Short answer: the JBL Studio 698. It ranks #57 of 188 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.3/5, at $1,499.90; the Dali Rubikore 6 ranks #163, rated 3.3/5, and costs $8,000, which makes this an easy call rather than a real tradeoff.
The JBL Studio 698 is the better-sounding option. 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. The catch: 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 Dali Rubikore 6 is the more accurate, deeper-bass option. 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.27 against 4.20 for the JBL Studio 698. Its bass reaches about 43Hz before falling 3dB, against 53Hz for the JBL Studio 698. The catch: 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).
Buy the JBL Studio 698. It is rated higher for sound quality than the Dali Rubikore 6 and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | Dali Rubikore 6 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.90 per pair | $8000 per pair |
| Ranked | #57 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #163 of 188 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 |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.20 | 5.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.14 | 6.96 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 9, 2026 at 8:01 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 Studio 698: $1,499.90 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Older model: the JBL Studio 590 (ranked lower, rated 2.8/5).
Same family: the JBL Studio 630 (bookshelf, rated 3.6/5).
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. Measured bass extension of 53Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 90dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.20 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.14 |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs (35.8 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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Dali Rubikore 6: $8000 per pair Safe and Sound HQ eBay
Same family: the DALI Rubikore 2 (bookshelf, estimated 3.2/5), the DALI Rubikore 8 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 3.4/5) and the DALI Rubikore Cinema (center, estimated 3.1/5).
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. Measured bass extension of 43Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 86.4dB.
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) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| 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) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.27 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.96 |
| Weight | 114.9 lbs (52.1 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons