In this review, we will be comparing A120P and Debut 2.0 SUB3010, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL and ELAC. 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 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.
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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 ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 have a single woofer setup however the JBL Stage A120P's woofer is 12-inch whereas the ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz whereas Debut 2.0 SUB3010 has a frequency range of 28-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Debut 2.0 SUB3010 can go slightly deeper then 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 have Passive radiator type enclosure.
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 A120P's and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010'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 ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 has external dimensions of 374.0 x 355.0 x 383.0mm (14-11/16 x 13-15/16 x 15-1/16inch).
JBL Stage A120P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 41mm taller and 92mm deeper than ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A120P and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A120P and ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 is approximately 1359.7cm2 / 210.8inch2. The A120P requires 37% more surface area than the Debut 2.0 SUB3010 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 ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 weighs 14.59kg / 32.1lbs. This makes the A120P 28% heavier than the Debut 2.0 SUB3010.
Here is a comparison of how A120P and Debut 2.0 SUB3010'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 subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spike feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010?
Here are the items that come with the Debut 2.0 SUB3010:
- Powered subwoofer
- 9-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spikes
- 4 Hex-nuts
- Operating Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
650USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
374mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1359cm2
vs
1866cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage A120P |
ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 |
| Brand |
JBL |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-150 Hz |
28-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Doped Paper |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
374.0mm (14.7") |
| Width |
393.0mm (15.5") |
355.0mm (14") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
383.0mm (15.1") |
| Weight |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
14.59kg (32.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Passive radiator |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
A ported subwoofer against a passive radiator 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 | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 goes deeper - 28Hz against 32Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 32Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | JBL Stage A120P has the bigger amplifier - 250W against 200W RMS, about 1dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | JBL Stage A120P 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 | depends | JBL Stage A120P is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning; ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 is passive radiator - a passive radiator behaves like a port without the pipe noise, and suits a slim cabinet. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 is about 34% 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 | A | JBL Stage A120P costs less - $300 against $650, about 54% less. |
A JBL Stage A120P B ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010
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 A120P has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $300 each, two JBL Stage A120P cost about $600 against $650 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - ELAC Debut 2.0 SUB3010 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.