Floorstanding loudspeakers — JBL STUDIO 690

The Studio 690 is a 2.5-way floorstanding loudspeaker from the JBL Studio 6 home audio range, a family that also includes the Studio 698 and 680 towers, the 630 and 620 bookshelf models, the 610 surround, the 665C and 625C centres and the 650P and 660P powered subwoofers. It is sold singly.

Key specs that matter

Two 8-inch (203 mm) woofers with PolyPlas cones share the low end, and the upper range goes to a 1-inch (25 mm) compression driver set in an HDI waveguide. JBL rates response at 36 Hz to 40 kHz, sensitivity at 90 dB at 2.83 V and 1 m, and nominal impedance at 6 ohm. Recommended amplifier power is a maximum of 250 W. The cabinet measures 300 mm wide, 350 mm deep and 1058 mm high, and each speaker weighs 29.38 kg.

Engineering and use context

In this 2.5-way arrangement the lower woofer is limited to bass, and the upper one reproduces midrange as well as bass. The crossover points are 600 Hz and 1.7 kHz, so the compression driver takes over the band well below the point where a typical dome tweeter would start. Using a compression driver rather than a conventional dome is a design choice shared by every model in the Studio 6 range, from the wall-mount surround to the towers. Bass reflex loading comes from a tuned opening at the rear. The box contains the speaker, an owner's manual, a warranty card, a safety sheet, four floor spikes and four rubber feet, for use on carpet or hard floors. Compared with the smaller Studio 680 tower, which uses two 6.5-inch woofers in a 230 x 300 x 1005 mm cabinet weighing 22.64 kg, the 690 reaches 2 Hz lower in bass extension and is rated 2 dB more sensitive, while both models share the 600 Hz lower crossover point and the same nominal load.

Pairing

Its sensitivity and moderate nominal load make it an easy match for most amplifiers and receivers kept below the power ceiling. For a home theatre system JBL offers the 665C or 625C centre, the 610 surround and a 650P or 660P subwoofer from the same series, which are rated at 500 W and 1000 W respectively.

Alternatives

The JBL Studio 698 is a three-way JBL tower within Studio 6 that places a 6-inch PolyPlas midrange above two 8-inch woofers, crosses over at 320 Hz and 1.8 kHz and weighs 35.84 kg.