In this review, we will be comparing PC-4000 and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from SVS 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 SVS PC-4000 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both SVS PC-4000and JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the SVS PC-4000's woofer is 13.5-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
PC-4000 has a frequency range of 17-200 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 17Hz, the PC-4000 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 SVS PC-4000 has a Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs. On the other hand the JBL Stage A120P have Bass reflex type enclosure.
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 SVS PC-4000's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. SVS PC-4000 has external dimensions of 1194.0 x 423.0 x 423.0mm (47 x 16-5/8 x 16-5/8inch) 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).
JBL Stage A120P is 30mm narrower and 779mm shorter than SVS PC-4000 but it is also 52mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS PC-4000 and JBL Stage A120P in scale.
Comparison image of SVS PC-4000 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 SVS PC-4000 is approximately 1789.3cm2 / 277.3inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The PC-4000 requires 4% 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 SVS PC-4000 weighs 42.00kg / 92.4lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the PC-4000 125% heavier than the A120P.
Here is a comparison of how PC-4000 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 SVS PC-4000?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of PC-4000:
- Powered subwoofer
- Top-cap w/ integrated grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- Remote control
- 4 Elastomer feet
- Owners Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A120P?
Here are the items that come with the A120P:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- 4 Spike feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
- Important Safety Instructions
 Woofer Size |
13.5 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
150 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Base Surface Area |
1789cm2
vs
1866cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Height |
415mm
vs
1194mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
2200USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS PC-4000 |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
SVS |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1200 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
17-200 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1200-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
13.5" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite/Glass Fiber |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1194.0mm (47") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
423.0mm (16.7") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
423.0mm (16.7") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
42.00kg (92.4lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
1 Year |
Different price classes - SVS PC-4000 costs roughly 7.3x what JBL Stage A120P does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | SVS PC-4000 goes deeper - 17Hz against 32Hz. Under 20Hz is felt more than heard - the bottom of a pipe organ and the bottom of a film mix. |
| Amplifier power | A | SVS PC-4000 has the bigger amplifier - 1200W against 250W RMS, about 6.8dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | SVS PC-4000 moves more air: 13.5" against 12" is 1.27x the cone area, not the 1.13x 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | SVS PC-4000 fires down and JBL Stage A120P fires front. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | JBL Stage A120P is about 64% 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 | SVS PC-4000 carries 5 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 $2,200, about 86% less. |
A SVS PC-4000 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?
The usual trade-off: SVS PC-4000 measures better, JBL Stage A120P costs about 86% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. 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 $2,200 for one of the other, which is worth a thought. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - JBL Stage A120P is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
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.