In this review, we will be comparing A180 and RP-6000F, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Klipsch. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A180 and Klipsch RP-6000F first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Stage A180 and Klipsch RP-6000F 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 Klipsch RP-6000F 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 RP-6000F are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A180 |
Klipsch RP-6000F |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
A180 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the RP-6000F features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Cerametallic Woofer .
Frequency Response
A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz whereas RP-6000F has a frequency range of 34-25k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the RP-6000F can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A180's min frequency of 40Hz.
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 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the RP-6000F which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A180 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the RP-6000F's is rated at 97 dB. This 7 dB difference makes the Klipsch RP-6000F a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL Stage A180, 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 RP-6000F 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
Both A180 and RP-6000F features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Klipsch RP-6000F's Post terminals allows 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 Klipsch RP-6000F'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 Klipsch RP-6000F has external dimensions of 1010.0 x 237.0 x 432.0mm ( 39-3/4 x 9-5/16 x 17inch) .
Klipsch RP-6000F is 68mm narrower and 35mm shorter than JBL Stage A180 but it is also 63mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A180 and Klipsch RP-6000F in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A180 and Klipsch RP-6000F 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 Klipsch RP-6000F is approximately 1023.8cm2 / 158.7inch2. The A180 requires 10% more surface area than the RP-6000F 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 Klipsch RP-6000F weighs 22.27kg / 49lbs. This makes the RP-6000F 29% heavier than the A180.
Here is a comparison of how A180 and RP-6000F'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 Klipsch RP-6000F?
Here are the items that come with the RP-6000F:
Floorstanding loudspeakerStabilizer feet (installed)Grille (installed)2 Terminal jumpers (installed)User ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1378USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
97 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1010mm
vs
1045mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1023cm2 (237x432mm)
vs
1125cm2 (305x369mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
JBL Stage A180 |
Klipsch Reference Premiere RP-6000F |
| Brand |
JBL |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
up to 125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
97 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
40-40k Hz |
34-25k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Cerametallic |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1045.0mm (41.1") |
1010.0mm (39.8") |
| Width |
305.0mm (12") |
237.0mm (9.3") |
| Depth |
369.0mm (14.5") |
432.0mm (17") |
| Weight |
17.29kg (38lbs) |
22.27kg (49lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, 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 |