In this review, we will be comparing Concord and A180, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from KLH and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of KLH Concord and JBL Stage A180 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | KLH Concord | JBL Stage A180 |
|---|
| Brand | KLH
United States · founded 1957 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Kevlar | 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 28-23k Hz | 40-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 94 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 225 watts | 20-225 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 20.45kg / 45lbs | 17.29kg / 38lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40-3/8" x 8-5/16" x 14-15/16"
1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm | 41-1/8" x 12" x 14-1/2"
1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm |
|---|
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Concord and A180 are 2-way speakers.
KLH ConcordJBL Stage A180
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
KLH Concord |
JBL Stage A180 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
Concord features a 1" anodized aluminum Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the A180 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer.
Frequency Response
Concord has a frequency range of 28-23k Hz whereas A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the Concord can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A180's min frequency of 40Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Concord is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A180 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Concord sensitivity is rated at 94 dB and the A180's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the KLH Concord 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Both handle the same maximum of 225 watts RMS, though Concord is rated up to 225 watts and A180 20-225 watts.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier - change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
A180 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. Concord has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
KLH Concord's 5-Way post terminals
Physical Specs
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare KLH Concord's and JBL Stage A180's external dimensions. KLH Concord has external dimensions of 1026.0 x 212.0 x 380.0mm (40-3/8 x 8-5/16 x 14-15/16inch) whereas JBL Stage A180 has external dimensions of 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm (41-1/8 x 12 x 14-1/2inch).
KLH Concord is 93mm narrower and 19mm shorter than JBL Stage A180 but it is also 11mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of KLH Concord and JBL Stage A180 in scale.
Comparison image of KLH Concord and JBL Stage A180 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 KLH Concord is approximately 805.6cm2 / 124.9inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2. The Concord requires 28% less surface area than the A180 which gives it a small advantage 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 KLH Concord weighs 20.45kg / 45lbs and the JBL Stage A180 weighs 17.29kg / 38lbs. This makes the Concord 18% heavier than the A180.
Here is a comparison of how Concord and A180'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 KLH Concord?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Concord:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Spike feet (w/ locking nut attached)
- 4 Protective discs
- 4 Rubber feet
- Port plug
- Manual
- ATTENTION! note
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A180?
Here are the items that come with the A180:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outriggers
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spikes
- 8 Screws
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Sensitivity |
94 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 |
28 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
1026mm
vs
1045mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
805cm2
vs
1125cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
23k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
1000USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
KLH Concord |
JBL Stage A180 |
| Brand |
KLH |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 225 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
94 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
28-23k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Kevlar |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1026.0mm (40.4") |
1045.0mm (41.1") |
| Width |
212.0mm (8.3") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
380.0mm (15") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
20.45kg (45lbs) |
17.29kg (38lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
10 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: KLH Concord is the newer design, against a 2018 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | KLH Concord digs deeper - 28Hz against 40Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | KLH Concord is more sensitive (94dB vs 90dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | KLH Concord is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (225W vs 225W). |
| Size | depends | KLH Concord is easier to place; JBL Stage A180 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | B | JBL Stage A180: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A180 is cheaper - $800 against $1,000, about 20% less. |
A KLH Concord B JBL Stage A180
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: KLH Concord measures better, JBL Stage A180 costs about about 25% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 40Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL Stage A180 much easier to justify. In a large or open-plan room, JBL Stage A180 has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, KLH Concord is the easier speaker to get right.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.