Short answer: the Polk Signature Elite ES60. Both are rated 3.4/5 for sound quality (#62 and #63 of 73 floorstanding speakers), and the Polk Signature Elite ES60 costs $599 against $1,319.90 for the JBL Stage 2 280F, so with nothing between them on sound quality, price settles it.
What the Polk Signature Elite ES60 does well: Three 6.5-inch woofers deliver strong output, 39Hz measured extension and about 89.5dB measured sensitivity. The tradeoff: The measured data show enough directivity and response unevenness to keep it below the strongest neutral towers, and its large cabinet needs room.
What the JBL Stage 2 280F does well: 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 Polk Signature Elite ES60. Both are rated the same for sound quality, and it costs $720.90 less than the JBL Stage 2 280F.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Polk Signature Elite ES60 | JBL Stage 2 280F | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $599 per pair | $1,319.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #62 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #63 of 73 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Enclosure | 2-way floorstander with Power Port | - |
| Drivers | 1” Terylene tweeter, three 6.5” woofers | 1” anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8” polycellulose woofers |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz-40kHz (manufacturer) | - |
| Sensitivity | 90dB specified; 89.5dB measured | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms compatible | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 44.5H x 8.5W x 15.7D in | 43.8” x 14.1” x 16.5” (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) |
| Weight | 52 lbs (23.6 kg) each | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.69 | 4.69 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.57 | 6.14 |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51.3Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) | 48Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.1Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz |
| Power Handling | - | 125W RMS |
| Woofer Cabinet | - | ported, rear |
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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
Polk Signature Elite ES60: $599 per pair Crutchfield eBay
Pros: Three 6.5-inch woofers deliver strong output, 39Hz measured extension and about 89.5dB measured sensitivity. Its local Spinorama scores of 3.69 raw and 5.57 with subwoofer are respectable for a large value-oriented tower, with reasonably smooth listening-window behavior. Measured bass extension of 51.3Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 90dB.
Cons: The measured data show enough directivity and response unevenness to keep it below the strongest neutral towers, and its large cabinet needs room. Polk’s 32Hz lower-limit claim is optimistic relative to the independent anechoic result.
Full Polk Signature Elite ES60 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 37.1Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 51.3Hz (measured, ASR via spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 44.5H x 8.5W x 15.7D in |
| Drivers | 1” Terylene tweeter, three 6.5” woofers |
| Enclosure | 2-way floorstander with Power Port |
| Frequency Response | 32Hz-40kHz (manufacturer) |
| Impedance | 8 ohms compatible |
| Sensitivity | 90dB specified; 89.5dB measured |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.69 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.57 |
| Weight | 52 lbs (23.6 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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