In this review, we will be comparing SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultraand JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the SVS SB16-Ultra's woofer is 16-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SB16-Ultra has a frequency range of 16-460 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 16Hz, the SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultra 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 SVS SB16-Ultra's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. SVS SB16-Ultra has external dimensions of 508.0 x 496.0 x 512.0mm ( 20 x 19-1/2 x 20-1/8inch) 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) .
SVS SB16-Ultra is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 103mm wider, 93mm taller and 37mm deeper than JBL Stage A120P.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of SVS SB16-Ultra and JBL Stage A120P in scale.
Comparison image of SVS SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultra is approximately 2539.5cm2 / 393.6inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The SB16-Ultra requires 36% more surface area than the A120P which gives it a small disadvantage 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 SB16-Ultra weighs 55.45kg / 122lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the SB16-Ultra 197% heavier than the A120P.
Here is a comparison of how SB16-Ultra 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 SB16-Ultra?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SB16-Ultra:
Powered subwooferGrille8-feet AC power cordRemote controlOwners Manual
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 |
16 inches
vs
12 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
16 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
460k Hz
vs
150k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Handheld Remote |
Yes
vs
No
|
Control the speaker by the included RC |
 App-Based Control |
iOS,Android
vs
None
|
Control the speaker via an app |
 Height |
415mm
vs
508mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1866cm2 (393x475mm)
vs
2539cm2 (496x512mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
2300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
SVS SB16-Ultra |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
SVS |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
1500 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
16-460 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
1500-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
16" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fiberglass/resin |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
508.0mm (20") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
496.0mm (19.5") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
512.0mm (20.2") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
55.45kg (122lbs) |
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 |