In this review, we will be comparing A180 and A170, two Passive Floor-standing speakers by JBL Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A180 and JBL Stage A170 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
A180 and A170 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 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage A180 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.
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Drivers
Both A180 and A170 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A180 |
JBL Stage A170 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 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 A170 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz whereas A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 40Hz, the A180 can go slightly deeper then the A170's min frequency of 44Hz.
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 A170 have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. A180 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the A170's is at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A180 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A170, 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 A170 has a max power handling value of 200 watts RMS, 25 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
Both A180 and A170 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or 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 A180's and JBL Stage A170'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 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 A180 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 38mm wider, 68mm taller and 38mm deeper than JBL Stage A170.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A180 and JBL Stage A170 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A180 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 Stage A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A170 is approximately 883.8cm2 / 137.0inch2. The A180 requires 27% more surface area than the A170 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 A180 weighs 17.29kg / 38lbs and the JBL Stage A170 weighs 14.37kg / 31.6lbs. This makes the A180 20% heavier than the A170.
Here is a comparison of how A180 and A170's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
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 Stage A170?
Here are the items that come with the A170:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
40 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
977mm
vs
1045mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
883cm2 (267x331mm)
vs
1125cm2 (305x369mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage A180 |
JBL Stage A170 |
| Brand |
JBL |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-40k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1045.0mm (41.1") |
977.0mm (38.5") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
369.0mm (14.5") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
17.29kg (38lbs) |
14.37kg (31.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |