In this review, we will be comparing XT70 and A170, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT70 and JBL Stage A170 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk XT70 | JBL Stage A170 |
|---|
| Brand | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 | JBL
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome | 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper | 2 x 5.25" Polycellulose |
|---|
| Frequency response | 35-40k Hz | 44-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 20-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 15.91kg / 35lbs | 14.37kg / 31.6lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40-9/16" x 10-13/16" x 13-3/8"
1031.0 x 275.0 x 340.0mm | 38-7/16" x 10-1/2" x 13"
977.0 x 267.0 x 331.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk XT70 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk XT70 |
JBL Stage A170 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
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Drivers
Both XT70 and A170 are 2-way speakers.
Polk XT70JBL Stage A170
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Polk XT70 |
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
|
XT70 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper 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
XT70 has a frequency range of 35-40k Hz whereas A170 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the XT70 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A170's min frequency of 44Hz.
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
XT70 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A170 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. XT70 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the A170's is rated at 89 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A170 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT70, 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 200 watts RMS, though XT70 is rated 25-200 watts and A170 20-200 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
A170 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. XT70 has a 5-Way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
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 Polk XT70's and JBL Stage A170's external dimensions. Polk XT70 has external dimensions of 1031.0 x 275.0 x 340.0mm (40-9/16 x 10-13/16 x 13-3/8inch) 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).
Polk XT70 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 8mm wider, 54mm taller and 9mm deeper than JBL Stage A170.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT70 and JBL Stage A170 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT70 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 Polk XT70 is approximately 935.0cm2 / 144.9inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A170 is approximately 883.8cm2 / 137.0inch2. The XT70 requires 6% 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 Polk XT70 weighs 15.91kg / 35lbs and the JBL Stage A170 weighs 14.37kg / 31.6lbs. This makes the XT70 11% heavier than the A170.
Here is a comparison of how XT70 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 Polk XT70?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT70:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A170?
Here are the items that come with the A170:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Outriggers
- 4 Rubber feet
- 4 Spikes
- 8 Screws
- 2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5.25 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
44 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
977mm
vs
1031mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
883cm2
vs
935cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
600USD
vs
698USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT70 |
JBL Stage A170 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-40k Hz |
44-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1031.0mm (40.6") |
977.0mm (38.5") |
| Width |
275.0mm (10.8") |
267.0mm (10.5") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
331.0mm (13") |
| Weight |
15.91kg (35lbs) |
14.37kg (31.6lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF, Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Polk XT70 digs deeper - 35Hz against 44Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | B | JBL Stage A170 is more sensitive (89dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | A | Polk XT70 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (200W vs 200W). |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet | depends | Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability | depends | Polk XT70: Atmos drivers; JBL Stage A170: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | JBL Stage A170 is cheaper - $600 against $698, about 14% less. |
A Polk XT70 B JBL Stage A170
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: Polk XT70 measures better, JBL Stage A170 costs about about 16% 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 44Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper JBL Stage A170 much easier to justify. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, JBL Stage A170 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.