In this review, we will be comparing A120P and HDI-1200P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers by JBL. 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 JBL HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P 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 HDI-1200P has a frequency range of 28-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P have Bass Reflex type enclosure. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed 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 JBL HDI-1200P'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 JBL HDI-1200P has external dimensions of 480.0 x 412.0 x 493.0mm ( 18-7/8 x 16-3/16 x 19-3/8inch) .
JBL HDI-1200P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 65mm taller and 18mm deeper than JBL Stage A120P.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A120P and JBL HDI-1200P in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A120P and JBL HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P is approximately 2031.2cm2 / 314.8inch2. The A120P requires 8% less surface area than the HDI-1200P 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 JBL HDI-1200P weighs 32.18kg / 70.8lbs. This makes the HDI-1200P 72% heavier than the A120P.
Here is a comparison of how A120P and HDI-1200P'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 JBL HDI-1200P?
Here are the items that come with the HDI-1200P:
Powered SubwooferGrille6-feet AC power cord16.5-feet Mono-RCA/Mono-Minijack cable4 SpikesOwners ManualImportant Safety Instructions
 Height |
415mm
vs
480mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1866cm2 (393x475mm)
vs
2031cm2 (412x493mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
2310USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
JBL Stage A120P |
JBL HDI-1200P |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
1000 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-150 Hz |
28-150 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 |
Poly-plas |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
480.0mm (18.9") |
| Width |
393.0mm (15.5") |
412.0mm (16.2") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
493.0mm (19.4") |
| Weight |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
32.18kg (70.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
5 Years |