Items Included
- JBL Stage 280F 2.5-Way Floorstanding Speaker (Latte, Single)
- Plinth
- 4 x Mounting Screw
- 4 x Floor Spike
- Tool
- Speaker Grille
- Limited 5-Year Manufacturer Warranty
Key Features
- 2.5-Way Speaker Design
- 1 x 1″ Anodized Aluminum Tweeter
- 2 x 8″ Polycellulose Cone Woofers
- Works with 240H Atmos Modules
- Stage 2 HDI Horn
- 6-Ohm Impedance
- 33 Hz to 25 kHz Frequency Response
- HDI Waveguide
- Floating Front Baffle Design
- Magnetically Attached Grille
When beginning to build your home theater speaker system, look to the latte-colored Stage 280F 2.5-Way Floorstanding Speaker from JBL to be your main left or right speaker. The flagship of JBL’s Stage series, this tower speaker has dual 8″ crossed over woofers and a 1″ anodized aluminum tweeter for crisp highs, dynamic mid-range, and room-filling bass, for truly balanced sound. This sound is further enhanced with JBL’s HDI Waveguide that uses complex geometry for improved directivity, reduced diffraction, and an overall neutral frequency response. When you want to continue completing a home theater setup, Stage 280F supports the addition of JBL’s 240H Atmos module with top-rear-mounted 5-way binding posts for easy setup.
Additional Features
- Woofers have polycellulose ribbed cones for improved rigidity
- Stage 2 HDI horn is coupled with the 1″ tweeter for improved dynamics
- Floating front baffle design
- Magnetically attached grille
- Floor spikes included for carpet placement
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Physical
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Packaging Info
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Scott –
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!!!
Scott –
Jill –
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.
Jill –
Yaz –
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.
Yaz –
Verita –
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.
Verita –
Dan –
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.
Dan –
Kyle –
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
Kyle –