In this review, we will be comparing A120P and Sub 3, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL and Dynaudio. 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 A120P and Dynaudio Sub 3 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 A120P and Dynaudio Sub 3 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 A120Pand Dynaudio Sub 3 have a single woofer setup however the JBL Stage A120P's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Dynaudio Sub 3 features a 9.5-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz whereas Sub 3 has a frequency range of 22-175 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 22Hz, the Sub 3 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
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
The JBL Stage A120P has a Bass reflex type cabinet. On the other hand the Dynaudio Sub 3 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 A120P's and Dynaudio Sub 3's external dimensions. 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) whereas Dynaudio Sub 3 has external dimensions of 277.0 x 269.0 x 366.0mm ( 10-7/8 x 10-9/16 x 14-3/8inch) .
JBL Stage A120P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 124mm wider, 138mm taller and 109mm deeper than Dynaudio Sub 3.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A120P and Dynaudio Sub 3 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A120P and Dynaudio Sub 3 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 A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2 and base area of the Dynaudio Sub 3 is approximately 984.5cm2 / 152.6inch2. The A120P requires 90% more surface area than the Sub 3 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 A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs and the Dynaudio Sub 3 weighs 10.50kg / 23.1lbs. This makes the A120P 78% heavier than the Sub 3.
Here is a comparison of how A120P and Sub 3'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 A120P?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A120P:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cord4 Spike feetOwners ManualWarranty CardImportant Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Dynaudio Sub 3?
Here are the items that come with the Sub 3:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cordOwners ManualQuick Start GuideWarranty Extension Card
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
9.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
22 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
175k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
277mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
984cm2 (269x366mm)
vs
1866cm2 (393x475mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage A120P |
Dynaudio Sub 3 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Dynaudio |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
300 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-150 Hz |
22-175 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
9.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Magnesium Silicate Polymer |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
50-150Hz and 60Hz/80Hz/FlatHz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
277.0mm (10.9") |
| Width |
393.0mm (15.5") |
269.0mm (10.6") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
366.0mm (14.4") |
| Weight |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
10.50kg (23.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
3 Years |