Short answer: the JBL Studio 698. It ranks #16 of 56 floorstanding speakers by sound quality at $699; the Revel F206 ranks #17 and costs $2000, 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. 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.
On the Revel F206 side: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pretty even on-axis response. Set against that: Some directivity error and a small peak around 4.5kHz show up alongside the directivity error around 3kHz.
Buy the JBL Studio 698. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Revel F206 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | Revel F206 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $699.00 | $2000 used, Discontinued |
| Ranked | #16 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #17 of 56 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 41.7"H x 11.8"W x 15.7"D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) | 40.3"H x 8.4"W x 12.2"D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 87dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers | Dual 6.5" (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25" (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1" (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs / 35.8 kg each | 57.3 lbs / 26 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- Revel F208 vs Revel Concerta2 F35
- Revel Concerta2 F35 vs Magnepan LRS+
- Revel Concerta2 F35 vs Q Acoustics 5040
- JBL Studio 698 vs Morel Avyra 633
- Revel F206 vs ELAC DF63
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Studio 698: $699.00 Amazon Crutchfield
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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Revel F206: $2000 used, Discontinued
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pretty even on-axis response. Predicted in-room response is excellent, with a smooth downward slope. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±65 degrees is wide, if a bit uneven. Distortion is very nice at 86dB SPL/1m, falling below the frequency range where human hearing is most sensitive, and stays excellent even at 96dB SPL/1m. Near-field measurements of the individual drivers show nice suppression of port and woofer resonances. Really amazing value for the performance.
Cons: Some directivity error and a small peak around 4.5kHz show up alongside the directivity error around 3kHz. Vertical directivity means listening position needs to stay within the tweeter axis, though the reviewer notes there is some leeway. Minimum impedance dips to 3.3 ohms, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Discontinued.
Full Revel F206 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Dimensions | 40.3"H x 8.4"W x 12.2"D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | Dual 6.5" (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25" (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1" (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs / 26 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons