Short answer: the Revel F226Be, if you are buying new. The Revel F206 ranks higher than the JBL Stage 2 280F (#29 vs #156 of 188 floorstanding speakers) but is discontinued; its replacement, the Revel F226Be, is rated 4.6/5 at $8,469.90 and is still sold new.
The Revel F206 is the more accurate pick. CEA2034 spinorama shows a pretty even on-axis response. Its measured preference score, a predictor of how neutral it sounds, is 5.51 against 4.69 for the JBL Stage 2 280F. Watch for: Some directivity error and a small peak around 4.5kHz show up alongside the directivity error around 3kHz.
The JBL Stage 2 280F is the deeper-bass pick. 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. Its bass reaches about 48Hz before falling 3dB, against 60Hz for the Revel F206. 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 Revel F226Be, the replacement for the discontinued Revel F206; it is rated higher for sound quality than the JBL Stage 2 280F.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| Revel F206 | JBL Stage 2 280F | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2,000 per pair used, Discontinued | $1,319.90 per pair |
| Ranked | #29 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers | #156 of 188 in Large Size Floorstanding Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 30Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 48Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Dimensions | 40.3”H x 8.4”W x 12.2”D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) | 43.8” x 14.1” x 16.5” (1113 x 358 x 419 mm) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) | 6 ohms nominal, 3.9 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | Dual 6.5” (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25” (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1” (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide | 1” anodized aluminum dome tweeter with HDI waveguide, dual 8” polycellulose woofers |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Audio Science Review) | 89.5dB (2.83V/1m, measured by Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs (26 kg) each | 55.1 lbs (25 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front | ported, rear |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.51 | 4.69 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 | 6.14 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 1.1kHz, 2.1kHz |
| Power Handling | - | 125W RMS |
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- MoFi SourcePoint 888 vs Revel F206
- Revel F328Be vs Revel F206
- KEF R5 Meta vs Revel F206
- Revel F206 vs Revel F226Be
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The Two Speakers In Full
Revel F206: $2,000 per pair used Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the Revel F226Be, ranked higher, rated 4.6/5.
Same family: the Revel M105 (smaller bookshelf, rated 4.2/5), the Revel M106 (larger bookshelf, rated 4.6/5), the Revel F208 (larger floorstanding, ranked higher, rated 4.5/5), the Revel Performa3 C205 (smaller center, rated 4.1/5) and the Revel Performa3 C208 (larger center, rated 4/5).
Pros: CEA2034 spinorama shows a pretty even on-axis response. Predicted in-room response is excellent, with a smooth downward slope. Horizontal beamwidth of about ±65 degrees is wide, if a bit uneven. Distortion is very nice at 86dB SPL/1m, falling below the frequency range where human hearing is most sensitive, and stays excellent even at 96dB SPL/1m. Near-field measurements of the individual drivers show nice suppression of port and woofer resonances. Really amazing value for the performance. Measured bass extension of 60Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 87dB.
Cons: Some directivity error and a small peak around 4.5kHz show up alongside the directivity error around 3kHz. Vertical directivity means listening position needs to stay within the tweeter axis, though the reviewer notes there is some leeway. Minimum impedance dips to 3.3 ohms, calling for an amplifier comfortable with a demanding load. Discontinued.
Full Revel F206 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 34Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 60Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 40.3”H x 8.4”W x 12.2”D (1023.6 x 213.4 x 309.9 mm) |
| Drivers | Dual 6.5” (16.5 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Woofers, 5.25” (13.3 cm) Aluminum Cone, Cast-frame Midrange, 1” (2.5 cm) Aluminum Tweeter with Acoustic Lens Waveguide |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.3 ohms minimum, measured by Audio Science Review) |
| Sensitivity | 87dB (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.51 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.52 |
| Weight | 57.3 lbs (26 kg) each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, front |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
JBL Stage 2 280F: $1,319.90 per pair Amazon eBay
Older model: the JBL Stage A180 (ranked higher, rated 3.8/5).
Same family: the JBL Stage 2 240B (smaller bookshelf, estimated 2.7/5), the JBL Stage 250B (larger bookshelf, rated 3.2/5), the JBL Stage 2 260F (smaller floorstanding, ranked higher, estimated 4.2/5), the JBL Stage 2 245C (center, estimated 3.2/5), the JBL Stage 200P (smaller subwoofer, estimated 3.5/5) and the JBL Stage 220P (larger subwoofer, estimated 3.7/5).
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/Klipsch 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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