In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage A135C is a Center Channel speaker whereas the A120 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A135C and JBL A120 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage A135C | JBL A120 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology | 1" Hard-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6 x 3" polycellulose | 4.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 75-40k Hz | 60-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.46kg / 16.4lbs | 3.82kg / 8.4lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 4-1/8" x 29-3/8" x 7-5/16"
105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm | 11-1/4" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"
286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm |
|---|
A135C and A120 are members of JBL's Stage series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the JBL Stage A135C and JBL A120 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 Stage A135C |
JBL A120 |
| 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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both A135C and A120 are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage A135CJBL A120
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 Stage A135C |
JBL A120 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
A135C features a 1" aluminum dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter and 6 x 3" polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
A135C has a frequency range of 75-40k Hz whereas A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 60Hz, the A120 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A135C's min frequency of 75Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
A135C and A120 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A135C sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the A120's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A135C a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A120, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
A135C can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas A120 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 25 watts less than the A135C.
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
A135C features 5-way post type posts and A120 has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A135C has a side firing port whereas A120 has a rear firing ports.
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 Stage A135C's and JBL A120's external dimensions. JBL Stage A135C has external dimensions of 105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm (4-1/8 x 29-3/8 x 7-5/16inch) whereas 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).
JBL Stage A135C is 181mm shorter and 3mm less deeper than JBL A120 but it is also 575mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A135C and JBL A120 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A135C and JBL A120 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 Stage A135C is approximately 1389.4cm2 / 215.4inch2 and base area of the JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2. The A135C requires 327% more surface area than the A120 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A135C?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A135C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Leveling feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of JBL A120?
Here are the items that come with the A120:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam plugs
- 4 Brackets
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)
- Owner-feets Manual
- Warranty Card