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JBL Stage 260W vs JBL Stage A170 Comparison

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JBL Stage 260W

Passive In-wall | 50-25kHz

JBL Stage 260W
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JBL Stage A170

Passive Floor-standing | 44-40k Hz

JBL Stage A170
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JBL Stage 260W JBL Stage 260W
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JBL Stage A170 JBL Stage A170
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JBL Stage 260W
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JBL Stage A170
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JBL Stage 260W vs JBL Stage A170 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage 260W is a In-wall speaker whereas the A170 is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Stage 260W and JBL Stage A170 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

JBL Stage 260W Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
  • 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 50-25kHz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-100watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 312.0" x 7.2500" x 3.5625"( 312.0 x 185.0 x 91.0mm )

JBL Stage A170 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 44-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 89 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-200watts
  • Weight:14.37kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 977.0" x 10-1/2" x 13"( 977.0 x 267.0 x 331.0mm )

Stage 260W and A170 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 260W and JBL Stage A170 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 260W JBL Stage A170
Near-field Average Bad
Small Room Good Poor
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Good
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage 260W and JBL Stage A170 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 260W and A170 are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL Stage 260W JBL Stage A170
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 6.5-inch 2 x 5.25-inch

Stage 260W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the A170 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

Stage 260W has a frequency range of 50-25kHz whereas A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the A170 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 260W's min frequency of 50Hz.

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 260W
A170
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

In-wall Speakers

JBL Stage 260W
JBL Stage A170
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 260W is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A170 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Stage 260W sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the A170's is rated at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A170 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage 260W, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

In-wall Speakers

Stage 260W
A170
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 260W can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 260W has a max power handling value of 100 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the A170.

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

A170 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Stage 260W has a Spring clip 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 260W's and JBL Stage A170's external dimensions. JBL Stage 260W has external dimensions of 312.0 x 185.0 x 91.0mm ( 12.2500-inch x 7.2500-inch x 3.5625-inch) whereas JBL Stage A170 has external dimensions of 977.0 x 267.0 x 331.0mm ( 38-7/16 x 10-1/2 x 13inch) .

JBL Stage A170 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 82mm wider, 665mm taller and 240mm deeper than JBL Stage 260W.

What's in the Box of JBL Stage 260W?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 260W:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Quick Start Guide
  • What's in the Box of JBL Stage A170?

    Here are the items that come with the A170:
  • 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 260W over JBL Stage A170
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Woofer Size 6.5 inches vs 5.25 inches Larger woofer
    Height 312mm vs 977mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 168cm2 vs 883cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 300USD vs 600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage A170 over JBL Stage 260W

    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 100 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 89 dB vs 87 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 44 Hz vs 50 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 260W vs JBL Stage A170 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage 260W JBL Stage A170
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Passive In-wall Speaker Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-100 watts 20-200 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 50-25kHz 44-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 6.5" 5.25"
    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 312.0mm (12.3") 977.0mm (38.5")
    Width 185.0mm (7.3") 267.0mm (10.5")
    Depth 91.0mm (3.6") 331.0mm (13")
    Weight n/a 14.37kg (31.6lbs)
    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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