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JBL Stage A170 vs JBL Stage 250WL Comparison

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JBL Stage A170

Passive Floor-standing | 44-40k Hz

JBL Stage A170
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JBL Stage 250WL

Passive In-wall | 52-25kHz

JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage A170 JBL Stage A170
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JBL Stage 250WL JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage A170
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JBL Stage 250WL
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JBL Stage A170 vs JBL Stage 250WL Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage A170 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the Stage 250WL is a In-wall speaker.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of JBL Stage A170 and JBL Stage 250WL first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 )

JBL Stage 250WL Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter
  • 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 52-25kHz Frequency Response
  • 90 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-120watts
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 461.0" x 6.3750" x 3.8125"( 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm )

A170 and Stage 250WL 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 Stage A170 and JBL Stage 250WL 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 A170 JBL Stage 250WL
Near-field Bad Poor
Small Room Poor Average
Mid-size Room Good Good
Large Room Good 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage A170 and JBL Stage 250WL 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 A170 and Stage 250WL are 2-way speakers.

Driver JBL Stage A170 JBL Stage 250WL
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 2 x 5.25-inch 2 x 5.25-inch

A170 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the Stage 250WL features a 1" Horn-Loaded Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas Stage 250WL has a frequency range of 52-25kHz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the A170 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the Stage 250WL's min frequency of 52Hz.

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 Floor-standing class in our database.

Low Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

A170
Stage 250WL
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Floor-standing Speakers

JBL Stage A170
JBL Stage 250WL
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

A170 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the Stage 250WL which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A170 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the Stage 250WL's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage 250WL a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A170, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.

Sensitivity

Floor-standing Speakers

A170
Stage 250WL
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.

A170 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Stage 250WL has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 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. Stage 250WL has a Spring post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

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 Stage A170's and JBL Stage 250WL's external dimensions. JBL Stage A170 has external dimensions of 977.0 x 267.0 x 331.0mm ( 38-7/16 x 10-1/2 x 13inch) whereas JBL Stage 250WL has external dimensions of 461.0 x 162.0 x 97.0mm ( 18.1250-inch x 6.3750-inch x 3.8125-inch) .

JBL Stage A170 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 105mm wider, 516mm taller and 234mm deeper than JBL Stage 250WL.

What's in the Box of JBL Stage A170?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of A170:
  • Floorstanding loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • 4 Outriggers
  • 4 Rubber feet
  • 4 Spikes
  • 8 Screws
  • 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
  • Owners Manual
  • Warranty Card
  • What's in the Box of JBL Stage 250WL?

    Here are the items that come with the Stage 250WL:
  • In-wall loudspeaker
  • Grille
  • Cut-Out Template
  • Quick Start Guide

  • Reasons to choose JBL Stage A170 over JBL Stage 250WL
    Max Input Power 200 watts vs 120 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Low Frequency Response 44 Hz vs 52 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 25k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage 250WL over JBL Stage A170

    Sensitivity 90 dB vs 89 dB Play louder with same amount of amplification power
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Height 461mm vs 977mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 157cm2 vs 883cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 500USD vs 600USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)
    JBL Stage A170 vs JBL Stage 250WL Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General JBL Stage A170 JBL Stage 250WL
    Brand JBL JBL
    Speaker Type Floor-standing speaker Passive In-wall Speaker
    Power Range 20-200 watts 20-120 watts
    Sensitivity 89 dB 90 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 44-40k Hz 52-25kHz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 2 2
    Woofer Size 5.25" 5.25"
    Woofer Composition Polycellulose Polycellulose
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Horn-Loaded
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No N/A"
    Physical Specs
    Height 977.0mm (38.5") 461.0mm (18.1")
    Width 267.0mm (10.5") 162.0mm (6.4")
    Depth 331.0mm (13") 97.0mm (3.8")
    Weight 14.37kg (31.6lbs) n/a
    Enclosure Bass Reflex In-wall
    Finish MDF, Vinyl n/a
    Available Colors Black n/a
    Grille Yes n/a
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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