SpeakerDecision
  • SPEAKERS by TYPE
    • Passive Bookshelf Speakers
    • Passive Floor-standing Speakers
    • Passive Center Channel Speakers
    • Passive In-wall Speakers
    • All Passive Speakers
    • Powered Subwoofers
    • Powered Stereo Speakers
  • AMPLIFIERS
  • SMART FIND

JBL A120 vs JBL Stage A190 Comparison

x
Speaker to replace
Change

JBL A120

Passive Bookshelf | 60-40k Hz

JBL Stage A120
CHECK PRICE
Change
    
JBL Stage A190

Passive Floor-standing | 36-40k Hz

JBL Stage A190
CHECK PRICE
JBL A120 JBL A120
See at AMAZON
JBL Stage A190 JBL Stage A190
See at AMAZON
JBL A120
See at AMAZON
JBL Stage A190
See at AMAZON
JBL A120 vs JBL Stage A190 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage A120 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the A190 is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL A120 and JBL Stage A190 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 Stage A190 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
  • 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 36-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 91 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-225watts
  • Weight:22.61kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 1117.0" x 13-1/4" x 17-1/2"( 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm )

A120 and A190 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 A120 and JBL Stage A190 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 A190
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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL A120 and JBL Stage A190 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 A190 are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL A120 JBL Stage A190
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 4.5-inch 2 x 8-inch

A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz whereas A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 36Hz, the A190 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
A190
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

JBL A120
JBL Stage A190
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 A190 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A120 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the A190's is at 91 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A190 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A120, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

A120
A190
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 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas A120 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS , 100 watts less than the A190.

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

A190 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 Terminals
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals

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 Stage A190'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 A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm ( 43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch) .

JBL Stage A190 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 165mm wider, 831mm taller and 256mm deeper than JBL A120.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL A120 and JBL Stage A190 in scale.

JBL A120 vs JBL Stage A190 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of JBL A120 and JBL Stage A190 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 A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2. The A120 requires 78% less surface area than the A190 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 A190?

    Here are the items that come with the A190:
  • 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 A120 over JBL Stage A190
    Mounting Bracket Yes vs No Allows mounting on walls
    Height 286mm vs 1117mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 325cm2 vs 1499cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 250USD vs 1000USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage A190 over JBL Stage A120

    Max Input Power 225 watts vs 125 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 91 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Woofer Size 8 inches vs 4.5 inches Larger woofer
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 36 Hz vs 60 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    JBL A120 vs JBL Stage A190 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage A120 JBL Stage A190
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-125 watts 20-225 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 91 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 60-40k Hz 36-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 4.5" 8"
    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 No No
    Firing Direction rear n/a
    Physical Specs
    Height 286.0mm (11.3") 1117.0mm (44")
    Width 172.0mm (6.8") 337.0mm (13.3")
    Depth 189.0mm (7.4") 445.0mm (17.5")
    Weight 3.82kg (8.4lbs) 22.61kg (49.7lbs)
    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" n/a
    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

    Most Popular Speakers
    Klipsch Reference R-51M
    Klipsch R-51M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    Wharfedale Elysian 2
    3-way | 89 dB | 4 ohms
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2
    2-way | 87 dB | 6 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606 S2 Anniversary Edition
    B&W 606 S2
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    KEF Q150
    KEF Q150
    2-way | 86 dB | 8 ohms
    Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-500M
    Klipsch RP-500M
    2-way | 93 dB | 8 ohms
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    Wharfedale EVO4.1
    2-way | 87 dB | 8 ohms
    Bowers & Wilkins 606
    B&W 606
    2-way | 88 dB | 8 ohms
    Copyright © 2025 by SpeakerDecision
    About Privacy Contact US Camera Decision

    Report a Correction