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.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the SVS PC-4000 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 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
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 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 subwooferTop-cap w/ integrated grille6-feet AC power cordRemote control4 Elastomer feetOwners ManualImportant 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
 Woofer Size |
13.5 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
17 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Base Surface Area |
1789cm2 (423x423mm)
vs
1866cm2 (393x475mm)
|
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 |