Short answer: the JBL Studio 698. It ranks #57 of 188 floorstanding speakers by sound quality (rated 4.3/5) at $1,499.90 and is still sold new; the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez ranks #182 (rated 2.5/5) and is discontinued, so it is only an option used.
The JBL Studio 698 is the more accurate, deeper-bass 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. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 4.20 against 2.76 for the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez. Its bass reaches about 53Hz before falling 3dB, against 85Hz for the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez. The tradeoff: 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 case for the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez: Predicted in-room response sums rather nicely aside from the resonance and bass issues. Watch for: Resonance around 260Hz and a number of other resonances show up on-axis, along with a dip in bass response.
Buy the JBL Studio 698. It is rated higher for sound quality, and the Triangle Esprit Antal Ez is discontinued, so it is only available used.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Studio 698 | Triangle Esprit Antal Ez | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,499.90 per pair | $1,799 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #57 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #182 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - low confidence - on-axis curve shows an unusual notch/dip around 250-300Hz for this floorstanding tower |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - low confidence - on-axis curve shows an unusual notch/dip around 250-300Hz for this floorstanding tower |
| Dimensions | 41.7”H x 11.8”W x 15.7”D (1058 x 300 x 400 mm) | 43.9”H x 11.8”W x 15.7”D (1115.0 x 300.0 x 400.0 mm) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (4.1 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 8 ohms nominal (2.7 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 90.7dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 1 in. High-Definition Imaging compression driver, 6 in. PolyPlas midrange, dual 8 in. PolyPlas woofers | 2x 6.5” (160mm) fiberglass cone woofers, 1x 6.5” (160mm) natural cellulose midrange, 1x 1” (25mm) titanium dome tweeter |
| Weight | 78.9 lbs (35.8 kg) each | 98.5 lbs (44.7 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, front |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.20 | 2.76 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.14 | 5.37 |
| 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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Triangle Esprit Antal Ez: $1,799 per pair Discontinued eBay
Same family: the Triangle Esprit Titus EZ (bookshelf, rated 3.6/5).
Pros: Predicted in-room response sums rather nicely aside from the resonance and bass issues. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±50 degrees is reasonably controlled. Measured bass extension of 85Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 90.7dB.
Cons: Resonance around 260Hz and a number of other resonances show up on-axis, along with a dip in bass response. Two distinct distortion sources (one around 250-300Hz, another around 3-4kHz) already cross the reviewer’s audibility threshold even at moderate output, and get much worse at 96dB SPL/1m, where distortion broadly exceeds 50% relative level across large parts of the spectrum. Directivity is not great overall. The reviewer does not recommend it. Discontinued.
Full Triangle Esprit Antal Ez review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - low confidence - on-axis curve shows an unusual notch/dip around 250-300Hz for this floorstanding tower |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - low confidence - on-axis curve shows an unusual notch/dip around 250-300Hz for this floorstanding tower |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 43.9”H x 11.8”W x 15.7”D (1115.0 x 300.0 x 400.0 mm) |
| Drivers | 2x 6.5” (160mm) fiberglass cone woofers, 1x 6.5” (160mm) natural cellulose midrange, 1x 1” (25mm) titanium dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (2.7 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 90.7dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.76 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.37 |
| Weight | 98.5 lbs (44.7 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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