Short answer: the Polk Audio Atrium 4, though neither ranks well in its class. It ranks #11 of 13 outdoor speakers by sound quality, rated 2.6/5, at $117; the JBL Control 25-1 ranks #12, rated 2.4/5, and costs $470, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 13 outdoor speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the JBL Stage XD-5 instead, ranked #7 at $499.95.
What the Polk Audio Atrium 4 does well: Extremely compact, lightweight (1.63 kg), and affordable outdoor pair with Speed-Lock quick mounting bracket. The catch: Small 4.5” driver restricts low-end performance; bass extension drops steeply past 98Hz (-6dB) with little acoustic energy below 100Hz.
Why pick the JBL Control 25-1: Direct successor to the long-standing Control 25T with an upgraded 5.25” woven-fiberglass cone woofer, 0.75” PEI diaphragm fluid-cooled tweeter, and wider 100° x 100° constant directivity coverage. The catch: Compact commercial form factor and voice-optimized voicing limit deep bass extension, with low-end rolling off rapidly below 85Hz (-3dB) and 60Hz (-10dB).
Buy the Polk Audio Atrium 4. It is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Control 25-1 and costs less, so it is the default pick unless a specific strength of the other one matters more to you.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Audio Atrium 4 | JBL Control 25-1 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $117.00 per pair | $470.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #11 of 13 in Outdoor Speakers | #12 of 13 in Outdoor Speakers |
| Drivers | 4.5” (114mm) mineral-filled polymer cone woofer, 0.75” (19mm) anodized aluminum dome tweeter with neodymium magnet | 5.25” (135mm) woven-fiberglass cone woofer with WeatherEdge, 0.75” (19mm) PEI diaphragm tweeter with fluid cooling |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way | Passive 2-way |
| Sensitivity | 89dB | 90dB (1W @ 1m) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
| Recommended Power | 10-80W | - |
| Enclosure | Sealed all-weather Mineral-filled polypropylene | High impact polystyrene (HIPS), IP44 weather-resistant |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 5.7”W x 6.6”D (219 x 144 x 168 mm) | 9.6”H x 7.4”W x 5.7”D (243 x 188 x 145 mm) |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs (1.63 kg) | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 112.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 98.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 74.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.46 | - |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.10 | - |
| Power Handling | - | 100W continuous / 200W program |
| Coverage | - | 100° x 100° |
| Frequency Response | - | 85Hz - 17kHz (+/- 3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Frequency Response (-10dB) | - | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More worthwhile head-to-heads for Polk Audio Atrium 4:
- JBL Control X Wireless vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
- Revel M80XC vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
- Focal Chorus OD 706 V vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
- Focal 100 OD6 vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
- Revel M55XC vs Polk Audio Atrium 4
Prices on this page were last checked October 4, 2026 at 9:58 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
Polk Audio Atrium 4: $117.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Extremely compact, lightweight (1.63 kg), and affordable outdoor pair with Speed-Lock quick mounting bracket. Clean build quality that easily survives harsh rain and sun exposure. Smooth dispersion pattern (+60/-70 degrees horizontal). Measured bass extension of 112.8Hz (-3dB).
Cons: Small 4.5” driver restricts low-end performance; bass extension drops steeply past 98Hz (-6dB) with little acoustic energy below 100Hz. Notable mid-treble shelf gives it a forward, bright presentation and yields a low 1.46 preference score.
Full Polk Audio Atrium 4 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 74.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 112.8Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-6dB) | 98.1Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Configuration | Passive 2-way |
| Dimensions | 8.6”H x 5.7”W x 6.6”D (219 x 144 x 168 mm) |
| Drivers | 4.5” (114mm) mineral-filled polymer cone woofer, 0.75” (19mm) anodized aluminum dome tweeter with neodymium magnet |
| Enclosure | Sealed all-weather Mineral-filled polypropylene |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Recommended Power | 10-80W |
| Sensitivity | 89dB |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 1.46 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.10 |
| Weight | 3.6 lbs (1.63 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs OSD Audio AP650
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs JBL Control 25T
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs JBL Control X
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs JBL Stage XD-5
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs RSL Outsider II
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs Revel M55XC
- Polk Audio Atrium 4 vs Focal 100 OD6
- See all 11 comparisons
JBL Control 25-1: $470.00 per pair Estimated Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Control 25T (ranked lower, rated 2.2/5).
Pros: Direct successor to the long-standing Control 25T with an upgraded 5.25” woven-fiberglass cone woofer, 0.75” PEI diaphragm fluid-cooled tweeter, and wider 100° x 100° constant directivity coverage. Solid 200W program power handling (8-ohm bypass) and built-in 30W multi-tap 70V/100V transformer provide versatile commercial integration. WeatherEdge enclosure design achieves an IP44 outdoor rating with dependable InvisiBall mounting hardware.
Cons: Compact commercial form factor and voice-optimized voicing limit deep bass extension, with low-end rolling off rapidly below 85Hz (-3dB) and 60Hz (-10dB). Full laboratory-grade Klippel NFS Spinorama directivity curves have not yet been published, so tonal linearity is estimated from lineage.
Full JBL Control 25-1 review and specifications →
| Configuration | Passive 2-way |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 100° x 100° |
| Dimensions | 9.6”H x 7.4”W x 5.7”D (243 x 188 x 145 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” (135mm) woven-fiberglass cone woofer with WeatherEdge, 0.75” (19mm) PEI diaphragm tweeter with fluid cooling |
| Enclosure | High impact polystyrene (HIPS), IP44 weather-resistant |
| Frequency Response | 85Hz - 17kHz (+/- 3dB, Manufacturer specified) |
| Frequency Response (-10dB) | 60Hz - 20kHz (Manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms |
| Power Handling | 100W continuous / 200W program |
| Sensitivity | 90dB (1W @ 1m) |
| Weight | 7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- No independent measurement review is linked for this model; it is ranked from hands-on listening and comparison against similarly priced speakers.
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Control 25-1 vs JBL Control 25T
- JBL Control 25-1 vs OSD Audio AP650
- JBL Control 25-1 vs JBL Control 29AV-1
- JBL Control 25-1 vs JBL Control X
- JBL Control 25-1 vs JBL Stage XD-5
- JBL Control 25-1 vs RSL Outsider II
- JBL Control 25-1 vs Revel M55XC
- JBL Control 25-1 vs Focal 100 OD6
- See all 11 comparisons