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 Dynaudio Emit 30 ranks #114, rated 3.9/5, at $1,274.25, $225.65 cheaper, which does not close the gap in sound quality.
The JBL Studio 698 is the better-sounding choice. 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. 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 Dynaudio Emit 30 is the deeper-bass pick. A 2.5-way floorstander: two 5.25” mid-woofers paired with a roughly 1” dome tweeter, driven through dual rear bass-reflex ports. Its bass reaches about 44Hz before falling 3dB, against 53Hz for the JBL Studio 698. The catch: A dip and inconsistency in the lower-treble presence region (roughly 2-5kHz) makes the top end sound uneven (sometimes soft, sometimes forward) depending on the specific instrument or frequency being reproduced; male vocals can lack presence and cymbals can lack sizzle as a result.
Buy the JBL Studio 698. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the $225.65 saving on the Dynaudio Emit 30 is not enough to make up the difference.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | Dynaudio Emit 30 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.90 per pair | $1,274.25 per pair |
| Ranked | #57 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #114 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 41.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.7”D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) | 35.4”H x 6.7”W x 10.7”D (900.0 x 170.0 x 272.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers | Dual 5.25” mid-woofers, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs (35.8 kg) each | 34.2 lbs (15.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear (dual) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.20 | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.14 | 5.69 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Frequency Response | - | 44Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Power Handling | - | 180W (IEC rated) |
| Country | - | Denmark |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 7, 2026 at 9:25 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.
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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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Dynaudio Emit 30: $1,274.25 per pair Amazon eBay
Same family: the Dynaudio Emit 10 (smaller bookshelf, estimated 3.2/5), the Dynaudio Emit 20 (larger bookshelf, rated 3.6/5), the Dynaudio Emit 50 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.2/5) and the Dynaudio Emit 25C (center, estimated 3.7/5).
Pros: A 2.5-way floorstander: two 5.25” mid-woofers paired with a roughly 1” dome tweeter, driven through dual rear bass-reflex ports. The two woofers hand off at staggered crossover points (around 1kHz and 3.5kHz) rather than sharing one, which avoids the acoustic lobing a shared crossover point would cause between the tweeter and the lower woofer, and adds a few dB of sensitivity in the process. Genuinely deep bass for a speaker around this price: measured F3 near 44Hz and extends audibly down to about 40Hz in-room without much difficulty. Harmonic distortion measures clean and low at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m. Good CTA-2034 sound power and uniform directivity mean the speaker takes EQ correction well if a listener wants to dial in its one tonal weak point. Dynamic range and compression performance are strong overall, with only a minor, high-Q compression artifact tied to a cone-edge resonance that’s unlikely to be audible. Wide, consistent horizontal dispersion around ±70° with just a small ~10° narrowing between 1-3kHz, and a reasonably forgiving ±20° vertical window centered on the tweeter axis. Measured bass extension of 44Hz (-3dB).
Cons: A dip and inconsistency in the lower-treble presence region (roughly 2-5kHz) makes the top end sound uneven (sometimes soft, sometimes forward) depending on the specific instrument or frequency being reproduced; male vocals can lack presence and cymbals can lack sizzle as a result. A cone-edge surround resonance shows up around 1-1.3kHz in burst-decay measurements (a trait the reviewer has also seen on other Dynaudio models) and lines up with elevated multitone distortion across roughly 600Hz-1.5kHz. An enclosure resonance appears around 350Hz in the impedance curve. Placed too close to a rear wall, the dual ports make the bass noticeably boomy: pulling the speaker out is needed to keep the low end from overloading the room. Fully resolving the top-end inconsistency needs a modest EQ correction (roughly +2dB with a Q of about 1, centered 3-6kHz), so out-of-the-box tonal accuracy in that band isn’t quite class-leading despite otherwise strong measured performance.
Full Dynaudio Emit 30 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 36Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 44Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Country | Denmark |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 35.4”H x 6.7”W x 10.7”D (900.0 x 170.0 x 272.0 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 5.25” mid-woofers, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 44Hz - 25kHz (±3dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 180W (IEC rated) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.69 |
| Weight | 34.2 lbs (15.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear (dual) |
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