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JBL A130 vs JBL Stage A170 Comparison

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JBL A130

Passive Bookshelf | 55-40k Hz

JBL Stage A130
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JBL Stage A170

Passive Floor-standing | 44-40k Hz

JBL Stage A170
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JBL A130 JBL A130
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JBL Stage A170 JBL Stage A170
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JBL A130
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JBL Stage A170
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JBL A130 vs JBL Stage A170 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage A130 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the A170 is a Floor-standing speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL A130 and JBL Stage A170 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 )

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 )

A130 and A170 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 A130 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 A130 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 A130 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.


**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 A130 and A170 are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL A130 JBL Stage A170
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 5.25-inch 2 x 5.25-inch

A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" 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

A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz whereas A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the A170 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

A130
A170
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

JBL A130
JBL Stage A170
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

A130 and A170 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A130 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the A170's is at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A170 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A130, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

A130
A170
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.

A130 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas A130 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS , 75 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. A130 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

JBL A130 Terminals
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 A170'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 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 76mm wider, 654mm taller and 81mm deeper than JBL A130.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL A130 and JBL Stage A170 in scale.

JBL A130 vs JBL Stage A170 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of JBL A130 and JBL Stage A170 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 A130 is approximately 477.5cm2 / 74.0inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A170 is approximately 883.8cm2 / 137.0inch2. The A130 requires 46% less surface area than the A170 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.

What's in the Box of JBL A130?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of A130:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 8 Rubber feet
  • Owners Manual
  • Warranty Card
  • What's in the Box of JBL Stage A170?

    Here are the items that come with the A170:
  • 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 A130 over JBL Stage A170
    Height 323mm vs 977mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 477cm2 vs 883cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 300USD vs 600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage A170 over JBL Stage A130

    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 125 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Sensitivity 89 dB vs 86 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Number of Woofers 2 vs 1 More woofers
    Low Frequency Response 44 Hz vs 55 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections
    JBL A130 vs JBL Stage A170 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage A130 JBL Stage A170
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Floor-standing speaker
    Power Range 20-125 watts 20-200 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 89 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 55-40k Hz 44-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 2
    Woofer Size 5.25" 5.25"
    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 323.0mm (12.7") 977.0mm (38.5")
    Width 191.0mm (7.5") 267.0mm (10.5")
    Depth 250.0mm (9.8") 331.0mm (13")
    Weight 5.46kg (12lbs) 14.37kg (31.6lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish MDF, Vinyl MDF, Vinyl
    Available Colors Black Black
    Mounting Bracket No No
    Recommended Stand Height 24-26" 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

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