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JBL Stage 250WL vs JBL Stage A180 Comparison

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JBL Stage 250WL

Passive In-wall | 52-25kHz

JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage A180

Passive Floor-standing | 40-40k Hz

JBL Stage A180
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JBL Stage 250WL JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage A180 JBL Stage A180
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JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage A180
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JBL Stage 250WL vs JBL Stage A180 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage 250WL is a In-wall speaker whereas the A180 is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Stage 250WL and JBL Stage A180 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

JBL Stage 250WL Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 52-25kHz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-120watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 461.0" x 6.3750" x 3.8125"( 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm )

JBL Stage A180 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
  • 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 40-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-225watts
  • Weight:17.29kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1045.0" x 12" x 14-1/2"( 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm )

Stage 250WL and A180 are members of JBL's Stage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.

JBL Stage Series History
Model Body Frequency SensitivityImpedance Woofer
JBL A130
  
Bookshelf 55-40k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 5.25"
JBL A120
  
Bookshelf 60-40k Hz 86 dB6Ω 1 x 4.5"
JBL Stage A190
  
Floor-standing 36-40k Hz 91 dB6Ω 2 x 8"
JBL Stage A180
Floor-standing 40-40k Hz 90 dB6Ω 2 x 6.5"
JBL Stage A135C
  
Center Channel 75-40k Hz 90 dB6Ω 6 x 3"
JBL Stage A170
  
Floor-standing 44-40k Hz 89 dB6Ω 2 x 5.25"
JBL Stage A125C
  
Center Channel 75-40k Hz 88 dB6Ω 2 x 5.24"
JBL Stage 280W
  
In-wall 42-25kHz 90 dB8Ω 1 x 8"
JBL Stage 260W
  
In-wall 50-25kHz 87 dB8Ω 1 x 6.5"
JBL Stage 250WL
In-wall 52-25kHz 90 dB8Ω 2 x 5.25"

What size room are the JBL Stage 250WL and JBL Stage A180 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 250WL JBL Stage A180
Near-field Poor Bad
Small Room Average Poor
Mid-size Room Good Average
Large Room Average Good
Very Large Room Poor Average

(* 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage 250WL and JBL Stage A180 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

Both Stage 250WL and A180 are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL Stage 250WL JBL Stage A180
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 5.25-inch 2 x 6.5-inch

Stage 250WL features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the A180 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

Stage 250WL has a frequency range of 52-25kHz whereas A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the A180 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 250WL's min frequency of 52Hz.

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 In-wall class in our database.

Low Frequency

In-wall Speakers

Stage 250WL
A180
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

In-wall Speakers

JBL Stage 250WL
JBL Stage A180
Min
Average
Max

None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.

Impedance and Sensitivity

Stage 250WL is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A180 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 90 dBdB.

Sensitivity

In-wall Speakers

Stage 250WL
A180
Min
Average
Max

Power Range

Power range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.

Stage 250WL can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 250WL has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 105 watts less than the A180.

Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.

Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring

A180 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Stage 250WL has a Spring post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

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 JBL Stage 250WL's and JBL Stage A180's external dimensions. JBL Stage 250WL has external dimensions of 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm ( 18.1250-inch x 6.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch) whereas JBL Stage A180 has external dimensions of 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm ( 41-1/8 x 12 x 14-1/2inch) .

JBL Stage A180 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 143mm wider, 584mm taller and 272mm deeper than JBL Stage 250WL.

What's in the Box of JBL Stage 250WL?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 250WL:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Quick Start Guide
  • What's in the Box of JBL Stage A180?

    Here are the items that come with the A180:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Outriggers
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 8 Screws
  • 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
  • Owners Manual
  • Warranty Card

  • Reasons to choose JBL Stage 250WL over JBL Stage A180
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Height 461mm vs 1045mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 157cm2 vs 1125cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 500USD vs 800USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage A180 over JBL Stage 250WL

    Max Input Power 225 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 40 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 25k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    JBL Stage 250WL vs JBL Stage A180 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage 250WL JBL Stage A180
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Passive In-wall Speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-120 watts 20-225 watts
    Sensitivity 90 dB 90 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 52-25kHz 40-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 5.25" 6.5"
    Woofer Composition Polycellulose Polycellulose
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Horn-Loaded HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver N/A" No
    Physical Specs
    Height 461.0mm (18.1") 1045.0mm (41.1")
    Width 162.0mm (6.4") 305.0mm (12")
    Depth 97.0mm (3.8") 369.0mm (14.5")
    Weight n/a 17.29kg (38lbs)
    Enclosure In-wall Bass Reflex
    Finish n/a MDF, Vinyl
    Available Colors n/a Black
    Grille n/a Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs No Yes
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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