Rated 5 out of
5
by
Mightyd463 from
A great tower speaker, with amazing sound!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] What an amazing difference in sound quality when using a tower speaker! I've only have had small bookshelf speakers in the past and this is an amazing upgrade. The depth and range of sound coming these speakers are very good. Speakers are very well packaged for shipping, showing they care about your purchase.
Date published: 2024-08-27
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jhalnbk from
Elite Home Sound System (Setup Required)
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These speakers are fantastic. The sound quality is elite, it exceeds the JBL standard. They are sleek black, with a solid base that you can anchor the speaker to, to prevent any kind of movement while on the platform.
The mesh that goes over the speakers is really cool, it attaches with magnets and is very easy to put on remove based on the way you like the look of the speaker. Whether you are listening to your favorite artist, or watching your favorite movie these speakers can do it both!
A couple things with the setup. They are heavy, one person can move them but might be easier to have two. The setup process takes some time as they do not connect via Bluetooth to the receiver. They are about 5 Feet tall, so best to have a bigger room to put them in.
All in all, great speakers that are bound to make your house shake at a fun party or make you feel like you are in the middle of your favorite movie.
Date published: 2024-08-25
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Btotheryan64 from
A significant upgrade to any home theater system.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] - The JBL 280F is really impressive with its balanced audio performance. With its dual 8-inch woofers and a 1-inch tweeter, these speakers deliver clear highs, well-defined mids, and decent bass. The speaker’s frequency response range ensures that it handles both subtle details and powerful sound effects effectively, whether you're listening to music or watching movies.
I love the sleek, modern design. They’re built very solid and have a high quality feel to them. They also have a classic floorstanding design with a slim profile, which helps them blend into any room.
Although they’re a lot taller than I’m used to, it’s 100% worth it thanks to the superb audio performance.
Date published: 2024-08-22
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Kyle from
Professional speakers with Big sound
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These tower speakers were a perfect fit for my home theater. The ported chamber gives a large presence that can fill any size room. The Speaker has a sturdy base with rubber feet, including spikes for use on carpet. The magnetic grill cover is simple to install with a clean look. Has wiring and room for an additional Dolby Atmos speaker. The only con I have is not having banana plug connectors on the terminal
Date published: 2024-08-20
Rated 5 out of
5
by
jduun2 from
Oh my goodness!! What??
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I SAID "OH MY GOODNESS!!"
And I needed to yell that because these speakers sound so good, you just want to push the volume up as high as it will go!! When listening to stereo music, it is concert quality without all the annoying people bumping into you and trying to have conversations instead of paying attention to the music. I want all my concert experiences to be aa clear and crisp as these speakers produce. They are fantastic!!
For home theater use as the front side speakers, you have no question where that noise is coming from when it is off-screen. That car is coming in fast from the left. That was a gunshot from the right. And when paired with the JBL Stage 240H speakers, that plane is coming in hot from the right way up high. Again, unbelievable quality that is crisp and clear.
And these speakers are BUILT to last. Each speaker weighs in at 55 pounds. I don't mid because I am not moving these anywhere!! They are sooo good!! Each speaker also has 2 8-inch woofers that have different cutoff points. Add in the prominent tweeter at the top and you have full sound blissfulness. On the backside are two ports to help push the low end around the room. Also on the backside are three speaker connections - two of them are to help with cable management if you opt to use the 240H speakers mentioned above to use for Dolby ATMOS, or "height" sounds.
There is only 1 thing I can say is a minus, but it is also a big plus. The grills for these speakers are held on by magnets. I love that!! So, if someone/something brushes against the grill or bumps the grill from the side, they just pop off and no damage. There are no "posts" to break off or to snag and possibly cause the speaker to fall over. That being said, our big dog has a long tail and when he is happy, he can knock those suckers loose in an instant.
Therefore, all I can say is - you cannot go wrong with these speakers. They are quite incredible and I am more than delighted with the results. And for the full home theater experience, I do also recommend getting the whole JBL Stage 2 series since they were all developed to work together. Other parts in my system include the following: 240H (height), 245C (Center), 250B (Surround), and the 220P (subwoofer). I could not be happier!!
Date published: 2024-08-19
Rated 5 out of
5
by
kingfish94 from
This is a review of the JBL 280F floor speakers
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] JBL MA9100HP and JBL 280F
This is a review of the JBL MA9100HP A/V receiver and a pair of the JBL 280F floor speakers. Let me start out by saying that this JBL system sounds great!
The 125w speakers are massive (44in high x 9 in wide {14” wide at base} x 16.5 in deep) and they include a tweeter, 8”main driver and 8” treble/base. Normal sound ports are on the back.
The receiver has only 8 buttons on the front and 11 buttons on the remote. The MA9100HP receiver has a color LED screen (2” x 6”) That’s the beauty of this system: Less buttons means less clutter. But more on-screen menus means total control of ALL aspects of this 9.2, 7.1, 5.1, Stereo 2.1 or 2.0 system. (Speaker count is up to to the individual)
From Spotify, Apple Airplay, Chromecast to online movies, TV, DVD’s, CD’s, tapes, phonographs, etc., I haven’t found one input that this JBL MA9100HP can’t handle. It’s even ATMOS compatible and it works great with my Cox cable service. I cannot say enough GOOD about this system that has Wi-fi, Bluetooth, digital inputs (HDMI), analog inputs and phono inputs.
I tested as many of these inputs as I could…ALL with ‘Thumbs Up’ results. (I don’t know what ‘Safe to turn beyond 11’ means on the unit’s main volume dial?)
Great job JBL! You knocked it out of the park with this system.
Date published: 2024-08-18
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Dan Dan from
The Two Towers
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I received my two JBL 280F a few weeks ago. I have used it for more than just home theater use. First off, the installation/wiring was very easy and simple. The sound quality has been top tier. The speakers can push a lot of air. The speakers have the same equilibrium at a lower and higher volume. I am really impressed with the craftsmanship of the enclosure. The speaker enclosure is solid and has a wide base to accommodate the height. It stands at almost 45” tall and has a very appealing wood grain finish on the sides, and top, matte black finish on the front. I really appreciate the optional magnet speaker screen. The fact that JBL uses 8 high energetic hidden magnets to attach the screen, goes to show that they have ingenuity. I would highly recommend these speakers to someone who cares about build quality and wants a sound system that can be very universal.
Date published: 2024-08-15
Rated 5 out of
5
by
The Bald Guy from
Tower speakers to seriously consider.
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The sound not quite as expected.
Diving into the sound. From top to bottom a well designed and balanced except for the lowest frequencies. At the top the treble was crisp and forgiving and consistent. The performance blended well into the upper mid-range. The midrange at timers was subdued and not forward in the voicing. Pleasant surprise. Yes the midrange has presence but not overpowering. Slides into the upper bass with ease. The upper bass considered well rounded and also has a matching presence to the midrange. Going into the mid and lower bass the speaker kind of fades just a touch. Good sounding bass but subdued. Sounded rich but reasonably full and fairly robust. Bass is only part of the audio spectrum, so overall pleasing as a stand alone pair with nothing else. Listened many hours at 2.0 and for some including me a lifetime speaker. Yet in a 3.1 or 5.1 or 7.1 system with a sub, great. Are these audiophile level? To my ears I must say yes. There is the JBL signature sound which is pleasant sounds to everyone who listened. And a bunch of people listened.
The above statements were using no tone controls to attenuate or boost treble or bass. Basically flat. And critical listening only after speakers had played for at least ten hours. Quality speakers do need to be broken in. Initially a might bit of a bite and shrill but mellowed out. Many hours later, even better. Along the journey the oxygen free 16 gauge speaker wire was exchanged for Austere audio speaker cable available from JBL. Listening with or without a sub, could not really tell the difference. And 12 gauge at times does not fit well into banana plugs or off-the-shelf spade clips. Listening via CD, DVD or Streaming - auditioning music of most genre, movies, musicals - played softly, loudly and in between. Impressed!. A good way to step up or indulge into quality sound.
And the speakers could go way past comfortable levels of hearing and seemingly did not degrade in sound.
Unboxing was a challenge. Being full size and heavy, the packaging used was little bit big to unbox in an apartment with 7’ ceilings. Once out attaching the plinth (flat base) was a breeze. Adds a lot of stability. Spikes are included. Liked the ability to plug in cables for the Atmos speakers at the base and out at the top. Once setup, convenient but two more connection points.
A bunch of additional positives. The magnetic grill and grill material, the solid hint of orange, the quality of construction, in-letting of components front and rear, the colors of the espresso finish and so on. Leading to say could not find a negative for a speaker getting into the audiophile class and appealing to a wide variety of people
Date published: 2024-08-12
Rated 5 out of
5
by
BRaup from
Oustanding sound
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] I absolutely love these freestanding speakers. Not only do they sound great, they look great. Whether we are watching a movie, the news or just listening to music, these speakers are crisp and really make you feel the sound. I also really like the small spikes on the bottom that allow the speakers to remain in one place on the carpet. Lastly, the magnetic cover is awesome. Fits perfect and maintains a perfect match to the other JBL speakers in the system.
Date published: 2024-08-09
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Jilljj from
Big speaker system, huge sound!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The JBL Stage 2 Series speakers are an excellent system for phenomenal sound. They look great and I appreciate that we have the option to use them with or without the cover, depending on the look we’re going for. The speakers are solid and feel like they are well-made. Everything came boxed in a way that protected the speakers. While it made it somewhat difficult to remove from the boxes, it protected them from damage. Two of our boxes had pretty big holes in the outside but there was nothing wrong with the speakers inside. Set up was fairly straightforward. There is very little assembly of the speakers themselves and I like that they included spikes in case we needed them. We chose not to use them even though we have speakers on carpet. We probably would have used them if our kids were younger and we were worried about them knocking them over. The anti-slip pads for the smaller speakers is also a nice touch. The knobs for the connectors made it easier than what we’ve experienced with older speakers. We did have to read and re-read the instructions because there is a lot to the setup. The passthrough ATMOS connectors are a nice touch. It is great for reducing the amount of speaker wire needed. The number of speakers makes for truly amazing audio. They do take up a lot of space so I recommend making sure your room is large enough to accommodate all of them. The instructions are helpful for spacing but you need plenty of room to make the configurations work optimally. The receiver is sleek and looks very nice. It has all of the ports you might need for your devices to connect. It is also very large so it needs a good amount of shelf space.
Date published: 2024-08-07
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Nofd27602760 from
Rock Solid Speakers
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Great speakers. I hooked these up with JBL MA9100HP receiver, to use in entertainment room. easy setup, came with all hardware and tool to assemble base to speakers. Speakers came very well packaged and well protected with easy instructions. I like that I can add atmos speakers to improve our sound for movies and tv shows. These speakers look really good and are very well built, that’s what I would expect from JBL. All JBL products are well built and thought out. Speakers are tall about 44” tall, speakers are heavy to move around about they are definitely for permanent placement in a room. Sound is great just what you expect from JBL. I can’t find anything I don’t like about these speakers . If you are looking for great speakers with good sound and ease of setup these are the ones. These will work in large or small entertainment rooms and give great sound and look good for many years to come. Looking forward to enjoy these for many years.
Date published: 2024-08-06
Rated 5 out of
5
by
ScottyG from
Large and in charge
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] The build quality of these speakers is top quality. I am a sucker for the little details and JBL did not disappoint. I hooked the speakers up to the amazing MA9100HP receiver. This is a start to a larger system I'm building over time. Back to the speakers, I am upgrading from a 2.1 Deep Bass JBL system and this is one of the best decisions i could have made.
The speakers weigh about 55lbs and have a classy wide base that screw on the bottom for better stance is needed, optional but preferred. Came with instruction booklet and all the hardware for installation. Also came with spikes that screw into the 4 pads that pierce the carpeted floors if you are worried about them tipping over. need not to worry. Remember again this speaker is large, I mean 3.65 feet tall and 9.5 inches wide, weights 55lbs.
The speakers have the 3 sets of terminals in the back for your normal Front section and another for High speaker input if i choose that in the future. This allows you to keep it clean behind the speaker so you don't have wires all over the place and looking a bit tacky. The dark Mocha wood finish is classy and will flow with any dark or light room setting. (see photos) Love the JBL orange hidden in the soft mesh speaker cover and it's magnetized for a classy fitment.
The sound is unreal. I was worried that it may just be mid and high and no bass but I WAS WRONG lol. Parring this speaker with any of the new budget friendly "MA" receivers is a strait win. you can make this speaker system do what ever you want. focus on voice, highs, mids, low tones, bass, and then mix it all together and its a true pleasurer.
I can't stress enough how amazing and easy this was to hook up. My only down side is that I, not JBL, I should have bought better speaker wire connectors so the wires don't fray when pushing them through the back of the receiver and speaker. Will be upgrading for a cleaner look in the next month but for now, WOW, I love them soooooooo much!!!
Date published: 2024-08-02
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Charge123 from
Amazing sound great build quality neatly packaged
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Works perfectly in my apartment doesn't take up a lot of space looks sleek and modern really like the finish it's really awesome to be able to connect dolby atoms speakers to the tops really looking forward to that later down the road. over all the sound is really nice and punchy
Date published: 2024-07-31
Rated 5 out of
5
by
Scallywag from
WOW!! Sounds as incredible as it looks!
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] Just finished watching a couple of movies and a dozen songs.These speakers are INCREDIBLE. It is as if I just brought the movie theater home with me. Music on these speakers sounds like I am right there in concert! The 280F brings some serious depth to any sounds put through them.
Vocals are crystal clear, bass can felt in your chest, and instruments are distinct and hit the ear drums just right.
Setup does require some work and a tool or two, but the reward pays dividends. These boxes are pretty hefty, so I feel confident they will last quite a while! I am seriously impressed with the overall quality and the classic look. These speakers are not only a great sound utility, but impressive decorative pieces that really elevate the room.
I didn't initially think JBL for theater speaker systems, but I definitely will now after listening to these. I cannot wait to finish the rest of the room with more speakers!
Date published: 2024-07-30
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Dogsnif from
JBL Stage 280F Review
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] When looking to upgrade my home audio setup, I opted for the JBL Stage 280F floor-standing speakers, and I’m glad I did. These speakers are part of JBL’s Stage series, which is all about delivering great sound without breaking the bank. What drew me to the 280F model was its sweet spot between affordability and high-quality audio performance—a perfect fit for those of us who love rich sound but are mindful of our budget.
The JBL Stage 280F has a lot going for it, starting with its design. It features a ported (bass-reflex) enclosure with a rear-firing port that boosts low-frequency response. The cabinet is made from MDF (Medium-Density Fiberboard), a common choice in this price range, which helps reduce unwanted resonances that can muddy the sound. My pair came in a finish called “Expresso,” which has been a stylish complement to my listening room décor.
The speakers are fairly large, measuring around 14-1/8" wide by 43-13/16" high and 16-1/2" deep, and each weigh about 55.2 pounds. They’re hefty enough to deliver deep bass but not so massive that they’re impossible to handle. When mine arrived, the boxes were pretty beat up from shipping, but I was relieved to find the speakers in perfect condition. It was clear JBL put a lot of thought into the packaging, which was a nice touch. Moving them alone was a bit of a workout, though, so you might want to enlist a friend for that part.
One feature that really impressed me was the included base. Many speaker brands skip this detail, even on higher-end models, but JBL made sure to include a base that fits perfectly with the 280F. This small addition made setting up the speakers a lot easier and provided a stable platform, which is great for ensuring they stay put.
The Stage 280F is a 2-1/2-way speaker with dual 8" ribbed polycellulose woofers and a 1" aluminum dome tweeter. The polycellulose material is a step up from traditional paper cones, providing better rigidity and damping for more precise bass. The tweeter is paired with JBL’s Next Generation HDI™ waveguide, which helps disperse sound evenly throughout the room. The bass-reflex enclosure includes dual rear ports to extend low-frequency response.
One nice touch is the three pairs of 5-way gold-plated binding posts. The bottom posts allow for bi-wiring or bi-amping, and the top posts can pass through height-channel signals if you add height (or Atmos capable) speakers later.
The frequency response of these speakers ranges from 45Hz to 20kHz. This means you get pretty deep bass and clear high frequencies. With a sensitivity rating of around 91 dB, the 280F can produce a high output with less power, which means it pairs well with a range of amplifiers. I tested them with both a vintage tube amp and a modern 5.1 channel AV receiver, and the speakers performed admirably with both.
In terms of sound quality, the JBL Stage 280F offers a balanced audio profile. The mids are clear, the highs are detailed, and the bass is strong without being overpowering. It’s a great all-rounder for music and movies, although if you’re after extremely deep or punchy bass, you might find it a bit lacking.
Placement is important with these speakers. They work best when positioned a few feet away from the rear wall to avoid excessive bass boominess. I experimented with different placements and angles, and despite trying various setups, the speakers consistently delivered good imaging. While they didn’t create a “holographic” soundstage, their imaging was better than many other speakers I’ve encountered.
In summary, the JBL Stage 280F is a fantastic option for anyone looking for a floor-standing speaker that balances price and performance. With its solid build, versatile design, and balanced sound, it’s a great choice for enhancing your home audio system without breaking the bank.
Date published: 2024-08-13
Rated 4 out of
5
by
Yaz1975 from
Clear sound, amazing clarity
[This review was collected as part of a promotion.] These things sound incredible. Big full range, clear mids, wide projection. Warning they are VERY tall and need room to really flex their capabilities. as part of the full 7.1 surround sound, they sound amazing. Incredible true theater sound when paired with the entire matched system and receiver. But yes, they do take up a lot of room so be prepared for that. Bonus is that you can run the Atmos wiring to the bottom of the speaker, and they have pass-through terminals at the top to minimize the visible cabling required to set the whole thing up properly.
Date published: 2024-08-07
