Short answer: the L-Acoustics SOKA. It ranks #9 of 13 line array and installation pa speakers by sound quality (rated 3.5/5); the JBL CBT 70J-1 ranks #10 (rated 3.4/5).
What the L-Acoustics SOKA does well: An ultra-shallow line source only about 10cm deep and 9.4kg that reaches 133dB with 140° horizontal coverage, which lets it hide against a wall or column. The catch: Bass reaches only about 128Hz (-3dB), so it needs a subwoofer or a bass companion, and it is passive, so it requires L-Acoustics amplified controllers.
What the JBL CBT 70J-1 does well: Independently measured by Audio Science Review, with a 5.87 preference score with an ideal subwoofer and a 3.20 directivity-index deviation. Watch for: Bass measures 120Hz at -3dB and about 62Hz at -10dB, and the standalone score is only 2.95, so it needs a subwoofer for music.
Buy the L-Acoustics SOKA. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL CBT 70J-1.
Want more options? Browse the full PA & Live Sound rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| L-Acoustics SOKA | JBL CBT 70J-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | - | $1,480.00 |
| Ranked | #9 of 13 in Line Array and Installation PA Speakers | #10 of 13 in Line Array and Installation PA Speakers |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way ultra-shallow line source | Passive 2-way Constant Beamwidth Technology column |
| Drivers | 9x 3.5” neodymium cone drivers, 3x 1” neodymium compression drivers | 4x 5” neodymium woofers, 16x 1” neodymium tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) | 60Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 41.9”H x 3.9”W x 4.1”D (1065 x 99 x 104 mm) | 27.3”H x 6.7”W x 9.3”D (694 x 170 x 237 mm) |
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification (L-Acoustics amplified controller) | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Maximum SPL | 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) | 131dB peak (narrow, speech mode, manufacturer specified) |
| Coverage | 140° horizontal, +5°/-21° vertical | Switchable 25° or 45° vertical |
| DSP | No (passive; processing comes from the amplified controller) | No (passive) |
| Weight | 20.7 lbs (9.4 kg) | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 128Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) | 120.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.21 | 2.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.99 | 5.87 |
| XLR Input | No | No |
| RCA Input | No | No |
| TRS Input | No | No |
| Optical Input | No | No |
| Coaxial Input | No | No |
| USB Input | No | No |
| HDMI Input | No | No |
| AES Input | No | No |
| Aux Input | No | No |
| Microphone Input | No | No |
| Guitar Input | No | No |
| Power Handling | - | 500W (2,000W peak) |
| Impedance | - | 8 ohms |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | about 61.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- L-Acoustics SOKA vs JBL COL800
- L-Acoustics SOKA vs JBL COL600
- L-Acoustics SOKA vs Coda Audio CoRay4
Prices on this page were last checked September 26, 2026 at 11:14 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
L-Acoustics SOKA Passive eBay
Pros: An ultra-shallow line source only about 10cm deep and 9.4kg that reaches 133dB with 140° horizontal coverage, which lets it hide against a wall or column. Vendor Spinorama data gives preference scores of 3.21 standalone and 6.99 with an ideal subwoofer. Measured bass extension of 128Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass reaches only about 128Hz (-3dB), so it needs a subwoofer or a bass companion, and it is passive, so it requires L-Acoustics amplified controllers. Listening-window narrow-band deviation is 0.348 and pricing is dealer quoted.
Full L-Acoustics SOKA review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification (L-Acoustics amplified controller) |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 128Hz (measured, vendor Spinorama data) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way ultra-shallow line source |
| Coverage | 140° horizontal, +5°/-21° vertical |
| DSP | No (passive; processing comes from the amplified controller) |
| Dimensions | 41.9”H x 3.9”W x 4.1”D (1065 x 99 x 104 mm) |
| Drivers | 9x 3.5” neodymium cone drivers, 3x 1” neodymium compression drivers |
| Frequency Response | 70Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Maximum SPL | 133dB peak (manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.21 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.99 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 20.7 lbs (9.4 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL CBT 70J-1: $1,480.00 Passive B&H Photo Video eBay
Pros: Independently measured by Audio Science Review, with a 5.87 preference score with an ideal subwoofer and a 3.20 directivity-index deviation. Sixteen 1-inch tweeters and four 5-inch woofers give switchable 25° or 45° vertical coverage for long-throw or medium rooms, with a 131dB peak and a speech or music voicing switch. A pan and tilt wall bracket is included. Measured bass extension of 120.1Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Bass measures 120Hz at -3dB and about 62Hz at -10dB, and the standalone score is only 2.95, so it needs a subwoofer for music. A 4.0dB reference band and 0.573 listening-window deviation mean tonal balance is uneven. It is passive and needs an external amplifier.
Full JBL CBT 70J-1 review and specifications →
| AES Input | No |
|---|---|
| Amplifier Power | Passive speaker; requires external amplification |
| Aux Input | No |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | about 61.5Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 120.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review data on spinorama.org) |
| Bluetooth | No |
| Coaxial Input | No |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way Constant Beamwidth Technology column |
| Coverage | Switchable 25° or 45° vertical |
| DSP | No (passive) |
| Dimensions | 27.3”H x 6.7”W x 9.3”D (694 x 170 x 237 mm) |
| Drivers | 4x 5” neodymium woofers, 16x 1” neodymium tweeters |
| Frequency Response | 60Hz - 20kHz (-10dB, manufacturer specified) |
| Guitar Input | No |
| HDMI Input | No |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Maximum SPL | 131dB peak (narrow, speech mode, manufacturer specified) |
| Microphone Input | No |
| Optical Input | No |
| Power Handling | 500W (2,000W peak) |
| RCA Input | No |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 2.95 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.87 |
| TRS Input | No |
| USB Input | No |
| Weight | 20.9 lbs (9.5 kg) |
| XLR Input | No |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons