XC vs JBL Control 25-1
- Focal Chorus OD 706 V vs JBL Control 25-1
- Focal 100 OD6 vs JBL Control 25-1
- Revel M55XC vs JBL Control 25-1
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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 Control 25-1: $470.00 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Control 25T (ranked lower, rated 2.2/5).
Pros: Direct successor to the long-standing Control 25T with an upgraded 5.25” woven-fiberglass cone woofer, 0.75” PEI diaphragm fluid-cooled tweeter, and wider 100° x 100° constant directivity coverage. Solid 200W program power handling (8-ohm bypass) and built-in 30W multi-tap 70V/100V transformer provide versatile commercial integration. WeatherEdge enclosure design achieves an IP44 outdoor rating with dependable InvisiBall mounting hardware.
Cons: Compact commercial form factor and voice-optimized voicing limit deep bass extension, with low-end rolling off rapidly below 85Hz (-3dB) and 60Hz (-10dB). Full laboratory-grade Klippel NFS Spinorama directivity curves have not yet been published, so tonal linearity is estimated from lineage.
Full JBL Control 25-1 review and specifications →
| Configuration | Passive 2-way |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 100° x 100° |
| Dimensions | 9.6”H x 7.4”W x 5.7”D (243 x 188 x 145 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” (135mm) woven-fiberglass cone woofer with WeatherEdge, 0.75” (19mm) PEI diaphragm tweeter with fluid cooling |
| Enclosure | High impact polystyrene (HIPS), IP44 weather-resistant |
| Frequency Response | 85Hz - 17kHz (+/- 3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Frequency Response (-10dB) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 100W continuous / 200W program |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (1W @ 1m) |
| Weight | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) |
- 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
- JBL Control 25-1 vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
- JBL Control 25-1 vs OSD Audio AP650
- JBL Control 25-1 vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- JBL Control 25-1 vs JBL Control X
- JBL Control 25-1 vs JBL Stage XD-5
- JBL Control 25-1 vs RSL Outsider II
- JBL Control 25-1 vs Revel M55XC
- JBL Control 25-1 vs Focal 100 OD6
- See all 11 comparisons
JBL Control 25T: $350 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Control 25-1, ranked higher, estimated 2.4/5.
Pros: Durable commercial outdoor construction with included InvisiBall multi-angle mounting system and built-in multi-tap 70V/100V transformer (30W, 15W, 7.5W taps). High durability and weather resistance against humidity and salt air. Measured bass extension of 150.0Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Vendor spinorama measurements show a sharply band-limited frequency response optimized for commercial voice paging rather than music, yielding a low 0.32 preference score. Bass roll-off begins early at 128Hz (-6dB), and the model is superseded by the Control 25-1. Discontinued.
Full JBL Control 25T review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 112.0Hz (measured, JBL vendor data on spinorama.org) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 150.0Hz (measured, JBL vendor data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 128.0Hz (measured, JBL vendor data on spinorama.org) |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way |
| Dimensions | 9.3”H x 7.4”W x 5.9”D (236 x 188 x 149 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” (135mm) polypropylene coated woofer with WeatherEdge, 0.75” (19mm) titanium coated polycarbonate tweeter |
| Enclosure | Ported high-impact polystyrene, all-weather |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 150W |
| Sensitivity | 88dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 0.32 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.69 |
| Weight | 7.9 lbs (3.6 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Control 25T vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
- JBL Control 25T vs OSD Audio AP650
- JBL Control 25T vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- JBL Control 25T vs JBL Control X
- JBL Control 25T vs JBL Stage XD-5
- JBL Control 25T vs RSL Outsider II
- JBL Control 25T vs Revel M55XC
- JBL Control 25T vs Focal 100 OD6
- See all 11 comparisons