In this review, we will be comparing SUB8 and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Kanto and 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 Kanto SUB8 and JBL Stage A120P first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Kanto SUB8 and JBL Stage A120P 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.Both Kanto SUB8and JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the Kanto SUB8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SUB8 has a frequency range of 35-175 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 32Hz, the A120P can go slightly deeper then the SUB8'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
The Kanto SUB8 has a Acoustic Suspension type cabinet. 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. On the other hand the JBL Stage A120P have Bass reflex type enclosure.
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 Kanto SUB8's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. Kanto SUB8 has external dimensions of 301.0 x 281.0 x 329.0mm ( 11-13/16 x 11-1/16 x 12-15/16inch) whereas 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) .
JBL Stage A120P is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 112mm wider, 114mm taller and 146mm deeper than Kanto SUB8.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Kanto SUB8 and JBL Stage A120P in scale.
Comparison image of Kanto SUB8 and JBL Stage A120P 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 Kanto SUB8 is approximately 924.5cm2 / 143.3inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The SUB8 requires 50% less surface area than the A120P 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 Kanto SUB8 weighs 7.82kg / 17.2lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the A120P 139% heavier than the SUB8.
Here is a comparison of how SUB8 and A120P's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Kanto SUB8?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SUB8:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cord9.75-feet mono-RCA cableUser Manual
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A120P?
Here are the items that come with the A120P:
Powered subwooferGrille6-feet AC power cord4 Spike feetOwners ManualWarranty CardImportant Safety Instructions
 High Frequency Response |
175k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
301mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
924cm2 (281x329mm)
vs
1866cm2 (393x475mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Kanto SUB8 |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
Kanto |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
125 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-175 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
125-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
250-watt RMS |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Paper |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
301.0mm (11.9") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
281.0mm (11.1") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
329.0mm (13") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
7.82kg (17.2lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Years |
1 Year |