Short answer: the Arendal 1961 Tower. It ranks #47 of 228 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.4/5, at $1,900. The JBL Studio 698 ranks #62, rated 4.3/5, at $1,499.90, $400.10 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The JBL Studio 698 is the deeper-bass choice. Big floorstanding speakers with a horn tweeter, high sensitivity and solid bass, an easy to drive home theater pair at a modest price. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 62Hz for the Arendal 1961 Tower. Watch for: Measured response exhibits a prominent mid-bass emphasis bump around 80Hz that can sound overly thick or chesty in smaller rooms without DSP EQ.
The Arendal 1961 Tower is the more accurate pick. Slim sealed towers with accurate sound and exceptionally clean output at high volume, a great home theater front pair with a subwoofer. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.83 against 4.20 for the JBL Studio 698. Watch for: Erin measured F3 at 62Hz and F10 at 43Hz, so the four woofers prioritize clean output over deep extension; a subwoofer remains necessary.
Buy the Arendal 1961 Tower. It is rated higher for sound quality, and saving $400.10 with the JBL Studio 698 does not make up for the sound-quality gap.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Measured Differences
- Bass depth: the JBL Studio 698 reaches 34 Hz (10 dB down) against 43 Hz for the Arendal 1961 Tower, about half an octave deeper. You hear more of the lowest bass notes and kick drums.
- Tonal accuracy above the bass: with a subwoofer taking the low end, the Arendal 1961 Tower scores 7.2 against 6.1 for the JBL Studio 698 on the Spinorama preference scale. Its frequency response and off-axis sound are smoother, so voices and instruments sound closer to the recording.
- Efficiency: the JBL Studio 698 is rated at 90 dB sensitivity against 86.5 dB for the Arendal 1961 Tower, so it plays as loud with roughly half the amplifier power.
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Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | Arendal 1961 Tower | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.90 per pair | $1,900 per pair |
| Ranked | #62 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #47 of 228 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.7”D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) | 33”H x 6.4”W x 11.2”D (837.5 x 163 x 285 mm) (without feet) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal; dips below 4 ohms (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.5dB/2.83V/1m (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers | Four 5.5-inch woofers; 28mm waveguided soft dome |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs (35.8 kg) each | 39.5 lbs (17.9 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.20 | 4.83 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.14 | 7.25 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Enclosure | - | Sealed HDF |
Where the Ratings Come From
- JBL Studio 698: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner.
- Arendal 1961 Tower: Spinorama.org measurements and reviews by Erin’s Audio Corner video.
This comparison is generated from the ratings, specifications and measurements on each product’s own page, and it updates when that data changes. How we rank explains how each rating is decided.
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