In this review, we will be comparing Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Aperion and JBL. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer and JBL Stage A120P first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwooferand JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer's woofer is 8-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer has a frequency range of 24-195 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A120P's min frequency of 32Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer
Cabinet Type
The Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the JBL Stage A120P have Bass reflex type enclosure.
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer has external dimensions of 330.2 x 279.4 x 309.9mm (13 x 11 x 12.2inch) whereas JBL Stage A120P has external dimensions of 415.0 x 393.0 x 475.0mm (16-5/16 x 15-7/16 x 18-11/16inch).
JBL Stage A120P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 113.6mm wider, 84.8mm taller and 165.1mm deeper than Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
JBL Stage A120P needs about 116% more floor or shelf area. JBL Stage A120P is 165mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. JBL Stage A120P is 85mm taller.
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer is approximately 865.9cm2 / 134.2inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer requires 54% less surface area than the A120P which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer weighs 12.25kg / 27lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the A120P 52% heavier than the Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer.
Here is a comparison of how Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer and A120P's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer
 Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
195 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
330mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
865cm2
vs
1866cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
JBL Stage A120P needs about 116% more floor area. JBL Stage A120P stands 165mm further into the room. JBL Stage A120P is 85mm taller.
| General |
Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
Aperion |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
250 watts |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
24-195 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
330.2mm (13") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
279.4mm (11") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
309.9mm (12.2") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
12.25kg (27lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
|
1 Year |
Two quite different sizes of subwoofer. Room volume decides this more than anything else on the page: a big driver in a small room is wasted, and a small one in a large room is worked to death.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer goes deeper - 24Hz against 32Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (250W vs 250W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | JBL Stage A120P moves more air: 12" against 8" is 2.25x the cone area, not the 1.5x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer is about 63% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A120P costs less - $300 against $499, about 40% less. |
A Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer B JBL Stage A120P
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let your room size and where the box can actually stand settle it. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $300 each, two JBL Stage A120P cost about $600 against $499 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Aperion Daedalus DS8 Class D 8" Powered Subwoofer is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.