In this review, we will be comparing Stage 220P and R-101SW, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL and Klipsch. 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 Klipsch R-101SW 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 Klipsch R-101SW have a single woofer setup however the JBL Stage 220P's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Klipsch R-101SW features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 220P has a frequency range of 29-150 Hz whereas R-101SW has a frequency range of 29.5-160 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 29Hz, the Stage 220P can go slightly deeper then the R-101SW's min frequency of 30Hz.
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 Klipsch R-101SW have Bass Reflex type enclosure. 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.
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 Klipsch R-101SW'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 Klipsch R-101SW has external dimensions of 370.0 x 358.0 x 529.0mm (14-9/16inch x 14-1/16inch x 20-13/16inch).
Klipsch R-101SW is 47mm narrower and 48mm shorter than JBL Stage 220P but it is also 84mm deeper.
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 Klipsch R-101SW is approximately 1893.8cm2 / 293.5inch2. The Stage 220P requires 5% less surface area than the R-101SW 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 JBL Stage 220P weighs 18.73kg / 41.2lbs and the Klipsch R-101SW weighs 13.91kg / 30.6lbs. This makes the Stage 220P 35% heavier than the R-101SW.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 220P and R-101SW'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
30 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1802cm2
vs
1893cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 High Frequency Response |
160 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
370mm
vs
418mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 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.
Near-identical footprints. Klipsch R-101SW stands 84mm further into the room. JBL Stage 220P is 48mm taller.
| General |
JBL Stage 220P |
Klipsch Reference R-101SW |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
150 watts |
| Frequency Response |
29-150 Hz |
29.5-160 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Spun-Copper TCP |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
370.0mm (14.6") |
| Width |
405.0mm (15.9") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
529.0mm (20.8") |
| Weight |
18.73kg (41.2lbs) |
13.91kg (30.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 year |
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (29Hz vs 30Hz). |
| 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. |
| Warranty | B | Klipsch R-101SW 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 | B | Klipsch R-101SW costs less - $499 against $599, about 17% less. |
A JBL Stage 220P B Klipsch R-101SW
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: JBL Stage 220P measures better, Klipsch R-101SW costs about 17% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two.
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.