In this review, we will be comparing two different type of speakers by JBL. JBL Stage A180 is a Floor-standing speaker whereas the A130 is a Bookshelf speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A180 and JBL A130 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
A180 and A130 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 A180 and JBL A130 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 Stage A180 and JBL A130 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 A180 and A130 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A180 |
JBL A130 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
A180 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz whereas A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the A180 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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
A180 and A130 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A180 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the A130's is at 86 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A180 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A130, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
A180 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas A130 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 100 watts less than the A180.
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
A180 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'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 Stage A180's and JBL A130's external dimensions. JBL Stage A180 has external dimensions of 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm ( 41-1/8 x 12 x 14-1/2inch) whereas 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) .
JBL Stage A180 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 114mm wider, 722mm taller and 119mm deeper than JBL A130.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A180 and JBL A130 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A180 and JBL A130 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 A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2 and base area of the JBL A130 is approximately 477.5cm2 / 74.0inch2. The A180 requires 136% more surface area than the A130 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A180?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A180:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of JBL A130?
Here are the items that come with the A130:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Card