In this review, we will be comparing Studio 650P and SPL-120, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from JBL and Klipsch. 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 Studio 650P and Klipsch SPL-120 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 Studio 650Pand Klipsch SPL-120 have a single woofer setup however the JBL Studio 650P's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Klipsch SPL-120 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Studio 650P has a frequency range of 35-150 Hz whereas SPL-120 has a frequency range of 24-125 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the SPL-120 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Studio 650P'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
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 Studio 650P's and Klipsch SPL-120's external dimensions. JBL Studio 650P has external dimensions of 444.5 x 395.3 x 458.8mm () whereas Klipsch SPL-120 has external dimensions of 450.0 x 375.0 x 540.0mm (17-11/16 x 14-3/4 x 21-1/4inch).
JBL Studio 650P is 5.5mm shorter and 81.2mm less deeper than Klipsch SPL-120 but it is also 20.3mm wider.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers 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 surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Klipsch SPL-120 needs about 12% more floor or shelf area. Klipsch SPL-120 is 81mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall.
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 Studio 650P is approximately 1813.6cm2 / 281.1inch2 and base area of the Klipsch SPL-120 is approximately 2025.0cm2 / 313.9inch2. The Studio 650P requires 10% less surface area than the SPL-120 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 Studio 650P weighs 10.43kg / 22.9lbs and the Klipsch SPL-120 weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs. This makes the SPL-120 96% heavier than the Studio 650P.
Here is a comparison of how Studio 650P and SPL-120's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
444mm
vs
450mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1813cm2
vs
2025cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
400USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
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.
Klipsch SPL-120 needs about 12% more floor area. Klipsch SPL-120 stands 81mm further into the room.
| General |
JBL Studio 650P |
Klipsch SPL-120 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
35-150 Hz |
24-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
250-watt RMS |
300-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
500-watt RMS |
600-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Cerametallic |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
444.5mm (17.5") |
450.0mm (17.7") |
| Width |
395.3mm (15.6") |
375.0mm (14.8") |
| Depth |
458.8mm (18.1") |
540.0mm (21.3") |
| Weight |
10.43kg (22.9lbs) |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | B | Klipsch SPL-120 goes deeper - 24Hz against 35Hz. That gap covers the lowest notes of a five-string bass and a concert bass drum. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (250W vs 300W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | Klipsch SPL-120 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. |
| Warranty | A | JBL Studio 650P carries 5 years on parts against 2 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | A | JBL Studio 650P costs less - $400 against $499, about 20% less. |
A JBL Studio 650P B Klipsch SPL-120
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: Klipsch SPL-120 measures better, JBL Studio 650P costs about 20% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two.
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.