In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage A130 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the Stage 280W is a In-wall speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL A130 and JBL Stage 280W first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
A130 and Stage 280W are members of JBL's Stage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the JBL A130 and JBL Stage 280W 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL A130 and JBL Stage 280W 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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Drivers
Both A130 and Stage 280W are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL A130 |
JBL Stage 280W |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 8-inch
|
A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 280W features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 1 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz whereas Stage 280W has a frequency range of 42-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 42Hz, the Stage 280W can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A130's min frequency of 55Hz.
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
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
A130 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Stage 280W which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A130 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the Stage 280W's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 280W a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A130, 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. 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.
A130 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 280W has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the A130.
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
A130 features Spring clip type posts and Stage 280W has a Spring clip type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL A130'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 A130's and JBL Stage 280W's external dimensions. 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) whereas 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) .
JBL A130 is 48mm narrower and 51mm shorter than JBL Stage 280W but it is also 151mm deeper.
What's in the Box of JBL A130?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A130:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of JBL Stage 280W?
Here are the items that come with the Stage 280W:
In-wall loudspeakerGrilleCut-Out TemplateQuick Start Guide