In this review, we will be comparing Gravis I and A120P, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Sonus Faber 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 Sonus faber Gravis I 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 Sonus faber Gravis I 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 Sonus faber Gravis Iand JBL Stage A120P have a single woofer setup however the Sonus faber Gravis I's woofer is 8-inch whereas the JBL Stage A120P features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Gravis I has a frequency range of 30-120 Hz whereas A120P has a frequency range of 32-150 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 30Hz, the Gravis I can go slightly deeper then 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 Sonus faber Gravis I 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 Sonus faber Gravis I's and JBL Stage A120P's external dimensions. Sonus faber Gravis I has external dimensions of 337.0 x 286.0 x 340.0mm ( 13-1/4inch x 11-1/4inch x 13-3/8inch ) 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 107mm wider, 78mm taller and 135mm deeper than Sonus faber Gravis I.
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 Sonus faber Gravis I is approximately 972.4cm2 / 150.7inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A120P is approximately 1866.8cm2 / 289.4inch2. The Gravis I requires 48% 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 Sonus faber Gravis I weighs 14.55kg / 32lbs and the JBL Stage A120P weighs 18.68kg / 41.1lbs. This makes the A120P 28% heavier than the Gravis I.
Here is a comparison of how Gravis I 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 Sonus faber Gravis I?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Gravis I:
Powered subwoofer6-feet AC power cord33-feet Speakon cableOwners ManualEnvironmental Information
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 |
30 Hz
vs
32 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
337mm
vs
415mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
972cm2 (286x340mm)
vs
1866cm2 (393x475mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Driver Setup |
1-way
vs
-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
150k Hz
vs
120k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Sonus faber Gravis I |
JBL Stage A120P |
| Brand |
Sonus Faber |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
150 watts |
250 watts |
| Frequency Response |
30-120 Hz |
32-150 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
150-watt RMS |
250-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
500-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
Treated Paper |
Polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
337.0mm (13.3") |
415.0mm (16.3") |
| Width |
286.0mm (11.3") |
393.0mm (15.5") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
475.0mm (18.7") |
| Weight |
14.55kg (32lbs) |
18.68kg (41.1lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Acoustic Suspension |
Bass reflex |
| Available Colors |
Piano Black,Matte White |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
1 Year |
| Labor Warranty |
2 Yr/3 Yr registered |
1 Year |