JBL and Harman have been iconic names in professional and consumer audio for decades. Both names date back to 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. 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 and consumer audio equipment.
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 and engineered 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 280F Floorstanding Speakers that I am using for the front two channels. The 280F towers are the larger of the two floorstanding speaker models in the JBL Stage 2 series.
SPECIFICATIONS – STAGE 280F (From JBL Documentation):
Type: Floorstanding Loudspeaker System
Low Frequency Driver: Dual 8-inch (200 mm) Polycellulose Ribbed Cone
High Frequency Driver: 1-inch (25 mm) Anodized Aluminum
Waveguide: Next Generation HDI™
Recommended Amplifier Power: 20-225W
RMS power: 125 W
Frequency Response -6 dB: 33 Hz-25 kHz
Frequency Response -3 dB: 39 Hz-25 kHz
Sensitivity @ 1 M, 2.83 V: 91 dB
Nominal Impedance: 6 Ohms
Crossover Frequencies: 1.1 kHz/2.2 kHz
Enclosure Tuning: Bass Reflex via Dual Flared Racetrack Rear-Firing Tuned Ports
Finish: Espresso or Latte
Dimensions (H x W x D): 43.8 in x 14.1 in x 16.5 in (1113 mm x 357 mm x 420 mm)
Dimensions (H x W x D) without Base: 43.8 in x 9.5 in x 16.1 in (1113 mm x 241 mm x 409 mm)
Product Weight: 55.2 lbs. (25.1 kg)
Shipping Weight: 67.5 lbs. (30.6 kg)
Regarding the 1-inch tweeter and horn shaped waveguide in the 280F, 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 280F. 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 the crossover network of the 280F, explaining that the two and one-half way (2.5) crossover network is designed to cross over the top 8” woofer just below the 1” tweeter’s output, while the bottom 8” woofer crosses over at a different, lower frequency. JBL states that, “this creates a dynamic mid-range but both woofers still extend as deep as they can go for powerful bass. This produces cohesive balanced output with a robust low end that can be both heard and felt.”
Obviously, I cannot technically validate that the crossover network operates precisely as JBL describes, however listening to the 280F 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 where many instruments and voices largely reside, sound clear and accurate. The low, bass frequencies are deep and resonant, without distortion or thumping or other inaccurate or unrealistic reproduction characteristics. JBL also claims that “the flared design of the dual rear ports reduces the velocity of the air when exiting the speaker cabinet, eliminating any chuffing or coloration of output.”
A nice feature of the 280F speakers is the provision of connection terminals for the elevated Atmos speakers at the bottom, rear of the speaker tower, with an internally wired passthrough to a second pair of terminals at the top of the tower. If you mount 240H Atmos speakers on top of the 280F enclosures, as I am doing, this avoids having their speaker cables draped down from the tower. 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 280F base is easily attached with the four included hex-head mounting screws and wrench. Four carpet spikes can be optionally installed in the base.
The Stage 280F speakers are obviously large and heavy enclosures which not only look great, but 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, 8” transducers and waveguide equipped aluminum tweeter project sound beautifully even in the large room where I am using this system. The Stage 280F 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 MA series AV receivers makes it extremely simple to specify a complete home theater system comprised of excellent, premium level components from an outstanding manufacturer, with a very long and rich company heritage.
My home theater system is used extensively. We enjoy watching movies and enjoying music from a broad spectrum of genres and artists using a variety of media.
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 ever 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 satisfying! A few movies and concert videos later I was beyond impressed with how outstanding the Harman JBL components are! The experience with these high-performance components is truly a theater experience!
I am confident that the Stage 280F floorstanding speakers are the best choice for front channel speakers in this great home theater system. I am extremely impressed with them, and I am enjoying their performance immensely. They are absolutely incredible!

These JBL tower speakers are sharp looking. The tower is massive and houses two 8 inch woofers and one 1 inch tweeter. The horn design on the tweeter is amazing at improving off axis listening. The tall height also places the tweeters in direct line of my ears while seated in my primary listening position.
The espresso color looks great in my home theater and reduces light reflection of my projector. I believe aesthetics is just as important to sound quality and these 280F has both. The 8” woofers are ideal if you don’t have a subwoofer because the frequency range goes down to 33Hz. I’m most impressed that these towers gets a 2.5 way crossover internals at this price range. What a 2.5-way crossover does is crosses over the woofer nearest the tweeter to make a seamless blend of midrange and leaves the bottom woofer crossed over at the lower frequencies. This 2.5-way crossover is also found in this lineup’s center channel.
The 280F is rear ported with standard binding posts near the bottom. What’s convenient is that it also comes with dolby enabled atmos speaker binding posts near the top of the tower for an uncluttered way of wiring. (see pic). The towers sounds great out of the box but sounds even better once you do proper room calibration with your AVR.
In summary, you won’t be disappointed as these tower speakers punches above its weight class. Make sure to get the matching center channel, atmos and bookcase speaker for a timbre matched system.

These speakers are big, powerful, and they look absolutely great in my living room! I’ve been using them for a week now and I have nothing but good things to say. The JBL Stage2 280F floorstanding loudspeakers are a sound powerhouse that deliver an exceptional audio experience no matter what content you are enjoying. Whether you’re watching movies, listening to music, or playing some game on your gaming console, these speakers are going to give you the sound that you’re looking for that really brings you into the game and lifts your contents audio to the next level. They feature dual 8-inch polycellulose woofers and a 0.75-inch aluminum dome tweeter, allowing them to produce deep, rich bass, crisp highs, and a nicely balanced mid range, and ensuring that every note and sound effect is perfect and precise.
The speakers came extremely well packaged with thick foam at the top, bottom and mid section of the box. They are also double boxed in a strong heavy cardboard, ensuring that they arrive safe and free from damage. Unboxing them with just one person was a little tricky, but manageable for myself. Somebody smaller who has a problem lifting will definitely need help, if you want to preserve the box for future use if you ever move.
One of the most impressive features to me is their ability to handle a wide range of audio content with no problem whatsoever. The 2.5-way design ensures that each frequency band is delivered smoothly, without any distortion, even at higher volume levels. These speakers are perfect for large rooms where you want to fill the space with immersive sound and they also work great in midsize rooms, like my living room, giving me a full audio experience that envelops me unlike any other speakers I’ve used.
I really do love the design of the Stage2 280F speakers. They have a bold look with a sleek and modern appearance, especially when you take off the speaker covers to show off the speakers and design. The espresso finish looks great in my living room and matches my decor perfectly. I really think these speakers can add a touch of sophistication to any home theater setup. The speakers are pretty big, so make sure you take measurements before you order them. I have a midsize living room and they are almost too big, but I’m okay with that personally. However, keep in mind that JBL does make a smaller model, for smaller rooms, if you’re interested in maximizing your space. Also keep this in mind when considering the placement of the speakers, in relation to any other speakers you are going to be using with your set up.
I highly recommend these speakers to anyone looking to up their audio game to the next level of performance. Overall, the JBL Stage2 280F speakers are an outstanding pair of floor standing speakers that offer the perfect balance of power and precision with a touch of style, making this set a great addition to any serious audio enthusiast’s home speaker set up.

The JBL Stage2 280F are versatile speakers that are powerful on their own but in a system, they work to harmoniously add to the theater experience. The bass can get deep, hitting the low notes and really bringing out the deep rumbles I expect from a movie theater. In addition to that, it adds the highs and mids along with background and ambient noise in a way that is so well balanced that movie scenes feel like a 3D experience.
With music, the speakers can focus on the background sounds of a song in surround mode or fill the room with music in stereo mode. It comes with two 8” woofers and a 1” tweeter. I use the 240H height modules on top of these and together they work to create a sound profile that fills the soundstage and obliterates any gaps. I have them calibrated to my room through the use of the EZ Set EQ app that works with my receiver.
My surround system includes the MA710 7.2 AV Receiver, and the JBL Stage2 series of the following: 245C center channel speaker, two 250B bookshelf speakers, two 280F floorstanding speakers, two 240H height modules, and the 200P subwoofer.
What is amazing with this setup, is that even when it is loud for my living room, it does not resonate throughout the house. We watched a fight at a decent volume that made it difficult to hear one another, yet the kids were asleep in their bedroom and the sound hardly made it there.
When it comes to packaging, JBL really had the consumer experience in mind. The speakers come in boxes with instructions on how to properly and easily remove them from the boxes to make the process smooth and frustration free.
The speakers have a 6 Ohm impedance, thus require either 12/2 or 12/4 speaker wire, which is not included. I went with the 12/2 option and used bare wire connections for the time being. The connection terminals allow bare wire, spade, or banana connections. I have a larger than average living room and used 100ft to wire just these two to my receiver. I did wire for both height and front though.
The speakers come with a magnetically attachable fabric grille that protects the audio components of each speaker and provides an aesthetic quality. I like that I can take them off as desired and replace them when they are not in use. Since I have small children and dust settles quickly in my home, I prefer to leave them on more often than not though. They are quite delicate though and care should be taken when handling and storing them.
The units come with a base that keeps them elevated off the floor and has options for carpet floor spikes. It is really easy to install despite the large size of the speaker.
I feel that the floorstanding model is a necessary component when crafting a home theater system. They work with the center module to enhance the acoustics and create a depth perception that symphonically fills the room.