In this review, we will be comparing Stage 240B and A120, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 240B and JBL A120 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 240B | JBL A120 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-dome | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Polycellulose | 4.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-25k Hz | 60-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-75 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.59kg / 10.1lbs | 3.82kg / 8.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-3/4" x 6-15/16" x 8-1/2"
274.0 x 177.0 x 216.0mm | 11-1/4" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"
286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Stage 240B and JBL A120 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
JBL Stage 240B |
JBL A120 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Stage 240B and A120 are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage 240BJBL A120
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 240B |
JBL A120 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Stage 240B features a 1" Hard-dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Stage 240B has a frequency range of 65-25k Hz whereas A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the A120 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 240B's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Stage 240B and A120 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. Stage 240B sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the A120's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL A120 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 240B, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
A120 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas Stage 240B has a max power handling value of 75 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the A120.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Stage 240B features 5-way post type posts and A120 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Stage 240B and A120 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 JBL Stage 240B's and JBL A120's external dimensions. JBL Stage 240B has external dimensions of 274.0 x 177.0 x 216.0mm (10-3/4inch x 6-15/16inch x 8-1/2inch) whereas JBL A120 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm (11-1/4 x 6-3/4 x 7-7/16inch).
JBL A120 is 5mm narrower and 27mm less deeper than JBL Stage 240B but it is also 12mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage 240B and JBL A120 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage 240B and JBL A120 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 JBL Stage 240B is approximately 382.3cm2 / 59.3inch2 and base area of the JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2. The Stage 240B requires 18% more surface area than the A120 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of JBL Stage 240B and JBL A120 on a Media Console
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL Stage 240B weighs 4.59kg / 10.1lbs and the JBL A120 weighs 3.82kg / 8.4lbs. This makes the Stage 240B 20% heavier than the A120.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 240B and A120's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 240B?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 240B:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 2 Foam plugs 2 Wall-brackets 4 Mounting screws 8 Self-adhesive rubber pads Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL A120?
Here are the items that come with the A120:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam plugs
- 4 Brackets
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)
- Owner-feets Manual
- Warranty Card
 Height |
274mm
vs
286mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
75 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
60 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
325cm2
vs
382cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
250USD
vs
299USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage 240B |
JBL Stage A120 |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-75 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-25k Hz |
60-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4.5" |
4.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-dome |
Hard-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
274.0mm (10.8") |
286.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
177.0mm (7") |
172.0mm (6.8") |
| Depth |
216.0mm (8.5") |
189.0mm (7.4") |
| Weight |
4.59kg (10.1lbs) |
3.82kg (8.4lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
Keyholes w/ bracket |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
26-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: JBL Stage 240B is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | JBL A120 digs deeper - 60Hz against 65Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | JBL A120 takes more power (125W vs 75W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Price | B | JBL A120 is cheaper - $250 against $299, about 16% less. |
A JBL Stage 240B B JBL A120
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 speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
JBL A120 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take JBL Stage 240B if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate JBL Stage 240B the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and JBL A120 for a mid-size room and a large room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.