In this review, we will be comparing Stage 220P and KC62, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL and KEF. 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 KEF KC62 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.JBL Stage 220P and KEF KC62 have a totally different setup: the JBL Stage 220P features 1 x 12-inch drivers whereas the KC62 features 2 x 6.5-inch drivers.
Frequency Response
Stage 220P has a frequency range of 29-150 Hz whereas KC62 has a frequency range of 11-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 11Hz, the KC62 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 220P's min frequency of 29Hz.
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
The JBL Stage 220P has a Passive Radiator type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the KEF KC62 have Acoustic Suspension type enclosure. Acoustic Suspension aka Sealed type subwoofers have enclosures that are sealed hence no ports or holes exists on the cabinet. Sealed designs helps to provide more accurate and tight bass responses compared to ported 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 KEF KC62'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 KEF KC62 has external dimensions of 245.0 x 258.0 x 281.0mm (9-5/8inch x 10-1/8inch x 11-1/16inch).
JBL Stage 220P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 147mm wider, 173mm taller and 164mm deeper than KEF KC62.
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 KEF KC62 is approximately 725.0cm2 / 112.4inch2. The Stage 220P requires 149% more surface area than the KC62 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 KEF KC62 weighs 14.05kg / 30.9lbs. This makes the Stage 220P 33% heavier than the KC62.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 220P and KC62's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
599USD
vs
1500USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Number of Woofers |
2
vs
1
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
11 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
245mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
725cm2
vs
1802cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Wireless Operation |
Optional
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
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 149% more floor area. JBL Stage 220P stands 164mm further into the room. JBL Stage 220P is 173mm taller.
| General |
JBL Stage 220P |
KEF KC62 |
| Brand |
JBL |
KEF |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
29-150 Hz |
11-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
|
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
245.0mm (9.6") |
| Width |
405.0mm (15.9") |
258.0mm (10.2") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
281.0mm (11.1") |
| Weight |
18.73kg (41.2lbs) |
14.05kg (30.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
2 Years |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | KEF KC62 goes deeper - 11Hz against 29Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | B | KEF KC62 has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 250W RMS, about 6dB 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 2 x 6.5" is 1.7x the cone area, not the 1.31x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | depends | JBL Stage 220P is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; KEF KC62 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Speaker-level inputs | B | KEF KC62 takes a speaker-level connection as well as line level. That is what lets it work with an integrated amplifier or a vintage receiver that has no subwoofer output at all. |
| Wireless option | depends | Only KEF KC62 offers a wireless link (as a paid option). It decides where the sub can go if you cannot run a cable, and is worth nothing if you can. |
| Driver placement | depends | JBL Stage 220P fires front and KEF KC62 fires side. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | KEF KC62 is about 76% 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. |
| Warranty | B | KEF KC62 carries 2 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | JBL Stage 220P costs less - $599 against $1,500, about 60% less. |
A JBL Stage 220P B KEF KC62
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?
The usual trade-off: KEF KC62 measures better, JBL Stage 220P costs about 60% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, JBL Stage 220P will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, KEF KC62 is usually the easier one to make sound right. Check your amplifier first: if it has no subwoofer or preamp output, KEF KC62 is the only one of these two you can connect at all.
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.