Short answer: the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 if sound quality matters most, the JBL Stage 2 280F if price matters most. The Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 ranks #5 of 71 floorstanding speakers at $7998. The JBL Stage 2 280F ranks #62 at $529.95, $7468.05 cheaper.
What the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 offers: ASR’s revised Spinorama measurement shows bass reaching 32.2Hz at -3dB and 27.8Hz at -6dB, giving substantial low-end weight without a subwoofer. The response spans 2.3dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with preference scores of 5.10 standalone and 6.12 with an ideal subwoofer. The review’s exceptionally low bass distortion at ordinary levels complements that extension, while dual 6.5-inch Purifi woofers provide a strong foundation for full-range listening. Watch for: Vertical directivity is narrow and horizontal coverage is uneven, so listening height and placement affect tonal balance. Treble resonances and response irregularities keep it from reference-level neutrality. Spinorama’s modeled EQ improves the scores to 6.09 standalone and 6.99 with an ideal subwoofer, but those are corrected results, not stock performance. Measured sensitivity is 85.9dB at 2.83V/1m with a nominal 4-ohm load; use an amplifier comfortable driving 4 ohms. Distortion rises at very high playback levels.
What the JBL Stage 2 280F offers: 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. Watch for: 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.
Buy the Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 when sound quality outweighs the price for you, and the JBL Stage 2 280F when the price outweighs sound quality instead.
Skip the JBL Stage 2 280F if sound quality matters to you. It ranks near the bottom of the 71 floorstanding speakers.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 | JBL Stage 2 280F | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7,998 per pair | $529.95 per pair |
| Ranked | #5 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #62 of 71 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 48Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 30Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Custom waveguide-loaded tweeter with beam-expansion fins, 2x 6.5" Purifi USHINDI aluminum-cone woofers | 1" anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8" polycellulose woofers |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 8.7"W x 14"D (1025 x 222 x 355 mm) | 43.8" x 14.1" x 16.5" (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) |
| Weight | 101.4 lbs (46 kg) each | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, large rear port | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.10 | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.12 | 5.29 |
| Power Handling | - | 125W RMS |
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Prices on this page were last checked September 16, 2026 at 12:41 AM 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
Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66: $7,998 per pair Radiant Acoustics eBay
Pros: ASR’s revised Spinorama measurement shows bass reaching 32.2Hz at -3dB and 27.8Hz at -6dB, giving substantial low-end weight without a subwoofer. The response spans 2.3dB from 300Hz to 5kHz, with preference scores of 5.10 standalone and 6.12 with an ideal subwoofer. The review’s exceptionally low bass distortion at ordinary levels complements that extension, while dual 6.5-inch Purifi woofers provide a strong foundation for full-range listening. Measured bass extension of 32.2Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 85.9dB.
Cons: Vertical directivity is narrow and horizontal coverage is uneven, so listening height and placement affect tonal balance. Treble resonances and response irregularities keep it from reference-level neutrality. Spinorama’s modeled EQ improves the scores to 6.09 standalone and 6.99 with an ideal subwoofer, but those are corrected results, not stock performance. Measured sensitivity is 85.9dB at 2.83V/1m with a nominal 4-ohm load; use an amplifier comfortable driving 4 ohms. Distortion rises at very high playback levels.
Full Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 24.4Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 32.2Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz |
| Dimensions | 40.4"H x 8.7"W x 14"D (1025 x 222 x 355 mm) |
| Drivers | Custom waveguide-loaded tweeter with beam-expansion fins, 2x 6.5" Purifi USHINDI aluminum-cone woofers |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal |
| Sensitivity | 85.9dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review; 86dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.10 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.12 |
| Weight | 101.4 lbs (46 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, large rear port |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs Ascend Acoustics ELX Ribbon Tower
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs MoFi SourcePoint 888
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs MoFi SourcePoint V10 Master Edition
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs KEF Blade Two Meta
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs Revel F328Be
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs Revel F226Be
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs JBL 4367
- Radiant Acoustics Clarity 66 vs Revel F228Be
- See all 23 comparisons
JBL Stage 2 280F: $529.95 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 |
| 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 | 3.84 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 5.29 |
| Weight | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Stage 2 280F vs Magnepan LRS+
- JBL Stage 2 280F vs Infinity Reference 253
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- JBL Stage 2 280F vs Focal Aria Evo X N°2
- JBL Stage 2 280F vs JBL Studio 590
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