In this review, we will be comparing A100P and ASW608, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL and Bowers Wilkins. 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 A100P and B&W ASW608 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the JBL Stage A100P and B&W ASW608 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both JBL Stage A100Pand B&W ASW608 have a single woofer setup however the JBL Stage A100P's woofer is 10-inch whereas the B&W ASW608 features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
A100P has a frequency range of 35-150 Hz whereas ASW608 has a frequency range of 32-140 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the ASW608 can go slightly deeper then the A100P's min frequency of 35Hz.
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 A100P has a Bass reflex type cabinet. On the other hand the B&W ASW608 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 A100P's and B&W ASW608's external dimensions. JBL Stage A100P has external dimensions of 359.0 x 337.0 x 435.0mm ( 14-1/8 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/8inch) whereas B&W ASW608 has external dimensions of 272.0 x 261.0 x 350.0mm ( 10-11/16 x 10-1/4 x 13-3/4inch) .
JBL Stage A100P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 76mm wider, 87mm taller and 85mm deeper than B&W ASW608.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A100P and B&W ASW608 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A100P and B&W ASW608 Size and External Dimensions
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 A100P is approximately 1466.0cm2 / 227.2inch2 and base area of the B&W ASW608 is approximately 913.5cm2 / 141.6inch2. The A100P requires 60% more surface area than the ASW608 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 A100P weighs 13.66kg / 30.1lbs and the B&W ASW608 weighs 8.86kg / 19.5lbs. This makes the A100P 54% heavier than the ASW608.
Here is a comparison of how A100P and ASW608's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A100P?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A100P:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cord4 Spike feetOwners ManualWarranty CardImportant Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of B&W ASW608?
Here are the items that come with the ASW608:
Powered subwooferGrille6.5-feet AC power cord4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nutsManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
150k Hz
vs
140k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
599USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
272mm
vs
359mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
913cm2
vs
1466cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage A100P |
Bowers & Wilkins ASW608 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Bowers Wilkins |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-150 Hz |
32-140 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
300-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Paper/Aramid Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
359.0mm (14.1") |
272.0mm (10.7") |
| Width |
337.0mm (13.3") |
261.0mm (10.3") |
| Depth |
435.0mm (17.1") |
350.0mm (13.8") |
| Weight |
13.66kg (30.1lbs) |
8.86kg (19.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
2 Years |