Short answer: the Monolith Encore T6. It ranks #47 of 73 floorstanding speakers by sound quality, rated 4.0/5, at $800; the JBL Stage 2 280F ranks #63, rated 3.4/5, and costs $1,319.90, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Monolith Encore T6 does well: Three 6.5-inch pulp-cone drivers provide more displacement and cleaner cinema output than the B6, with good compression behavior at normal levels. The catch: Despite its size, Erin measured F3 around 68Hz, so the tower does not eliminate the need for a subwoofer.
Why pick the JBL Stage 2 280F: 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. The tradeoff: 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.
Buy the Monolith Encore T6. 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.
Want more options? Browse the full Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Monolith Encore T6 | JBL Stage 2 280F | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $800 per pair | $1,319.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #47 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #63 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | ~68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 48Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31.1Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 87.8dB/2.83V/1m (manufacturer) | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Three 6.5-inch pulp woofers; 25mm waveguided silk dome | 1” anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8” polycellulose woofers |
| Dimensions | 40H x 7.9W x 13.8D inches | 43.8” x 14.1” x 16.5” (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) |
| Weight | 49.2 lbs (22.3 kg) each | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.57 | 4.69 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.45 | 6.14 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz |
| Power Handling | - | 125W RMS |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How Monolith Encore T6 compares with other leading options:
- Revel Concerta2 F35 vs Monolith Encore T6
- Infinity Primus 360 vs Monolith Encore T6
- Monolith Encore T6 vs Monolith THX-365T
- Focal Chora 816 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
- Revel Concerta2 F35 vs JBL Stage 2 280F
Prices on this page were last checked September 29, 2026 at 3:43 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
Monolith Encore T6: $800 per pair Amazon Monoprice eBay
Pros: Three 6.5-inch pulp-cone drivers provide more displacement and cleaner cinema output than the B6, with good compression behavior at normal levels. Erin found the revised waveguided tweeter’s horizontal radiation consistent enough for predictable EQ, while the gloss-capped, heavily braced 49lb cabinet feels far above its price. The tower can produce useful midbass impact when crossed to a subwoofer. Measured bass extension of ~68Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Despite its size, Erin measured F3 around 68Hz, so the tower does not eliminate the need for a subwoofer. The native response needs equalization: crossover-region unevenness and excess top-octave energy prevent a fully neutral presentation. The four-ohm load and low-frequency phase angle warrant a robust amplifier, and the tall multi-driver array creates a narrower vertical listening window than a compact two-way.
Full Monolith Encore T6 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 31.1Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | ~68Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40H x 7.9W x 13.8D inches |
| Drivers | Three 6.5-inch pulp woofers; 25mm waveguided silk dome |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 87.8dB/2.83V/1m (manufacturer) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.57 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.45 |
| Weight | 49.2 lbs (22.3 kg) each |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
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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