In this review, we will be comparing Stage 220P and Stage 200P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by 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 JBL Stage 220P and JBL Stage 200P 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 JBL Stage 220Pand JBL Stage 200P have a single woofer setup however the JBL Stage 220P's woofer is 12-inch whereas the JBL Stage 200P features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 220P has a frequency range of 29-150 Hz whereas Stage 200P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Stage 220P can go slightly deeper then the Stage 200P'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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
Both JBL Stage 220P and JBL Stage 200P have Passive Radiator type cabinets. Passive Radiator type subwoofers sports a non-powered cone that moves in response to the main woofer to move air out in order to generate stronger bass in a smaller body compared to ported or sealed designs.
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 JBL Stage 220P's and JBL Stage 200P's external dimensions. JBL Stage 220P has external dimensions of 418.0 x 405.0 x 445.0mm (16-7/16inch x 15-15/16inch x 17-1/2inch) whereas JBL Stage 200P has external dimensions of 362.0 x 351.0 x 388.0mm (14-1/4inch x 13-13/16inch x 15-1/4inch).
JBL Stage 220P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 54mm wider, 56mm taller and 57mm deeper than JBL Stage 200P.
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 JBL Stage 220P is approximately 1802.3cm2 / 279.4inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage 200P is approximately 1361.9cm2 / 211.1inch2. The Stage 220P requires 32% more surface area than the Stage 200P which gives it a small disadvantage 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 JBL Stage 220P weighs 18.73kg / 41.2lbs and the JBL Stage 200P weighs 14.45kg / 31.8lbs. This makes the Stage 220P 30% heavier than the Stage 200P.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 220P and Stage 200P's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
29 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
362mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1361cm2
vs
1802cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
499USD
vs
599USD
|
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 220P needs about 32% more floor area. JBL Stage 220P stands 57mm further into the room. JBL Stage 220P is 56mm taller.
| General |
JBL Stage 220P |
JBL Stage 200P |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
150 watts |
| Frequency Response |
29-150 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
362.0mm (14.3") |
| Width |
405.0mm (15.9") |
351.0mm (13.8") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
388.0mm (15.3") |
| Weight |
18.73kg (41.2lbs) |
14.45kg (31.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Passive Radiator |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
Espresso,Latte |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
1 year |
Siblings in JBL's Stage 2 range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | JBL Stage 220P goes deeper - 29Hz against 32Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 32Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | JBL Stage 220P has the bigger amplifier - 250W against 150W RMS, about 2.2dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | JBL Stage 220P moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x 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 | JBL Stage 200P is about 35% 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 200P costs less - $499 against $599, about 17% less. |
A JBL Stage 220P B JBL Stage 200P
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?
JBL Stage 220P leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. JBL Stage 200P is the one to take if it does not. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - JBL Stage 200P 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.