Short answer: the Revel F328Be for better sound quality, the JBL Stage 2 280F for the lower price. The Revel F328Be ranks #8 of 71 floorstanding speakers at $9679.95. The JBL Stage 2 280F ranks #62 at $529.95, $9150 cheaper.
What the JBL Stage 2 280F offers: Genuinely impressive output capability and low compression/distortion for the price, courtesy of the dual 8” woofers - the reviewer’s standout praise for this pair. High sensitivity (89.5dB measured) and low impedance make it easy to drive. Decent bass extension (F3 48Hz, F10 30Hz) reaches about 50Hz in-room. Horizontal dispersion is reasonably consistent (~55 degrees), meaning the speaker takes reasonably well to EQ correction. Watch for: Explicitly called out as disappointing relative to expectations for the JBL name and this price point - lacks native linearity compared to similarly-priced alternatives like the Polk Reserve R500, which the reviewer recommends instead for anyone who doesn’t want to rely on EQ. Treble falls off a cliff above about 10-12kHz, giving a notable lack of air/space that needs real correction (a wide +Q0.5 boost from 10-20kHz) to fix. A sharp impedance resonance around 900Hz-1.1kHz is nearly impossible to EQ out cleanly even with narrow filters. Elevated multitone distortion in the 600Hz-2.5kHz range, tied to the midwoofer rather than the tweeter. Compared to the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-6000F II/RP-8000F II, this JBL is less directive and native-flat but does extend roughly 20Hz deeper in the bass - a real tradeoff either way, not a clean win.
What the Revel F328Be offers: CEA2034 spinorama shows a quite flat on-axis response with superb directivity and efficiency above 90dB. Predicted in-room response is extremely accurate, with a smooth ~5dB downward slope from bass to treble that suits typical rooms without correction. Early reflections sum very nicely with the direct sound. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±70 degrees is wide and quite smooth. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion stays easily below the reviewer’s audibility threshold across nearly the whole range. Watch for: Vertical directivity is asymmetric - the reviewer recommends staying between -20 and +40 degrees relative to the tweeter axis, reflecting the driver layout of this three-way tower. Impedance dips to a minimum of 3 ohms with an additional resonance-driven phase swing, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Very expensive and very heavy (51 kg each).
Buy the JBL Stage 2 280F if the price matters more than sound quality. Buy the Revel F328Be if sound quality matters more than the price.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL Stage 2 280F. It ranks near the bottom of the 71 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Stage 2 280F | Revel F328Be | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $529.95 per pair | $9679.95 per pair |
| Ranked | #62 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #8 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 39Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 74Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1" anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8" polycellulose woofers | Three 8" (200mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofer, 5-1/4" (130mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cone, with cast frame midrange, 1" (25mm) Beryllium dome, with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each | 112.4 lbs (51 kg) each |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 43.8" x 14.1" x 16.5" (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) | 50.9"H x 13.5"W x 17.6"D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz | - |
| Power Handling | 125W RMS | - |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.84 | 5.79 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.29 | 7.20 |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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 Stage 2 280F: $529.95 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Genuinely impressive output capability and low compression/distortion for the price, courtesy of the dual 8” woofers - the reviewer’s standout praise for this pair. High sensitivity (89.5dB measured) and low impedance make it easy to drive. Decent bass extension (F3 48Hz, F10 30Hz) reaches about 50Hz in-room. Horizontal dispersion is reasonably consistent (~55 degrees), meaning the speaker takes reasonably well to EQ correction. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 89.5dB.
Cons: Explicitly called out as disappointing relative to expectations for the JBL name and this price point - lacks native linearity compared to similarly-priced alternatives like the Polk Reserve R500, which the reviewer recommends instead for anyone who doesn’t want to rely on EQ. Treble falls off a cliff above about 10-12kHz, giving a notable lack of air/space that needs real correction (a wide +Q0.5 boost from 10-20kHz) to fix. A sharp impedance resonance around 900Hz-1.1kHz is nearly impossible to EQ out cleanly even with narrow filters. Elevated multitone distortion in the 600Hz-2.5kHz range, tied to the midwoofer rather than the tweeter. Compared to the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-6000F II/RP-8000F II, this JBL is less directive and native-flat but does extend roughly 20Hz deeper in the bass - a real tradeoff either way, not a clean win.
Full JBL Stage 2 280F review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz |
| Dimensions | 43.8" x 14.1" x 16.5" (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) |
| Drivers | 1" anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8" polycellulose woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 125W RMS |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.29 |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Revel F328Be: $9679.95 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a quite flat on-axis response with superb directivity and efficiency above 90dB. Predicted in-room response is extremely accurate, with a smooth ~5dB downward slope from bass to treble that suits typical rooms without correction. Early reflections sum very nicely with the direct sound. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±70 degrees is wide and quite smooth. At 96dB SPL/1m distortion stays easily below the reviewer’s audibility threshold across nearly the whole range. Measured bass extension of 74Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 91dB.
Cons: Vertical directivity is asymmetric - the reviewer recommends staying between -20 and +40 degrees relative to the tweeter axis, reflecting the driver layout of this three-way tower. Impedance dips to a minimum of 3 ohms with an additional resonance-driven phase swing, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Very expensive and very heavy (51 kg each).
Full Revel F328Be review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 39Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 74Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 50.9"H x 13.5"W x 17.6"D (1292.9 x 342.9 x 447 mm) |
| Drivers | Three 8" (200mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cones, with cast frames woofer, 5-1/4" (130mm) Deep Ceramic Composite aluminum cone, with cast frame midrange, 1" (25mm) Beryllium dome, with acoustic lens waveguide tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 91dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.79 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.20 |
| Weight | 112.4 lbs (51 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons