Short answer: the JBL HDI-3600, since the Polk Reserve R500 has a shouty lower treble. The R500 pairs dual 5.25-inch midwoofers with a ring radiator tweeter in a floorstanding tower, but a bump around 4-6kHz gives it a shouty, mildly sibilant quality. The HDI-3600 is flat overall with high 90dB sensitivity and very low midrange distortion, with a wide shelf down above 2kHz as its main flaw.
Buy the JBL HDI-3600 if sound quality matters more than the price. Buy the Polk Reserve R500 if the price matters more than sound quality.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL HDI-3600 | Polk Reserve R500 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3800 per pair | $1,259.98 per pair |
| Ranked | #31 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #37 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 8 ohms nominal per manufacturer) |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 30kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Drivers | 2410H-2 1” compression driver, 3x 6.5” Advanced Aluminum Matrix woofers | Two 5.25” Turbine Cone woofer, 1” Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter |
| Weight | 61.7 lbs (28 kg) each | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) each |
| Dimensions | 40.5”H x 10.2”W x 13.5”D (1029 x 260 x 343 mm) | 40.3”H x 6.8”W x 12.4”D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual rear-firing | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.64 (spinorama.org) | 5.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.95 (spinorama.org) | 7.44 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for JBL HDI-3600:
- JBL HDI-3600 vs KEF Blade Two Meta
- MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition vs JBL HDI-3600
- JBL HDI-3600 vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- JBL HDI-3600 vs Revel F328Be
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs JBL HDI-3600
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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 HDI-3600: $3800 per pair Audio Advice eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a fairly even on-axis response and flat overall frequency response, with high 90dB sensitivity and very low distortion through the midrange. Triple 6.5” Advanced Aluminum Matrix woofers and a 1” compression driver in JBL’s HDI waveguide. Measured bass extension of 78Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 89.5dB.
Cons: A wide shelving-down above 2kHz affects the in-room response, and vertical dispersion is a bigger issue than horizontal: the reviewer noted the dip is wider here than on the smaller HDI-1600, making it more audible. Narrow vertical sweet spot means careful listener-height positioning matters more than usual.
Full JBL HDI-3600 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 78Hz - the on-axis curve also shows an unusual step/dip around 40-55Hz that may be a near-field-scan artifact for this tower (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.5”H x 10.2”W x 13.5”D (1029 x 260 x 343 mm) |
| Drivers | 2410H-2 1” compression driver, 3x 6.5” Advanced Aluminum Matrix woofers |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 30kHz (+/-3dB) (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.64 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.95 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 61.7 lbs (28 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, dual rear-firing |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL HDI-3600 vs JBL Studio 698
- JBL HDI-3600 vs Perlisten R7t
- JBL HDI-3600 vs Polk Audio Reserve R700
- JBL HDI-3600 vs PSB Imagine T65
- JBL HDI-3600 vs Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
- JBL HDI-3600 vs KEF R11 Meta
- JBL HDI-3600 vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63
- JBL HDI-3600 vs Ascend Acoustics Sierra Titan Tower
- See all 43 comparisons
Polk Reserve R500: $1,259.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Dual 5.25” midwoofers paired with a ring radiator tweeter in a floorstanding tower design. Surprisingly neutral overall compared to Polk’s smaller bookshelf models: notably more even-handed than the brighter-sounding R200 the reviewer tested previously. Good linearity on-axis, within about -3/+2dB. Sensitivity close to 86dB, easily driven to adequate levels in a small-to-medium room with a 100W-capable amplifier. Takes very well to EQ: a single band of correction (about a 2dB cut around 4-5kHz) resolves the main tonal issue and transforms the sound. Dynamic range and compression performance is solidly “medium,” holding up fine through about 20dB of level increase before higher-frequency and bass output start to taper at extreme volumes. Measured bass extension of 51Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.2dB.
Cons: A bump around 4-6kHz gives a “shouty,” mildly sibilant quality in the lower treble. Counterintuitively, toeing the speaker out to reduce brightness makes this worse rather than better, since the ring-radiator tweeter’s directivity narrows rapidly above about 6-7kHz: pointed on-axis retains enough top-end air to balance the bump, but toed away that air drops off and the shoutiness stands out more. Bass is adequate for its 5.25” woofers but lacks real weight below about 40-50Hz; a subwoofer is still needed for movies and bass-heavy music. A cabinet resonance around 160-170Hz subtracts from rather than adds boom to the mid-bass region. Vertical listening window is fairly narrow: sitting more than about 10-20° above or below the tweeter axis causes a suckout in the 2-5kHz range, reducing clarity and attack. Multitone distortion ramps up noticeably around 1kHz, and crossing over to a subwoofer at 80Hz doesn’t meaningfully reduce it: likely a surround-related effect rather than excursion-related. Without applying corrective EQ, the reviewer says the 4-6kHz brightness would make it harder to live with day to day.
Full Polk Reserve R500 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.3”H x 6.8”W x 12.4”D (1023.6 x 172.7 x 315 mm) |
| Drivers | Two 5.25” Turbine Cone woofer, 1” Pinnacle Ring Radiator tweeter |
| Impedance | 4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 8 ohms nominal per manufacturer) |
| Sensitivity | 86.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.86 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.44 |
| Weight | 39.2 lbs (17.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Reserve R500 vs ELAC Debut 3.0 DF63
- Polk Reserve R500 vs Linkwitz Lab LXmini
- Polk Reserve R500 vs Emotiva Airmotiv T2+
- Polk Reserve R500 vs PSB Imagine T65
- Polk Reserve R500 vs Infinity Primus 360
- Polk Reserve R500 vs Polk Audio Reserve R700
- Polk Reserve R500 vs Q Acoustics 5040
- Polk Reserve R500 vs Klipsch Forte IV
- See all 34 comparisons