In this review, we will be comparing A120P and SUB3070, 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 SUB3070 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 ELAC SUB3070 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.JBL Stage A120Pand ELAC SUB3070 have the same driver set up: Both subwoofers have 1 x 12" drivers.
Frequency Response
A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz whereas SUB3070 has a frequency range of 18-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 18Hz, the SUB3070 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 ELAC SUB3070 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 ELAC SUB3070'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 SUB3070 has external dimensions of 435.0 x 520.0 x 477.0mm ( 17-1/8 x 20-7/16 x 18-3/4inch) .
ELAC SUB3070 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 127mm wider, 20mm taller and 2mm deeper than JBL Stage A120P.
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 SUB3070 is approximately 2480.4cm2 / 384.5inch2. The A120P requires 25% less surface area than the SUB3070 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 A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs and the ELAC SUB3070 weighs 35.00kg / 77lbs. This makes the SUB3070 87% heavier than the A120P.
Here is a comparison of how A120P and SUB3070'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 ELAC SUB3070?
Here are the items that come with the SUB3070:
Powered subwooferAC power cord2 Steel bottom plates4 Spikes4 Locking-knobs4 Protective discsOperating Instructions
 Height |
415mm
vs
435mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1866cm2
vs
2480cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Low Frequency Response |
18 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
180k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Wireless Operation |
Yes
vs
No
|
Connect your subwoofer to your system wireless |
| General |
JBL Stage A120P |
ELAC SUB3070 |
| Brand |
JBL |
ELAC |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
1200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-150 Hz |
18-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
1200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Aluminum |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Width |
393.0mm (15.5") |
520.0mm (20.5") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
477.0mm (18.8") |
| Weight |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
35.00kg (77lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Acoustic Suspension |
| Grille |
Yes |
n/a |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |