In this review, we will be comparing CW8 and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Monitor Audio 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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8and JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the Monitor Audio CW8's woofer is 8-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
CW8 has a frequency range of 35-135 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 CW8'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 Monitor Audio CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. Monitor Audio CW8 has external dimensions of 274.0 x 262.0 x 326.0mm ( 10-3/4 x 10-5/16 x 12-13/16inch) 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 131mm wider, 141mm taller and 149mm deeper than Monitor Audio CW8.
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 Monitor Audio CW8 is approximately 854.1cm2 / 132.4inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The CW8 requires 54% 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 Monitor Audio CW8 weighs 9.55kg / 21lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the A120P 96% heavier than the CW8.
Here is a comparison of how CW8 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 Monitor Audio CW8?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of CW8:
Powered subwooferGrille (pre-installed)4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)6-feet AC power cord10-feet Mono-minijack cableOwners ManualWarranty CardSafety Instructions
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
 Height |
274mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
854cm2
vs
1866cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
32 Hz
vs
35 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
150k Hz
vs
135k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
| General |
Monitor Audio CW8 |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
Monitor Audio |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
350 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
35-135 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
350-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
C-CAM |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
274.0mm (10.8") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
262.0mm (10.3") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
326.0mm (12.8") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
9.55kg (21lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |