Short answer: the Klipsch RP-8000F II, because the JBL’s lack of native linearity is the bigger compromise. The Stage 2 280F earns praise for output and low compression and distortion for the money from its dual 8” woofers, yet the reviewer called it disappointing for the JBL name and price point. The Klipsch costs $1,159.98 against $1,319.90 and has the best dynamics under load, though its mid-bass is lean and it missed the expected 50Hz.
Buy the Klipsch RP-8000F II. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Stage 2 280F and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Klipsch RP-8000F II | JBL Stage 2 280F | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1,159.98 per pair | $1,319.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #49 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #63 of 74 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 48Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 92dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” titanium tweeter with 90x90 Tractrix horn, dual 8” cerametallic woofers | 1” anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8” polycellulose woofers |
| Weight | 61.3 lbs (27.8 kg) | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) | - |
| Crossover Frequency | 1630Hz | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous, 600W peak | 125W RMS |
| Dimensions | 43.1” x 10.8” x 18.3” (1095 x 275 x 464 mm) | 43.8” x 14.1” x 16.5” (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.39 | 4.69 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.12 | 6.14 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
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Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 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
Klipsch RP-8000F II: $1,159.98 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Highest sensitivity of the RP II floorstander line (~92dB measured) and the best dynamics/compression behavior of the three under load: the cleanest at high output. Dual 8-inch woofers and the highest power handling in the line. Measured bass extension of 67Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 92dB.
Cons: Mid-bass sounds lean despite the dual 8-inch woofers, and bass extension disappointed for its size: expected to reach 50Hz, didn’t get there in-room. Has its own edgy upper-mid bump (2-6kHz) that’s harder to EQ out than the other two models’ issues, since it stems from the vertical horn/woofer offset rather than simple tonal balance. The most placement-critical of the three, with the narrowest horizontal (~40-50 degrees) and vertical (+5/-10 degrees) dispersion.
Full Klipsch RP-8000F II review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 33Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 67Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1630Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 43.1” x 10.8” x 18.3” (1095 x 275 x 464 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” titanium tweeter with 90x90 Tractrix horn, dual 8” cerametallic woofers |
| Frequency Response | 35Hz - 25kHz (+-3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms nominal (3.7 ohms minimum above 80Hz, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 150W continuous, 600W peak |
| Sensitivity | 92dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.39 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.12 |
| Weight | 61.3 lbs (27.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
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JBL Stage 2 280F: $1,319.90 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Genuinely impressive output capability and low compression/distortion for the price, courtesy of the dual 8” woofers: the reviewer’s standout praise for this pair. High sensitivity (89.5dB measured) and low impedance make it easy to drive. Decent bass extension (F3 48Hz, F10 30Hz) reaches about 50Hz in-room. Horizontal dispersion is reasonably consistent (~55 degrees), meaning the speaker takes reasonably well to EQ correction. Measured bass extension of 48Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 89.5dB.
Cons: Explicitly called out as disappointing relative to expectations for the JBL name and this price point: lacks native linearity compared to similarly-priced alternatives like the Polk Reserve R500, which the reviewer recommends instead for anyone who doesn’t want to rely on EQ. Treble falls off a cliff above about 10-12kHz, giving a notable lack of air/space that needs real correction (a wide +Q0.5 boost from 10-20kHz) to fix. A sharp impedance resonance around 900Hz-1.1kHz is nearly impossible to EQ out cleanly even with narrow filters. Elevated multitone distortion in the 600Hz-2.5kHz range, tied to the midwoofer rather than the tweeter. Compared to the similarly-priced Klipsch RP-6000F II/RP-8000F II, this JBL is less directive and native-flat but does extend roughly 20Hz deeper in the bass: a real tradeoff either way, not a clean win.
Full JBL Stage 2 280F review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 48Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 43.8” x 14.1” x 16.5” (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8” polycellulose woofers |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Power Handling | 125W RMS |
| Sensitivity | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.69 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.14 |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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