In this review, we will be comparing SubSeries 150 and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from PSB 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 PSB SubSeries 150 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 PSB SubSeries 150 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 PSB SubSeries 150and JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the PSB SubSeries 150's woofer is 6.5-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SubSeries 150 has a frequency range of 26-150 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the SubSeries 150 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to 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 PSB SubSeries 150 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 PSB SubSeries 150's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. PSB SubSeries 150 has external dimensions of 280.0 x 447.0 x 143.0mm ( 11 x 17-9/16 x 5-5/8inch) 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) .
PSB SubSeries 150 is 135mm shorter and 332mm less deeper than JBL Stage A120P but it is also 54mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB SubSeries 150 and JBL Stage A120P in scale.
Comparison image of PSB SubSeries 150 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 PSB SubSeries 150 is approximately 639.2cm2 / 99.1inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The SubSeries 150 requires 66% 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 PSB SubSeries 150 weighs 6.05kg / 13.3lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the A120P 209% heavier than the SubSeries 150.
Here is a comparison of how SubSeries 150 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 PSB SubSeries 150?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SubSeries 150:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cord2 Mounting feetWall-mount bracketQuick Start Subwoofer GuideLimited Warranty sheetImportant Safety 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
 Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
280mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
639cm2 (447x143mm)
vs
1866cm2 (393x475mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| General |
PSB SubSeries 150 |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
PSB |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
100 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
26-150 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
100-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
280.0mm (11") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
447.0mm (17.6") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
143.0mm (5.6") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
6.05kg (13.3lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
1 Year |
1 Year |