In this review, we will be comparing A120P and Sub 1000 F, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL and Focal. 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 Focal Sub 1000 F 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.JBL Stage A120Pand Focal Sub 1000 F 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 Sub 1000 F has a frequency range of 24-200 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Sub 1000 F 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 Focal Sub 1000 F 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
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 Focal Sub 1000 F'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 Focal Sub 1000 F has external dimensions of 421.0 x 401.0 x 474.0mm (16-9/16 x 15-3/4 x 18-5/8inch).
JBL Stage A120P is 8mm narrower and 6mm shorter than Focal Sub 1000 F but it is also 1mm 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 A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2 and base area of the Focal Sub 1000 F is approximately 1900.7cm2 / 294.6inch2. The A120P requires 2% less surface area than the Sub 1000 F 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 Focal Sub 1000 F weighs 21.36kg / 47lbs. This makes the Sub 1000 F 14% heavier than the A120P.
Here is a comparison of how A120P and Sub 1000 F'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 Focal Sub 1000 F?
Here are the items that come with the Sub 1000 F:
- Powered subwoofer
- 8-feet AC power cord
- Grille
- User Manual
 Height |
415mm
vs
421mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1866cm2
vs
1900cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
2099USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
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.
| General |
JBL Stage A120P |
Focal Sub 1000 F |
| Brand |
JBL |
Focal |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-150 Hz |
24-200 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
1000-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
n/a |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Flax |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
421.0mm (16.6") |
| Width |
393.0mm (15.5") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
474.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
21.36kg (47lbs) |
| 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 |
A ported subwoofer against a sealed 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 | Focal Sub 1000 F goes deeper - 24Hz against 32Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | B | Focal Sub 1000 F has the bigger amplifier - 1000W against 250W RMS, about 6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | evenly matched | Near-identical radiating area (12" against 12"). |
| 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; Focal Sub 1000 F is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Warranty | B | Focal Sub 1000 F carries 3 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 | A | JBL Stage A120P costs less - $300 against $2,099, about 86% less. |
A JBL Stage A120P B Focal Sub 1000 F
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: Focal Sub 1000 F measures better, JBL Stage A120P costs about 86% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, JBL Stage A120P will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, Focal Sub 1000 F is usually the easier one to make sound right. 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 $2,099 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.