JBL A120 vs JBL A130 Comparison

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JBL A120

Passive Bookshelf | 60-40k Hz

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JBL A130

Passive Bookshelf | 55-40k Hz

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JBL A120

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JBL A130

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JBL A120

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JBL A130

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JBL A120 vs JBL A130 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing A120 and A130, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by JBL

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL A120 and JBL A130 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

JBL A120 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Hard-Dome Tweeter

4.5" Polycellulose Woofer

60-40k Hz Frequency Response

86 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 6ohms

Power Range:20-125watts

Weight:3.82kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 286.0" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"( 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm )

JBL A130 Key Specs

2-way Design

1" Hard-Dome Tweeter

5.25" Polycellulose Woofer

55-40k Hz Frequency Response

86 dB Sensitivity

Impedance: 6ohms

Power Range:20-125watts

Weight:5.46kg

Dimensions (H x W x D): 323.0" x 7-1/2" x 9-13/16"( 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm )

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

What size room are the JBL A120 and JBL A130 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 A120	JBL A130
Near-field	Poor	Poor
Small Room	Average	Average
Mid-size Room	Good	Good
Large Room	Average	Average
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 A120 and JBL A130 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 A120 and A130 are 2-way speakers.

Driver	JBL A120	JBL A130
Driver Setup	2-way	2-way
Tweeter	1-inch	1-inch
Midrange	-	-
Woofer	1 x 4.5-inch	1 x 5.25-inch

A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz whereas A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the A130 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A120's min frequency of 60Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

A120

A130

Min

Average

Max

High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

JBL A120

JBL A130

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

A120 and A130 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 86 dB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

A120

A130

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.

A120 and A130 has the same power range of 20-125 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

A120 features 5-way post type posts and A130 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

JBL A120's 5-way post terminals

JBL A130's 5-way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Both A120 and A130 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

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 A120's and JBL A130's external dimensions. 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) whereas JBL A130 has external dimensions of 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm ( 12-11/16 x 7-1/2 x 9-13/16inch) .

JBL A130 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 19mm wider, 37mm taller and 61mm deeper than JBL A120.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL A120 and JBL A130 in scale.

Comparison image of JBL A120 and JBL A130 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 A120 is approximately 325.1cm² / 50.4inch² and base area of the JBL A130 is approximately 477.5cm² / 74.0inch². The A120 requires 32% less surface area than the A130 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an 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 A120 and JBL A130 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 A120 weighs 3.82kg / 8.4lbs and the JBL A130 weighs 5.46kg / 12lbs. This makes the A130 43% heavier than the A120.

Here is a comparison of how A120 and A130's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers

JBL A120

JBL A130

Min

Average

Max

What's in the Box of JBL A120?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of A120:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

2 Foam plugs

4 Brackets

8 Rubber feet

8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)

Owner-feets Manual

Warranty Card

What's in the Box of JBL A130?

Here are the items that come with the A130:

2 Bookshelf loudspeakers

2 Grilles

8 Rubber feet

Owners Manual

Warranty Card

Reasons to choose JBL Stage A120 over JBL Stage A130

Mounting Bracket	Yes vs No	Allows mounting on walls
Height	286mm vs 323mm	Easier to fit in smaller spaces
Base Surface Area	325cm² vs 477cm²	Takes less floor space
Price per pair*	250USD vs 300USD	costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

Reasons to choose JBL Stage A130 over JBL Stage A120

Woofer Size	5.25 inches vs 4.5 inches	Larger woofer
Low Frequency Response	55 Hz vs 60 Hz	Generates deeper bass

JBL A120 vs JBL A130 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	JBL Stage A120	JBL Stage A130
Brand	JBL	JBL
Speaker Type	Bookshelf speakers	Bookshelf speakers
Power Range	20-125 watts	20-125 watts
Sensitivity	86 dB	86 dB
Impedance	6 ohms	6 ohms
Frequency Response	60-40k Hz	55-40k Hz
Drivers
Woofer Quantity	1	1
Woofer Size	4.5"	5.25"
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	286.0mm (11.3")	323.0mm (12.7")
Width	172.0mm (6.8")	191.0mm (7.5")
Depth	189.0mm (7.4")	250.0mm (9.8")
Weight	3.82kg (8.4lbs)	5.46kg (12lbs)
Enclosure	Bass Reflex	Bass Reflex
Finish	MDF, Vinyl	MDF, Vinyl
Available Colors	Black	Black
Mounting Bracket	Keyholes w/ bracket	No
Recommended Stand Height	26-28"	24-26"
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