In this review, we will be comparing Classic 98 and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from REL 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 REL Classic 98 and JBL Stage A120P 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 REL Classic 98and JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the REL Classic 98's woofer is 10-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Classic 98 has a frequency range of 27-120 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 27Hz, the Classic 98 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
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 REL Classic 98's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. REL Classic 98 has external dimensions of 476.3 x 350.8 x 352.4mm () 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).
REL Classic 98 is 42.2mm narrower and 122.6mm less deeper than JBL Stage A120P but it is also 61.3mm taller.
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 REL Classic 98 is approximately 1236.2cm2 / 191.6inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The Classic 98 requires 34% 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 REL Classic 98 weighs 22.36kg / 49.2lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the Classic 98 20% heavier than the A120P.
Here is a comparison of how Classic 98 and A120P's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
 Low Frequency Response |
27 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1236cm2
vs
1866cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
150 Hz
vs
120 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
415mm
vs
476mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
1499USD
|
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 51% more floor area. JBL Stage A120P stands 123mm further into the room. REL Classic 98 is 61mm taller.
| General |
REL Classic 98 |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
REL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Frequency Response |
27-120 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
300-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
|
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
476.3mm (18.8") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
350.8mm (13.8") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
352.4mm (13.9") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
22.36kg (49.2lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
|
Bass reflex |
| Grille |
n/a |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
1 Year |
A sealed subwoofer against a ported one. That is the most consequential line on this page: it decides how the bass rolls off, how it behaves in a small room, and how much output you get for the size of the box.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | REL Classic 98 goes deeper - 27Hz against 32Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 32Hz. |
| Amplifier power | evenly matched | Much the same amplifier (300W vs 250W RMS) - under 1dB apart. |
| Driver area | B | 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 | depends | REL Classic 98 is sealed - a sealed box rolls off gently and is usually the easier one to integrate in a small or awkward room; JBL Stage A120P is ported - a ported box gives more output low down for its size, at the cost of a steeper roll-off below tuning. Neither is better in the abstract; ported tends to suit films and sealed tends to suit music, and both generalisations have exceptions. |
| Cabinet size | depends | REL Classic 98 is about 24% 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. |
| Warranty | A | REL Classic 98 carries 3 years on parts against 1 years. A subwoofer amplifier works harder than anything else in the system, so this is not a throwaway line. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A120P costs less - $300 against $1,499, about 80% less. |
A REL Classic 98 B JBL Stage A120P
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?
REL Classic 98 is ahead, but on only 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 5x the price. JBL Stage A120P is the sensible buy unless your room is large enough to need the extra. Films or music? If this is mainly a home cinema, JBL Stage A120P will hit harder for the money; if it is mainly for music in a normal-sized room, REL Classic 98 is usually the easier one to make sound right. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $300 each, two JBL Stage A120P cost about $600 against $1,499 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.