Short answer: the JBL Studio 698. It ranks #21 of 68 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $599; the Infinity Primus 360 ranks #40 and costs $650, 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 Infinity Primus 360 offers: A three-way tower from 2005 (two 6.5” mid-woofers, a 4” mid-range, and a 0.75” dome tweeter, 8 ohms nominal) that holds up remarkably well by modern measurement standards: on-axis linearity is within about ±2dB, and the listening window stays consistent out to roughly ±30° horizontal and ±10° vertical off the mid-range axis. Horizontal directivity is well controlled out to about ±75° before tonality starts to drift, meaning the reflected sound in a room stays close in character to the direct sound - a speaker that takes EQ well without fighting itself. Harmonic distortion measures low at both 86dB and 96dB, and multitone distortion stays under the reviewer’s 3% threshold. Silky, smooth midrange with a rich lower-midrange/upper-bass character. No mechanical issues or surround degradation found in a 20-year-old pair, and a second unit measured within about 1-1.5dB of the first, suggesting good long-term consistency for the design. Watch for: Manufacturer-spec sensitivity of 93dB runs about 3-4dB optimistic versus the measured 89.4dB average. Bass output drops off fairly quickly below about 50Hz in-room (F3 53Hz, F10 37Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real low-end extension. Resonances show up around 170Hz, 220Hz, and 350Hz. On-axis, the lower treble can sound a bit bright or sibilant when the speaker is aimed directly at the listener; toeing out about 10-15° (rather than the more extreme 30°) gave the best balance, and some sidewall acoustic absorption further tamed a 4-5kHz peak. Placed close to the rear wall, bass gets boomy - pulling the speakers out about a foot resolves most of it, with roughly 1.5 feet from the wall as a good compromise between bass character and typical room aesthetics. Straying beyond about 25° above or below the mid-range axis introduces audible suckout. No longer in production, so it’s a used/secondhand purchase only.
Buy the JBL Studio 698. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Infinity Primus 360 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | Infinity Primus 360 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599.00 | $650.00 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #21 of 68 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #40 of 68 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 37Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 53Hz (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 8-1/8"W x 13-7/8"D (990 x 208 x 330mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 89.4dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner; 93dB manufacturer specified) |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers | Two 6.5" mid-woofers, 4" mid-range, 0.75" dome tweeter |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs / 35.8 kg each | 48.5 lbs (48.5 lbs / 22 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | - |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Frequency Response | - | 38Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Crossovers | - | 350Hz & 3.3kHz, 24dB/octave |
| Recommended Power | - | 10-200W |
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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 |
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Infinity Primus 360: $650.00 Discontinued eBay
Pros: A three-way tower from 2005 (two 6.5” mid-woofers, a 4” mid-range, and a 0.75” dome tweeter, 8 ohms nominal) that holds up remarkably well by modern measurement standards: on-axis linearity is within about ±2dB, and the listening window stays consistent out to roughly ±30° horizontal and ±10° vertical off the mid-range axis. Horizontal directivity is well controlled out to about ±75° before tonality starts to drift, meaning the reflected sound in a room stays close in character to the direct sound - a speaker that takes EQ well without fighting itself. Harmonic distortion measures low at both 86dB and 96dB, and multitone distortion stays under the reviewer’s 3% threshold. Silky, smooth midrange with a rich lower-midrange/upper-bass character. No mechanical issues or surround degradation found in a 20-year-old pair, and a second unit measured within about 1-1.5dB of the first, suggesting good long-term consistency for the design.
Cons: Manufacturer-spec sensitivity of 93dB runs about 3-4dB optimistic versus the measured 89.4dB average. Bass output drops off fairly quickly below about 50Hz in-room (F3 53Hz, F10 37Hz), so a subwoofer is needed for real low-end extension. Resonances show up around 170Hz, 220Hz, and 350Hz. On-axis, the lower treble can sound a bit bright or sibilant when the speaker is aimed directly at the listener; toeing out about 10-15° (rather than the more extreme 30°) gave the best balance, and some sidewall acoustic absorption further tamed a 4-5kHz peak. Placed close to the rear wall, bass gets boomy - pulling the speakers out about a foot resolves most of it, with roughly 1.5 feet from the wall as a good compromise between bass character and typical room aesthetics. Straying beyond about 25° above or below the mid-range axis introduces audible suckout. No longer in production, so it’s a used/secondhand purchase only. Discontinued.
Full Infinity Primus 360 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossovers | 350Hz & 3.3kHz, 24dB/octave |
| Dimensions | 39"H x 8-1/8"W x 13-7/8"D (990 x 208 x 330mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | Two 6.5" mid-woofers, 4" mid-range, 0.75" dome tweeter |
| Frequency Response | 38Hz - 20kHz (±3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal, 3.5 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Recommended Power | 10-200W |
| Sensitivity | 89.4dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner; 93dB manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 48.5 lbs (48.5 lbs / 22 kg) each |
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