Short answer: the JBL Studio 698. It ranks #21 of 71 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $599; the Dali Rubikore 6 ranks #64 and costs $8000, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the JBL Studio 698 offers: High-Definition Imaging (HDI) horn waveguide paired with a 1” compression driver provides excellent high-frequency directivity control and seamless acoustic handoff to the 6” PolyPlas midrange. Dual 8” PolyPlas woofers deliver robust low-end authority with solid bass extension down to an F3 of 53Hz and F10 of 34Hz. High voltage sensitivity (90dB SPL at 2.83V/1m) and clean power handling provide effortless dynamic headroom and low distortion for home theater and music listening. 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. Treble response lacks top-octave ‘air’ above 12kHz compared to high-end dome or ribbon tweeters. Physically large, heavy cabinet (35.8 kg per speaker) requires careful room placement and a wide acoustic footprint.
What the Dali Rubikore 6 offers: Unusual 2.5-plus-half-way, four-driver configuration: two woofers overlap up to 800Hz, then one continues alone to about 2600Hz where the tweeter takes over, followed by a supertweeter engaging at 14kHz - a design layout the reviewer says he’d never encountered before. Bass extension reaches a solid 40-45Hz in-room. Distortion is quite low overall, with an especially impressive gap between second- and third-order harmonic distortion in the midwoofers. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±75°, close to the reviewer’s preferred range for an enveloping soundstage. Very good dynamic range, holding up to about 26dB of level increase (70dB to 102dB) with distortion staying within the reviewer’s 3% threshold even at full output. Multiple attractive finish options, including bi-wireable connections. Watch for: On-axis, the treble sits 3-5dB above the midrange (especially around 4kHz), giving a sibilant, hot top end that the manufacturer itself recommends compensating for with 30° of toe-out (firing the speakers straight into the room rather than at the listener). Even with that toe-out, the midrange still reads as somewhat scooped and recessed - the reviewer needed a wide, +2dB EQ boost around 2.5kHz to bring vocals back into proper balance. A high-Q resonance appears around 590Hz, and another shows up around 800Hz in burst decay measurements. Best combined with sidewall absorption to help tame the elevated 4-5kHz energy, adding to setup complexity. Needs specific listening-height positioning - ears should be at the tweeter (not supertweeter) level for the most accurate sound. Without EQ or acoustic treatment, the reviewer found the combination of a hot tweeter and recessed midrange a “tough sale” despite otherwise strong measured performance.
Buy the JBL Studio 698. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Dali Rubikore 6 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the Dali Rubikore 6. It ranks near the bottom of the 71 floorstanding speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | Dali Rubikore 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 | $8000 |
| Ranked | #21 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #64 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 31Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 43Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.7"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) | 39"H x 7.9"W x 15"D (990.0 x 200.0 x 380.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 86.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 88.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers | 28mm tweeter + dual 180mm woofers |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs / 35.8 kg each | 114.9 lbs / 52.1 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
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- Revel Concerta2 F35 vs Dali Rubikore 6
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The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Studio 698: $599.00 Amazon Crutchfield eBay
Pros: High-Definition Imaging (HDI) horn waveguide paired with a 1” compression driver provides excellent high-frequency directivity control and seamless acoustic handoff to the 6” PolyPlas midrange. Dual 8” PolyPlas woofers deliver robust low-end authority with solid bass extension down to an F3 of 53Hz and F10 of 34Hz. High voltage sensitivity (90dB SPL at 2.83V/1m) and clean power handling provide effortless dynamic headroom and low distortion for home theater and music listening.
Cons: Measured response exhibits a prominent mid-bass emphasis bump around 80Hz that can sound overly thick or chesty in smaller rooms without DSP EQ. Treble response lacks top-octave ‘air’ above 12kHz compared to high-end dome or ribbon tweeters. Physically large, heavy cabinet (35.8 kg per speaker) requires careful room placement and a wide acoustic footprint.
Full JBL Studio 698 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.7"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs / 35.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
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Dali Rubikore 6: $8000 Safeandsoundhq eBay
Pros: Unusual 2.5-plus-half-way, four-driver configuration: two woofers overlap up to 800Hz, then one continues alone to about 2600Hz where the tweeter takes over, followed by a supertweeter engaging at 14kHz - a design layout the reviewer says he’d never encountered before. Bass extension reaches a solid 40-45Hz in-room. Distortion is quite low overall, with an especially impressive gap between second- and third-order harmonic distortion in the midwoofers. Wide horizontal radiation of about ±75°, close to the reviewer’s preferred range for an enveloping soundstage. Very good dynamic range, holding up to about 26dB of level increase (70dB to 102dB) with distortion staying within the reviewer’s 3% threshold even at full output. Multiple attractive finish options, including bi-wireable connections.
Cons: On-axis, the treble sits 3-5dB above the midrange (especially around 4kHz), giving a sibilant, hot top end that the manufacturer itself recommends compensating for with 30° of toe-out (firing the speakers straight into the room rather than at the listener). Even with that toe-out, the midrange still reads as somewhat scooped and recessed - the reviewer needed a wide, +2dB EQ boost around 2.5kHz to bring vocals back into proper balance. A high-Q resonance appears around 590Hz, and another shows up around 800Hz in burst decay measurements. Best combined with sidewall absorption to help tame the elevated 4-5kHz energy, adding to setup complexity. Needs specific listening-height positioning - ears should be at the tweeter (not supertweeter) level for the most accurate sound. Without EQ or acoustic treatment, the reviewer found the combination of a hot tweeter and recessed midrange a “tough sale” despite otherwise strong measured performance.
Full Dali Rubikore 6 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 43Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 39"H x 7.9"W x 15"D (990.0 x 200.0 x 380.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 28mm tweeter + dual 180mm woofers |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (4.3 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 86.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 88.5dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 114.9 lbs / 52.1 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons