In this review, we will be comparing A190 and S60, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Polk Audio. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage A190 and Polk S60 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the JBL Stage A190 and Polk S60 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 A190 and Polk S60 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 A190 and S60 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A190 |
Polk S60 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 8-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
A190 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 8" Polycellulose Woofer . On the other hand, the S60 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
A190 has a frequency range of 36-40k Hz whereas S60 has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the S60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A190's min frequency of 36Hz.
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
A190 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S60 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A190 sensitivity is rated at 91 dB and the S60's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A190 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk S60, 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.
A190 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS from the amp the whereas A190 has a max power handling value of 225 watts RMS , 75 watts less than the S60.
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 A190 and S60 features dual binding post speaker terminals for bi-amping or bi-wiring.
Polk S60's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Polk S60 Port
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 A190's and Polk S60's external dimensions. JBL Stage A190 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 337.0 x 445.0mm ( 43-15/16 x 13-1/4 x 17-1/2inch) whereas Polk S60 has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm ( 44-1/2 x 11-3/4 x 15-3/4inch) .
Polk S60 is 38mm narrower and 44mm less deeper than JBL Stage A190 but it is also 14mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A190 and Polk S60 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A190 and Polk S60 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 A190 is approximately 1499.7cm2 / 232.5inch2 and base area of the Polk S60 is approximately 1199.0cm2 / 185.8inch2. The A190 requires 25% more surface area than the S60 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 A190 weighs 22.61kg / 49.7lbs and the Polk S60 weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the S60 4% heavier than the A190.
Here is a comparison of how A190 and S60'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 A190?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A190:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
What's in the Box of Polk S60?
Here are the items that come with the S60:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
 Sensitivity |
91 dB
vs
90 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
8 inches
vs
6.5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Height |
1117mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
225 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
| Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
| Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
36 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
1199cm2 (299x401mm)
vs
1499cm2 (337x445mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
898USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage A190 |
Polk Audio Signature S60 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
91 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
36-40k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
8" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
| Width |
337.0mm (13.3") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
445.0mm (17.5") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
22.61kg (49.7lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
| 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 |