Short answer: the JBL Control 29AV-1. It ranks #9 of 13 outdoor speakers by sound quality, rated 3.0/5, at $1,144. The JBL Control 25-1 ranks #12, rated 2.4/5, at $470, $674 cheaper, a saving that is not big enough to make up the sound-quality gap.
The JBL Control 29AV-1 is the better-sounding choice. Exceptional bass extension for an outdoor cabinet, measuring down to 48.3Hz (-6dB) and 41Hz (-10dB) thanks to a heavy-duty 8” Kevlar woofer in a large ported enclosure. Watch for: Uneven raw frequency response through the crossover region and ragged on-axis treble yield a modest 2.24 preference score without DSP correction.
What the JBL Control 25-1 does well: 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. Watch for: Compact commercial form factor and voice-optimized voicing limit deep bass extension, with low-end rolling off rapidly below 85Hz (-3dB) and 60Hz (-10dB).
Buy the JBL Control 29AV-1. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $674 saving on the JBL Control 25-1 is not enough to make up the difference.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Control 29AV-1 | JBL Control 25-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,144 per pair | $470.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #9 of 13 in Outdoor Speakers | #12 of 13 in Outdoor Speakers |
| Drivers | 8” (200mm) Kevlar cone woofer, 1” (25mm) titanium diaphragm compression driver on rotatable 110° x 85° horn | 5.25” (135mm) woven-fiberglass cone woofer with WeatherEdge, 0.75” (19mm) PEI diaphragm tweeter with fluid cooling |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way | Passive 2-way |
| Sensitivity | 90dB | 90dB (1W @ 1m) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 300W | 100W continuous / 200W program |
| Enclosure | Ported high-impact polystyrene, all-weather | High impact polystyrene (HIPS), IP44 weather-resistant |
| Dimensions | 20.5”H x 12”W x 10.9”D (520 x 306 x 277 mm) | 9.6”H x 7.4”W x 5.7”D (243 x 188 x 145 mm) |
| Weight | 26.9 lbs (12.2 kg) | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 48.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.24 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.50 | - |
| Coverage | - | 100° x 100° |
| Frequency Response | - | 85Hz - 17kHz (+/- 3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Frequency Response (-10dB) | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
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More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL Control 29AV-1:
- JBL Control X Wireless vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- Revel M80XC vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- Focal Chorus OD 706 V vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- Focal 100 OD6 vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- Revel M55XC vs JBL Control 29AV-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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Control 29AV-1: $1,144 per pair B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Exceptional bass extension for an outdoor cabinet, measuring down to 48.3Hz (-6dB) and 41Hz (-10dB) thanks to a heavy-duty 8” Kevlar woofer in a large ported enclosure. Massive 300W power handling and high 90dB sensitivity deliver huge SPL capability outdoors. Built-in 70V/100V transformer with 8-ohm bypass and rotatable high-frequency horn. Measured bass extension of 54.2Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Uneven raw frequency response through the crossover region and ragged on-axis treble yield a modest 2.24 preference score without DSP correction. Very large and heavy (12.2 kg per box), making wall mounting demanding.
Full JBL Control 29AV-1 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41.0Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 54.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 48.3Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way |
| Dimensions | 20.5”H x 12”W x 10.9”D (520 x 306 x 277 mm) |
| Drivers | 8” (200mm) Kevlar cone woofer, 1” (25mm) titanium diaphragm compression driver on rotatable 110° x 85° horn |
| Enclosure | Ported high-impact polystyrene, all-weather |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 300W |
| Sensitivity | 90dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.24 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 4.50 |
| Weight | 26.9 lbs (12.2 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs JBL Control X
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs OSD Audio AP650
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs JBL Stage XD-5
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs RSL Outsider II
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs Revel M55XC
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs JBL Control 25T
- JBL Control 29AV-1 vs Focal 100 OD6
- See all 11 comparisons
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 JBL Control 25T
- JBL Control 25-1 vs OSD Audio AP650
- 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