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JBL Studio 690 towers, 2.5-way with Compression Driver tweeter and dual 8” Woofers $499 each at IQ Home Entertainment via Amazon
$499
$825
39% off
Amazon
AmazonDeal Details
Get these before they're gone for good! Samsung now owns Harman International, which owns JBL and Revel and is doing some massive reorganizing by phasing out its mid-level product lines (the highest price-to-performance but probably lower-profit) speaker series, leaving only the basic entry level (JBL Stage series) and high-dollar professional (JBL Synthesis) series.
The 690 can stand alone in a 2.0 music system, or as part of a surround sound HT system. It will particularly excel at movies/TV due to the CD tweeter.
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio...0BJTQR
The 690 can stand alone in a 2.0 music system, or as part of a surround sound HT system. It will particularly excel at movies/TV due to the CD tweeter.
- Dual 8" PolyPlas Low-Frequency Woofer provides satisfying bass down to 36Hz = no subwoofer needed for music, and in a pinch (e.g. you live in an apartment with thin walls/floors) even for movies
- High Definition Imaging (HDI) Waveguide with 1" (25mm) High Frequency Compression Driver (not a metal dome tweeter as found in Klipsch) = this is the magic sauce!
- Sensitivity: 90dB @ 1M, 2.83V = very dynamic and easy to drive to high levels cleanly even by entry-level receivers, rather than needing an expensive external amplifier.
- Rear-ported bass-reflex enclosure
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio...0BJTQR
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About the Poster
Get these before they're gone for good! Samsung now owns Harman International, which owns JBL and Revel and is doing some massive reorganizing by phasing out its mid-level product lines (the highest price-to-performance but probably lower-profit) speaker series, leaving only the basic entry level (JBL Stage series) and high-dollar professional (JBL Synthesis) series.
The 690 can stand alone in a 2.0 music system, or as part of a surround sound HT system. It will particularly excel at movies/TV due to the CD tweeter.
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio...0BJTQR
The 690 can stand alone in a 2.0 music system, or as part of a surround sound HT system. It will particularly excel at movies/TV due to the CD tweeter.
- Dual 8" PolyPlas Low-Frequency Woofer provides satisfying bass down to 36Hz = no subwoofer needed for music, and in a pinch (e.g. you live in an apartment with thin walls/floors) even for movies
- High Definition Imaging (HDI) Waveguide with 1" (25mm) High Frequency Compression Driver (not a metal dome tweeter as found in Klipsch) = this is the magic sauce!
- Sensitivity: 90dB @ 1M, 2.83V = very dynamic and easy to drive to high levels cleanly even by entry-level receivers, rather than needing an expensive external amplifier.
- Rear-ported bass-reflex enclosure
https://www.amazon.com/JBL-Studio...0BJTQR
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Community Reviews
JBL Studio 690 towers are framed as big, bassy speakers that make the most sense for farther listening distances, louder playback, or two channel music without a subwoofer. The compression driver tweeter is described as a bit more refined than the Studio 5 series, and the cabinet is seen as less polarizing than older JBL designs. For home theater surrounds, the towers are widely treated as overkill, with placement and line of sight mattering more than the extra woofer size. The deal also lands about $100 below Crutchfield, though several alternatives are viewed as stronger value or more dynamic.
Common Questions (5)
It is mostly a bigger, bassier step rather than a dramatic sonic leap. The compression-driver tweeter may sound a bit more refined for focused 2-channel listening, but in normal home theater use the difference is unlikely to be obvious.
They are generally overkill for surround duty because surround channels carry limited audio content. Bookshelf speakers are usually the more practical choice unless you specifically want towers for a larger footprint or use multi-channel stereo.
At $499 each, the deal is about $100 less than Crutchfield's $599 listing. That makes it a meaningful discount if you already want the 690, but not necessarily a must-buy versus other speaker options.
They are not the most efficient speakers, so clean power helps. A subwoofer still matters most for low-frequency performance and integration, and the 690 mainly adds bigger, bassier output when you listen farther away or louder.
The 680 uses dual 6.5-inch woofers and a slimmer, less deep cabinet, while the 690 uses dual 8-inch woofers. For HT surrounds, the audible difference is likely negligible, so the 680 mainly makes sense if you want a smaller footprint and lower price.
AI-generated summary based on comments from the community. Updated ago
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39 Comments
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Seems like every time I think I've got the right component for the system I'm building, something new goes on sale and turns my head.
You can inspect the audio of your favorite movie to see what spectrum is being sent to the surround channels for yourself, it's not much.
Except if you listen to content exclusively in multi-channel stereo or something, then there are no rules, go crazy!
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Keep in mind the science behind all this says quality performance is based mainly on bass frequencies.
Thee most important portion is the integration of the one speaker(subwoofer) for the lowest frequency into the rest of the speakers.
People always point to how low is goes and the quality of that speaker(subwoofer) as very important.
Contrary to popular belief, that science does not change for the rest of the speakers.
I would also point out, these aren't the most efficient speakers so solid clean power is a plus ime.
Would it be $1k worth a difference, not at all imo.
I thought it was more a side move.
If you're big on JBL maybe HDI series, even then not sure it's worth the much higher cost to switch TBH.
Proper placement and clear line of ear sight to all woofers to all seating positions are the main challenges ime.
Seems like every time I think I've got the right component for the system I'm building, something new goes on sale and turns my head.
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Now, if you want towers for surrounds but might prefer a smaller footprint, the JBL 680 is also on sale on Amazon for $50 less apiece...it uses dual 6.5" woofers instead of these dual 8" woofers, so you will get a slimmer and less deep cabinet, if that is desired. Will you hear any difference between the 680 and 690 when used as HT surrounds? Highly unlikely.
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