In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage 280W 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 280W and JBL Stage A170 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Stage 280W Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
- 8" Polycellulose Woofer
- 42-25kHz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-120watts
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 374.0" x 9.3750" x 3.8750"( 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm )
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 280W and A170 are members of JBL's Stage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the JBL Stage 280W 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 280W |
JBL Stage A170 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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 280W 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.
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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Stage 280W and A170 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 280W |
JBL Stage A170 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 8-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" 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 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz whereas A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Stage 280W can go slightly deeper then the A170's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
High Frequency
In-wall 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 280W 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 280W sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the A170's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280W a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A170, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
In-wall 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 280W can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 280W has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS , 80 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 280W 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 280W's and JBL Stage A170's external dimensions. JBL Stage 280W has external dimensions of 374.0 x 239.0 x 99.0mm ( 14.6875-inch x 9.3750-inch x 3.8750-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 28mm wider, 603mm taller and 232mm deeper than JBL Stage 280W.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 280W:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A170?
Here are the items that come with the A170:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
Sensitivity 
Nominal Impedance 
Woofer Size 
Height 
Base Surface Area 
Price per pair* 
Max Input Power 
High Frequency Response 
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring