In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage A120 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the A180 is a Floor-standing speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL A120 and JBL Stage A180 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL A120 | JBL Stage A180 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 4.5" Polycellulose | 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 60-40k Hz | 40-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-125 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.82kg / 8.4lbs | 17.29kg / 38lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-1/4" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"
286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm | 41-1/8" x 12" x 14-1/2"
1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm |
|---|
A120 and A180 are members of JBL's Stage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the JBL A120 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 A120 |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both A120 and A180 are 2-way speakers.
JBL A120JBL Stage A180
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL A120 |
JBL Stage A180 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" 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
A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k 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 A120's min frequency of 60Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
A120 and A180 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A120 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the A180's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A180 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A120, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
A180 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas A120 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the A180.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
A180 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A120 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be 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 Stage A180'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 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 133mm wider, 759mm taller and 180mm deeper than JBL A120.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL A120 and JBL Stage A180 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL A120 and JBL Stage A180 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 Stage A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2. The A120 requires 71% less surface area than the A180 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 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