In this review, we will be comparing Stage 260F and A180, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by JBL Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 260F and JBL Stage A180 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Stage 260F 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage 260F 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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Stage 260F is a 3-way design whereas the A180 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 260F |
JBL Stage A180 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Stage 260F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" 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 260F has a frequency range of 45-25k Hz 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 260F's min frequency of 45Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
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 260F and A180 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing Speakers
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 260F and A180 has the same power range of 20-225 watts.
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 260F has a 5-Way 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 260F's and JBL Stage A180's external dimensions. JBL Stage 260F has external dimensions of 1037.0 x 312.0 x 364.0mm ( 40-13/16inch x 12-1/4inch x 14-5/16inch ) 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 260F is 8mm shorter and 5mm less deeper than JBL Stage A180 but it is also 7mm wider.
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 260F is approximately 1135.7cm2 / 176.0inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2. The Stage 260F requires 1% more surface area than the A180 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 260F weighs 19.55kg / 43lbs and the JBL Stage A180 weighs 17.29kg / 38lbs. This makes the Stage 260F 13% heavier than the A180.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 260F and A180's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 260F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 260F:
Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinth 4 Spikes 4 Screws Hex-key Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A180?
Here are the items that come with the A180:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1037mm
vs
1045mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
45 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 |
 Base Surface Area |
1125cm2 (305x369mm)
vs
1135cm2 (312x364mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage 260F |
JBL Stage A180 |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1037.0mm (40.8") |
1045.0mm (41.1") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
364.0mm (14.3") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
17.29kg (38lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 years |
5 Years |