In this review, we will be comparing A135C and A125C, two Passive Center Channel speakers by JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A135C and JBL Stage A125C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage A135C | JBL Stage A125C |
|---|
| 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" dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
|---|
| Woofer | 6 x 3" polycellulose | 2 x 5.24" polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 75-40k Hz | 75-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-150 watts | 20-150 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 7.46kg / 16.4lbs | 7.97kg / 17.5lbs |
|---|
| 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 | 7-1/2" x 18-1/2" x 9-1/2"
191.0 x 470.0 x 242.0mm |
|---|
A135C and A125C 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 Stage A125C 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 Stage A125C |
| 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 A125C are 2-way speakers.
JBL Stage A135CJBL Stage A125C
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 Stage A125C |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
6 x 3-inch
|
2 x 5.24-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 A125C features a 1" aluminum dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter and 2 x 5.24" polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
A135C and A125C has exactly the same frequency range of 75-40k Hz.
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 A125C have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A135C sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the A125C's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A135C a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A125C, 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 and A125C have the same power range of 20-150 watts.
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 A125C has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL Stage A125C'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 Stage A135C's and JBL Stage A125C'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 Stage A125C has external dimensions of 191.0 x 470.0 x 242.0mm (7-1/2 x 18-1/2 x 9-1/2inch).
JBL Stage A135C is 86mm shorter and 56mm less deeper than JBL Stage A125C but it is also 277mm wider.
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 Stage A125C is approximately 1137.4cm2 / 176.3inch2. The A135C requires 22% more surface area than the A125C which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The JBL Stage A135C weighs 7.46kg / 16.4lbs and the JBL Stage A125C weighs 7.97kg / 17.5lbs. This makes the A125C 7% heavier than the A135C.
Here is a comparison of how A135C and A125C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
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 Stage A125C?
Here are the items that come with the A125C:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Leveling feet
- 4 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
 Height |
105mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
350USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
|
Woofer Size |
5.24 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Base Surface Area |
1137cm2
vs
1389cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage A135C |
JBL Stage A125C |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
20-150 watts |
20-150 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
75-40k Hz |
75-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
6 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
3" |
5.24" |
| Woofer Composition |
polycellulose |
polycellulose |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
side |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
105.0mm (4.1") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
747.0mm (29.4") |
470.0mm (18.5") |
| Depth |
186.0mm (7.3") |
242.0mm (9.5") |
| Weight |
7.46kg (16.4lbs) |
7.97kg (17.5lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Passive Radiator |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Siblings in JBL's Stage series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (75Hz vs 75Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | A | JBL Stage A135C is more sensitive (90dB vs 88dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (150W vs 150W). |
| Size | depends | JBL Stage A135C is easier to place; JBL Stage A125C is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Cabinet | depends | Ported vs Passive Radiator. |
| Price | A | JBL Stage A135C is cheaper - $300 against $350, about 14% less. |
A JBL Stage A135C B JBL Stage A125C
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
JBL Stage A135C has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. In a large or open-plan room, JBL Stage A125C has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, JBL Stage A135C is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, JBL Stage A135C is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.