Customer Ratings & Reviews

I am writing this review for the JBL Stage2 280F Floorstanding Loudspeakers. The JBL Stage2 280F speakers have been a most welcome addition to my home sound system. They are not only quite visually appealing, they have the sound to match. First and foremost, it was evident from the get-go that the 280F was much more than eye-candy. Don’t get me wrong, they exude an air of quality and sophistication, but their real beauty lies within their sound. When they arrived, I was impressed with their substantial bulk. They are not run of the mill particleboard and plastic. No, they are solidly built with superior-quality materials, and weigh in at an impressive 55+ pounds each. As I read over the specs, I became even more convinced that I was about to enter into an entirely new world of listening. They even come with a five-year limited warranty! How many companies do you know who are willing to back their products up like that? As I unpacked the shipping boxes I noted there was one speaker per box, and each box also contained a User Manual, a very nice magnetically-secured cloth grille, four spikes for keeping the speaker static on carpet, a plinth to attach to the bottom of the speaker, four mounting screws, and an Allen wrench. There is no speaker wire included, and this I get because wire gauge will depend on how far away from the receiver you place the speakers. The User’s Manual goes into a good amount of detail regarding speaker placement for the best imaging, and because each user’s choice of listening rooms will be different from everyone else, the instructions give helpful details on ensuring a great listening experience, regardless. One of the things I wondered about was whether the 280F speakers would be good as standalones. As you read the specs, you will find that the 280 has dual 8” polycellulose woofers, and a 1” anodized aluminum high frequency driver. In other words, the 280F delivers respectable bass, midrange and treble (frequency response 39-25,000 Hz. The speaker also sports dual rear ports for extended low-frequency response So okay, its one thing to boast of all the technical aspects, but the true test is in how they sound. After unpacking and assembling, I connected them to the JBL MA710 receiver. As I stated earlier, JBL does not include speaker wire, so before connecting everything, I had to run to Best Buy and purchase speaker wire, I hurried home and got everything connected and ready to test out. My living room is 28’ x 20’. The specs state the JBL 280F speakers have a peak power handling of 225 watts. With that kind of power, I knew they should be able to overwhelm the living room. I began with several different styles and genres of music, from classical to Mongolian throat singing. I was completely blown away by the experience. Although the 280Fs are formidable standalones, they don’t of course deliver the same deep resonance an added subwoofer would supply. But like I said, I was blown away by what they did offer up. At even the highest volumes I could tolerate, there was crystal clear pristine highs and lows filling the room with no distortion whatsoever. And there was the deep resonant vibrations of the bass. As I listened to a live version of one of my favorite songs, I was suddenly shocked as I heard a momentary squealing coming from the speakers with the volume not even half-way up. As I continued listening, the squeal did not return, so I began increasing the volume. Still no squealing. I then rewound the recording to where I first heard it, and sure enough, there it was again. I was dumbfounded to discover it wasn’t the speakers, but it was feedback in the original recording. In the dozens and dozens of times I listened to this song in the past, I had never heard it before. But there it was, and I became a believer. Again, anyone can look at any company’s particular specs, but the proof comes in the performance. The JBL 280Fs are the real deal. The deliver a sound experience that makes videos and music come alive. The sounds are rich and vibrant, deep and sonorous, pristine and clear. What more could you want in a home sound system? If you are considering taking your sound system to the next level, and are ready to experience sound rather than merely hearing it, the JBL 280 F speakers are your perfect choice.