Product details
JBL – Stage2 250B 2-Way 5.25-inch (130mm) Bookshelf Loudspeaker – Pair – Latte
Elevate Your Sound Experience
Introducing the JBL Stage2 250B Bookshelf Loudspeaker, a perfect blend of style and performance that will transform your audio experience. Designed for both casual listeners and audiophiles, this pair of 5.25-inch (130mm) speakers delivers rich, dynamic sound that fills any room with clarity and depth.
Key Features
- Premium Sound Quality: The 2-way design ensures a wide frequency response, making every note, beat, and vocal crisp and clear.
- Compact Design: With a sleek and modern appearance in a sophisticated Latte finish, these bookshelf speakers fit seamlessly into any décor while providing powerful sound.
- Versatile Placement: Ideal for use on bookshelves, stands, or mounted on walls, the Stage2 250B speakers are versatile enough to suit your specific space needs.
- Durable Construction: Built with high-quality materials, these speakers are designed to last, ensuring you enjoy superior sound for years to come.
- Easy Connectivity: Compatible with a wide range of audio systems, these speakers can be easily integrated into your existing setup.
Specifications
- Speaker Type: 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker
- Woofer Size: 5.25 inches (130mm)
- Sensitivity: 88dB
- Frequency Response: 60Hz – 20kHz
- Impedance: 6 Ohms
- Dimensions: Compact and manageable for any space
Why Choose JBL Stage2 250B?
Whether you’re enjoying your favorite music, watching movies, or gaming, the JBL Stage2 250B speakers deliver an immersive sound experience that enhances every moment. Their stylish Latte finish adds a touch of elegance, while their excellent performance makes them a must-have for any audio enthusiast.
What’s in the Box
- 2 x JBL Stage2 250B Bookshelf Loudspeakers
- User Manual
- Warranty Information
Transform Your Listening Experience Today!
Upgrade your sound system with the JBL Stage2 250B 2-Way Bookshelf Loudspeaker. Experience the difference that quality audio can make in your life! Order now and enjoy free shipping on your purchase.
For more information and to purchase, visit JBL’s official website.
jre401k –
These JBL Stage 2-250B speakers pair well with the matching JBL MA 510 AVR system. If you add the JBL Stage 220 P Sub-Woofer the sound quality is terrific. This provides a very nice upgrade to a Soundbar system. The is modern look in the Espresso color also goes well in a traditional environment.
When combined with the matching JBL MA 510 AVR, the system is easy to set up once you gather sources for content and the necessary wiring for speakers taking twenty to thirty minutes for a 2.1 channel, stand-alone system without permanent installation such as with hidden cables. This would certainly beef up your gaming audio if you chose to do so.
Otherwise, if you are planning to install the system permanently, it obviously takes a lot more planning than I committed to. I would highly recommend opting for the Center and Surround Speakers to bring the system up to 5.1 channels.
In summary, I really like these speakers paired with the JBL MA 510 system due to the quality, good looks and amazing sound! Additionally, this pair of speakers is part of a nice upgrade from a simple sound bar as a home theater starter system that you can add to over time if you choose.
Stephen H –
I have these in the Expresso finish, a very dark brown woodgrain finish. They have magnetic grilles that are covered in a black fabric with grayish flecks in it. There is a thin spacer that is part of the grille that is done in JBL Orange that matches the trim on the MA series of AV receivers and other Stage 2 speakers. The magnetic grilles have no exposed mounts on the speaker cabinets so you can leave the grilles off if you like that look better. I prefer to have the grilles on.
The 5.25” polycellulose woofer cone is matched to a 1” anodized aluminum tweeter in a patented wave guide housing.
The binding posts on the back are set in flush and I had difficulty inserting 12 ga speaker wire into them. I do use crimped ferrules on my wires which probably caused the difficulty but I don’t like having loose strands of wire. The 5 way binding posts accommodate several methods of connection and would have been fine without the ferrules.
Once they were hooked up I found the sound to be amazing, it’s clean and clear even at “Honey, please turn that down!” levels.
ITJim –
The JBL Stage 2 250B bookshelf speakers are high value, budget friendly bookshelf speakers that provide a satisfying home theater experience when well placed, configured correctly, and paired with the right equipment. The 250B has a single 1-inch anodized aluminum dome tweeter set in a wave guide. This configuration is also known as a horn tweeter. The wave guide on the 250B takes up the whole top front of the baffle. The wave guide helps ensure the tweeter has a wide dispersion when playing higher frequency content such as female vocals, stressed metal in action movies, and instruments such as trumpets. The wave guide also helps the speakers achieve an efficiency rating of 91dB. In layman’s terms, these speakers will play louder at the same volume than speakers with lower efficiency ratings. The 250B also sports a single 5.25” Polycellulos ribbed woofer. The woofer is crossed over with the tweeter at 1.7 khz. The total frequency response of the speakers is 55hz to 25khz. The rear firing port ensures that this tiny bookshelf can reach down to the 50hz region.
=== Performance ===
I configured the 250B Bookshelf speakers as surround left and right speakers for my home theater. The theater consists of JBL Stage 2 280F Towers, 240H height speakers, a 245C center channel, and the JBL Stage 220P 12-inch subwoofer. The system is being driven by JBL’s MA710HP AVR.
I calibrated the room using the MA710HP AVR’s room calibration software. During calibration I set the 250Bs crossover to 80hz. Using a measuring tape, I noted the distance from each speaker to my listening position and recorded those numbers in the AVR’s speaker configuration screen. Finally, I stuff the 250Bs rear ports with microfiber towers to limit the bass output. This is because each speaker was pushed up against a wall. This was to reduce any unwanted boomy or bloated bass. Besides, I was shunting the bass to the subwoofer so there was no need for the 250Bs to produce bass.
For home theater, my test 4K movie for any new speaker or gear is Pacific Rim, Scene 2. This is the first fight between Gypsy Danger and a kaiju. The scene has everything from rain, splashing ocean waves, stressed actuators, ship horns, distressed metal effects, angry animal roars, screaming male voices, and action music! Sometimes all at once! This scene can really stress a system. The 450B bookshelves did an admirable job of filling surround effects and the movie’s soundtrack. Occasionally, a high-pitched sound effect would pierce the sound field and hit me straight in the temple. This was after room correction and a -6 treble tone control was applied to the whole system. I ran into a similar issue during two-channel listening in my home office.
I have the Technic’s SA-C600 stereo receiver in my home office. I swapped out my office speakers for the 250Bs. I ran these both in stock and after running the receiver’s room calibration software. In short, my home office is an audiophile’s nightmare. Partly because of “mystical audiophile reasons.” I am also listening near-field, about 3-feet from each speaker. The speakers are about four feet apart and three inches from the wall. They also sit on my desk, flanking my monitor, sitting on a pair of angled foam speaker pads. See included photo.
I listened to a collection of Jazz, classical, rock, metal, pop, and Boston. The band, Boston. I focused mostly on Boston’s debut album, “Boston”, simply because I think it clearly illustrates the limits of the 250B. The keyboards and screaming guitars gave the tweeters a real work out. For example, the last 20 seconds of “More Than A Feeling”, the singer, Brad Delp, belts out, and holds, one of his famous high notes. All the instruments join in to hold that note with Mr. Delp. The results are a harmonious wall of sound that I swear forced tears of agony from the 250Bs tweeters! The tweeters hung in there but really sounded stressed and fatiguing. I was also hearing some ringing, across different content, whenever the tweeter got saturated in this way. I did resolve this. Keep reading.
On the flip side, the woofer sounded very well controlled. The singers and instruments were very clear. However, the woofers struggled to provide the power behind the music. A good example can be found with the Indego Girl’s, “Closer to Fine.” The song starts out with a single guitar leading with the brighter, higher chords. The second guitar joins in at about the 30 second mark. This guitar is playing the mid to mid-bass notes and carries the power of the song. The bass was there but without the depth or power needed to carry the emotions of the performance.
So, what fixed my setup? First, I adjusted the speakers tow-in to about 5 degrees. This equalized the interaction between the tweeters. Next, tone-controls. These tweeters need limits. I turned the treble down to -6. This really cooled off the tweeters and removed brightness. It was like a different speaker. Next, I turned the bass up as far as the receiver would allow. This restored some of the punch, depth, and power missing from my earlier listening sessions. Finally, I turned down the bass tone control to +2 from +6 and then turned on my sub. Ahhh, this was the JBL 250B performance I was chasing.
To illustrate the point, I played Jacques Loussier Trio’s rendition of Bach’s “Fuge in G Minor (arrangement for Jazz Trio)”. The bass was punchy both with and without the subwoofer to support the 250Bs. Probably the best I heard up to this point. The piano chords were strong and authoritative. And the piano high notes were sharp, controlled hits without the brightness or harshness I experienced before. I even went back to Boston’s, “More Than A Feeling”, and played the last 30 seconds of the song. The tweeters did not cry for mercy this time. Things were much more controlled, even-handed, and enjoyable.
Bottom line, the 250B bookshelf speakers can take some work before you can extract their best performance.
=== Construction and aesthetics ===
The 250B bookshelf speaker is a well-constructed speaker even by budget speaker standards. The vinyl espresso wood wrap is very well executed and matches my entertainment center. For the 250B’s, this is less important to me than my front stage speakers simply because the 250B’s are serving as my surround speakers behind my listening position. However, it is nice to have a single unifying theme for the whole theater.
The front baffle of the 250B is matt black. The baffle’s edges extend beyond the sides and top edge of the speaker cabinet by a few millimeters. This may be to help accommodate the huge wave guide. The oversized baffle helps create the illusion that these speakers is slightly larger than they are. The baffle also gives the speaker grills some depth by framing the grey grill fabric with a recessed black boarder. This gives the bookshelf speakers an extra sharp look when the grills are on.
The speaker grills are smartly constructed, attractive, and really help the speakers pop. The grill frame is constructed of a single piece of JBL Orange molded plastic. Gray toned textured colored acoustic fabric is stretched across the plastic frame. JBL brand is silk screened onto the front bottom of each grill. The fabric appears machine cut and glued to the back of the frame. The design and construction are very clean and give the speaker a professional look.
The grills attach to the baffle with strong magnets. Simply brushing the speaker during a walk-by will not be enough to knock the grills off. The back side of the speaker grills have soft felt to protect the speaker baffle from scratching due to removing and replacing the speaker grills. In my opinion, these speakers look fantastic with grills on or off.
The binding posts are as no-frills and budget as they get. They will accept bar wire, spades, and banana plugs. I use banana plugs for all my equipment because I am constantly swapping out equipment and components. For the Stage 2 speakers, in general, a small plug needs to be removed from the top of each binding post before the binding post will accept a banana plug. Please note, bare wire will make the best possible connection between your AVR/receiver and your speakers.
I performed the knock test on the front, back, side, and top of each speaker. Essentially, knock on the sides of the speaker like you would a door. The top and sides sounded hollow as one would expect from a budget speaker. The front baffle sounds dull compared to the sides and top. This tells me that the front baffle is thicker and more inert than the sides and top. Which is what I would expect from a budget speaker.
Overall, the fit, finish, and construction of these speakers are fantastic.
=== Conclusion ===
Normally, high value, budget friendly speakers look slapped together and cheap. The JBL Stage 2 250B bookshelf speakers look anything but cheap. These speakers are very well thought out, purposely stylized, professionally executed, and look fantastic in my room. The binding posts are the only thing I would call out as cheap looking. The overall results are handsome speakers that look great in my home theater.
The JBL 250B speakers are fussy about positioning, room placement, calibration, and tone controls. But, when configured correctly, will provide a very satisfying experience in both stereo and home theater applications. Just keep in mind that they will need a subwoofer, like the JBL 220P, to maximize performance.
Parker –
The JBL Stage2 250B 2-way 5.25inch bookshelf speakers are JBL’s new offering in their latest lineup & these are impressive. Either use them for your home theater setup or for your music listening setup and you can’t go wrong which way you choose. But if you choose to do a home theater setup they pair nicely with the rest of JBL’s new lineup including the new MA series AVR, floor standing speakers, center channel and Stage2 subwoofers.
The pair I have come a beautiful Espresso finish that make these speakers look classy. They come with a magnetic speaker grill that has the classic JBL logo on front that pop off easily. In the package they also include some anti slip pads that help secure your speakers and help with vibrations. On the back of the speaker is a rear firing port and five way binding posts that gives you whatever option you need for connection.
How do they sound? They sound great in my opinion. I used them to replace my current rear surround speakers in my 5.1.2 setup and boy was I pleased. I watched a few movies to test them out and I could hear more details than the previous pair I was using. I was quite pleased that I decided to use them for my hi-fi setup in my office and was even more blown away using them dedicated for music only. Love this new offering from JBL and hope to enjoy them for years to come.
DavidhR –
Using with Sonos Amp and work and sound good paired with powered SVS 15” sub. Sleek and Clean design. originally bought JBL 240B and amp was too strong for those speakers.
Curmudgeon1 –
JBL and Harman have been iconic names in professional and consumer audio for decades. Both names date back to the audio products of the 1940’s and 1950’s. By the late 1960’s and early 1970’s JBL speakers were the premier speakers in Fender guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets as well as many stage monitors. In the mid 1970’s the Grateful Dead toured with their famous “Wall of Sound” which contained a reported 586 JBL speakers (5”, 12” and 15”). James B. Lansing was associated with a lot of great music.
By the 1970’s Harman Kardon stereo receivers were a favorite among audiophiles. JBL and Harman Kardon were responsible for some of the most respected and popular professional audio equipment as well as consumer products.
Through the decades the companies experienced ownership and management changes wherein fast-forward to the present day, Harman International is a subsidiary of Samsung, and includes JBL and a collective of some of the most renowned and respected audio products companies.
JBL Harman just released the new product line comprised of MA (Modern Audio) series AV receivers and JBL Stage 2 series speakers. Among the factors that attracted me to these new components is that the MA AV receivers and Stage 2 speakers are matched components.
From my perspective, there are several compelling advantages to using matched components, particularly as compared to cobbling together a home theater system from components from various manufacturers or even various products from a single manufacturer.
First, all of the speakers share the same physical appearance characteristics, including their modern, minimalist design style, and their availability in either an Espresso (dark) or Latte (light) woodgrain speaker enclosure finish, with complimentary colored black or gray, magnetically attached removable grilles. The MA receivers are available with either a black or white face on a black cabinet.
More importantly, they are matched technically. All of the speaker enclosures share the same construction and sound shaping characteristics with similar tuned rear ports, transducer design, construction and electrical characteristics, similar crossover networks and matched impedance. These speakers are also technically matched to the new MA model AV receivers, including matched power handling, with the intention of producing outstanding sound reproduction. In fact, towards those end-goals, the new MA AV receivers and the Stage 2 speakers were all designed and engineered at the JBL Harman Acoustic Engineering Center of Excellence in Northridge, California. The speakers and receivers will perform optimally together, because they are purposefully designed for perfect integration and compatibility.
Another important attribute of the MA series receivers and Stage 2 series speakers is that JBL designed and engineered them for simplicity of setup/installation and simplicity of operation. People who are neither devoted audiophiles, engineers or industry professionals are able to rely on these components being the perfect accompaniments for each other. There are enough selections available to get just what you want and need, but there is no overwhelming complexity to create a difficult or intimidating experience when selecting, setting up or using these terrific components.
I am extremely impressed with the performance of my JBL Harman components, all of which sound terrific.
My outstanding JBL Harman home theater system is comprised of:
MA7100HP – 7.2 Channel AV Receiver
Stage 280F – Floorstanding (Tower) Speakers – Front Channels
Stage 240H – Atmos Height Modules (Atmos Caps) – Mounted on 280F Speakers
Stage 245C – Center Channel Speaker
Stage 250B – Bookshelf Speakers – Rear Channels
Stage 220P – 12” 250 Watt RMS Powered Subwoofer
This assemblage of perfectly matched JBL Harman components is a stellar home theater system which sounds absolutely amazing!
I am incredibly impressed and completely satisfied with the Stage 250B Bookshelf Speakers that I am using for the two rear surround channels. The 250B Bookshelf / Surround speakers are the larger of the two bookshelf speaker models in the JBL Stage 2 series.
SPECIFICATIONS – STAGE 250B (From JBL Documentation):
Type: Bookshelf Loudspeaker System
Low Frequency Driver: 5.25-inch (130 mm) Polycellulose Ribbed Cone
High Frequency Driver: 1-inch (25 mm) Anodized Aluminum
Waveguide: Next Generation HDI™
Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-150 W
RMS power: 75 W
Frequency Response -6 dB: 50 Hz-25 kHz
Frequency Response -3 dB: 55 Hz-25 kHz
Sensitivity @ 1 M, 2.83 V: 86 dB
Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms
Crossover Frequencies: 1.7 kHz
Enclosure Tuning: Bass Reflex via Rear-Firing Flared Tuned Port
Finish: Espresso or Latte
Dimensions (H x W x D): 12.6 in x 7.9 in x 9.5 in (321 mm x 200 mm x 241 mm)
Product Weight: 12.4 lbs.(5.6 kg)
Shipping Weight: 30 lbs. (13.6 kg)
Regarding the 1-inch tweeter and horn shaped waveguide in the 250B, JBL explains that “through intense research of previous waveguide designs, JBL has developed a new complex geometry that improves directivity, reduced diffraction, and an overall neutral frequency response both on and off axis. The Stage 2 HDI Horn is coupled to an anodized aluminum dome tweeter to enhance efficiency and dynamics”.
This claim is validated when listening to the 250B. The reproduction of high frequencies is spectacular. The highs are bright and crisp, clear and undistorted. Listening to music with horns demonstrates the beautiful clarity and faithful reproduction of brass instruments. The distinct timbre of all high-frequency instrumental notes is well defined and accurate.
JBL also furnishes some additional details regarding what JBL describes as the “Precision two-way crossover” network of the 250B. JBL states, “premium components are used to construct the crossovers fitted to the Stage 2 line. The High frequency section features air core inductors and mylar capacitors that reduce distortion and improve sonic performance. The low frequency section includes laminate core inductors and electrolytic capacitors. These premium materials can handle more power and transmit energy faster elevating system performance.”
Obviously, I cannot technically validate the JBL description of the crossover network, however listening to the 250B speakers is a genuine pleasure. When listening to a variety of source materials, including different genres of music sources, I find that the full range of audio frequencies sound pure and realistic. The highs are beautifully represented, and the mid-range frequencies, sound clear and accurate. The low, bass frequencies are deep and resonant. JBL also states that, “a flared port is featured on the 250B. This new flared design reduces the velocity of the air when exiting the speaker cabinet, eliminating any chuffing or coloration of output.”
The Stage 250B speakers may be used as small front channel speakers, if desired, however I chose to use them for my rear channel surround speakers. They obviously may be placed on a bookshelf, as the name implies, however JBL also offers optional pedestal style Stage series speaker stands which match the style and the Black or White fronts of the Stage 2 speakers. I intend to purchase a pair of the 27.8” tall Stage FS floorstands for my Stage 250B speakers. When positioned on the Stage FS stands, the Stage 250B speakers will have a mounted height of 40.5” tall. The Stage 250B speakers are provided with anti-slip pads which can be used beneath the speakers to reduce vibration. The speaker cable binding posts are recessed and configured at a 45° angle making connecting bare wire challenging, especially if 12 gauge wire is used.
The Stage 250B speakers are reasonably compact and look great, but are fairly heavy for their size resultant from the substantial structure of the speakers and enclosures. Even more importantly they sound absolutely fantastic with every type of source material that I have used and each music genre that I have played. They have excellent power handling capabilities, and remain clear and undistorted even at extremely high volume levels. Their large, 5.25” transducers and waveguide equipped aluminum tweeter project sound beautifully even in the large room where I am using this system. The Stage 250B speakers are mated to the JBL MA7100HP AVR which is a reasonably powerful receiver rated at 125 W RMS Rated Power @ 8Ω (20Hz – 20kHz, 2 channels driven, 0.5% THD max) and 175W RMS Rated Power @ 4Ω (20Hz – 20kHz, 2 channels driven, 0.5% THD max).
The matched design and engineering of the Stage 2 series speakers and the MA series AV receivers makes it extremely simple and easy to specify and select a complete home theater system comprised of excellent, premium level components from an outstanding audio component manufacturer, with a very long and rich company heritage.
Our listening and viewing experience has improved significantly with the Harman JBL home theater components. Whether playing streamed movies or music, or using my Blu-Ray player, CD changer, or turntable, we are now enjoying the experience more than we did previously.
The Stage 2 speakers and MA7100HP AVR provide extraordinary, room filling, high resolution audio with incredible fidelity across the full sound spectrum. As soon as I had connected and configured the system, running Top Gun Maverick, with its powerful soundtrack and height effects, was really incredible and satisfying! A few movies and concert videos later I was beyond impressed with how outstanding the Harman JBL components are! This is really how high-performance component audio should sound. The home theater experience with these components is truly a theater experience!
I am confident that the Stage 250B bookshelf speakers are the best choice for the rear channel surround speakers in this great home theater system. I am extremely impressed with them, and I am enjoying their performance without reservation.
Nightmare317 –
This is my first time using JBL bookshelf speakers, and I have to say unpleasantly surprised with what they can do.
The packaging on these was excellent besides being properly secured in foam they had this really nice mylar bag wrapped around him as an extra layer of security and it’s so nice. You can actually save it for the next time you need to do it, which is much better than those mylar slips that they used to do…this actually has a tie off.
It goes without saying, but you need to provide speaker cables for these. I ended up going with a set of audio quest, X2 cables and their gold plated banana plugs. The hardest part about getting the speaker set up was getting the little plug out of the back so I could put the banana plug-in🤣🤣
Sound quality is excellent for what I needed to do. It’s crisp loud and you can hear all the nuances of the games that you’re playing. As far as volume is concerned, you can really crank these up before you lose distortion, granted this is for a very simple 2.1 set up however it’s more than enough power that if you’re playing a game you love and you wanna crank it up for a favorite scene…they can handle the power!!
LouRevue –
I’m in the process of revamping my home theater setup and wanted some nice, reasonably good sounding speakers. Previously, I just had a rather cheap soundbar/subwoofer setup that was just OK. Upgrading my setup, I have both limited space and funds so I wanted to make sure I had some really nice speakers.
My soundbar I had just wasn’t cutting it anymore. It just made my TV/music just sound louder so I wanted something that actually upgrade my system. I’m not that big on what’s out there on the market so I used a lot of reviews to see what’s good and such. I came across this JBL speakers/setup and thought it would be a great upgrade I was looking for.
The speakers are bit hefty in weight coming in at around 12 pounds each. I have these setup on my entertainment center which was glass shelves so I was a smidge concerned about the weight of these. So far, the seem to be just fine so here’s hoping they’ll stay that way. The wood on the speakers is very nice quality and it shows. I previously had some bluetooth speakers connected to my soundbar/subwoofer but they were somewhat shoddy. These are wired so I have no issues with sound quality/connection.
The grills on these are magnetic and I find that they seem to come off somewhat easily. As such, I’m sort of debating whether to have them on or leave them off and just have the speakers showing. The speakers look nice so I might just head that route.
As far a sound quality goes, huge upgrade over my last set. I have these paired with the matching JBL receiver and they sound very good. As my previous soundbar just made things louder, these you can hear the difference in sound quality. Whether I’m playing a movie, streaming music, everything just sounds clearer, more defined. Granted I had some cheap speakers before but these have been a really nice upgrade to my home theater setup.