In this review, we will be comparing A120P and A100P, 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 Stage A100P 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.Both JBL Stage A120Pand JBL Stage A100P have a single woofer setup however the JBL Stage A120P's woofer is 12-inch whereas the JBL Stage A100P features a 10-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz whereas A100P has a frequency range of 35-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the A120P can go slightly deeper then the A100P's min frequency of 35Hz.
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
Both JBL Stage A120P and JBL Stage A100P have Bass reflex type cabinets.
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 JBL Stage A100P'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 Stage A100P has external dimensions of 359.0 x 337.0 x 435.0mm (14-1/8 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/8inch).
JBL Stage A120P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 56mm wider, 56mm taller and 40mm deeper than JBL Stage A100P.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A120P and JBL Stage A100P in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A120P and JBL Stage A100P 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 Stage A100P is approximately 1466.0cm2 / 227.2inch2. The A120P requires 27% more surface area than the A100P 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 JBL Stage A100P weighs 13.66kg / 30.1lbs. This makes the A120P 37% heavier than the A100P.
Here is a comparison of how A120P and A100P'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 JBL Stage A100P?
Here are the items that come with the A100P:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spike feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
359mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1466cm2
vs
1866cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
240USD
vs
300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
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.
JBL Stage A120P needs about 27% more floor area. JBL Stage A120P stands 40mm further into the room. JBL Stage A120P is 56mm taller.
| General |
JBL Stage A120P |
JBL Stage A100P |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
250 watts |
150 watts |
| Frequency Response |
32-150 Hz |
35-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
150-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
10" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
415.0mm (16.3") |
359.0mm (14.1") |
| Width |
393.0mm (15.5") |
337.0mm (13.3") |
| Depth |
475.0mm (18.7") |
435.0mm (17.1") |
| Weight |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
13.66kg (30.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
Siblings in JBL's Stage Sub range - same design thinking, different size. It comes down to your room and your budget.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | JBL Stage A120P goes deeper - 32Hz against 35Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 35Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | JBL Stage A120P has the bigger amplifier - 250W against 150W RMS, about 2.2dB 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 | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | JBL Stage A100P is about 32% 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 | B | JBL Stage A100P costs less - $240 against $300, about 20% less. |
A JBL Stage A120P B JBL Stage A100P
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 leads across most of the measured areas for a modest premium, so it is the easier pick if the budget stretches. JBL Stage A100P is the one to take if it does not. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - JBL Stage A100P 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.