Short answer: the Micca RB42 for the better cabinet, the JBL Control 1 Pro for install duty, though neither ranks well in its class. The RB42’s cabinet looks closer to a $400-500 speaker than a $150 one, though its spinorama shows peaks and valleys on-axis and in the listening window from a few kHz up. The Control 1 Pro brings magnetically shielded drivers, a rugged molded enclosure and SonicGuard protection, but its sound power and predicted in-room response are badly uneven. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 178 bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Neumi BS5 instead, ranked #38 at $139.99.
Buy the Micca RB42. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Control 1 Pro and costs less, so only choose the other one for a particular feature it does better.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Curved cabinet fit and finish look closer to a speaker costing three times as much.
Amazon $159.99 eBay
Magnetically shielded transducers and a rugged molded enclosure make it a durable choice for wall-mount or install use, with SonicGuard overload protection built into the crossover.
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Specifications Side By Side
| Micca RB42 | JBL Control 1 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $159.99 per pair | $240 per pair |
| Ranked | #153 of 178 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #162 of 178 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 85Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - the reviewer noted an artificial boost around 100-300Hz, so true extension may be worse than this on-axis reading suggests | 78Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 62Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) - the reviewer noted an artificial boost around 100-300Hz, so true extension may be worse than this on-axis reading suggests | 55Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Drivers | 4” coated paper woofer, 0.75” silk dome tweeter | 5.25” low frequency driver, 0.75” polycarbonate dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 8.7H x 4.9W x 7.9D in | 9.3H x 6.3W x 5.6D in |
| Weight | 6 lbs (2.7 kg) each (per retailer listing) | 4 lbs (1.8 kg) each |
| Frequency Response | 50Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified, typical in-room) | 80Hz - 20kHz -10dB (Manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 80dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 87dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Impedance | 4-8 ohms | 4 ohms |
| Power Handling | 15-100W each | 150W |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | sealed |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.59 | 2.87 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.87 | 6.37 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Frequency Response Compared
Both speakers’ spinorama measurements, overlaid. A flatter line is more neutral: peaks sound forward or harsh, dips sound recessed. Each curve is shifted so its average from 300 Hz to 3 kHz sits at 0 dB, so loudness differences between the two are removed and only the shape is compared.
Measurement data: Micca RB42 (measured by Audio Science Review) and JBL Control 1 Pro (measured by Audio Science Review), via spinorama.org.
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