In this review, we will be comparing XT70 and A180, 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 A180 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk XT70 and JBL Stage A180 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 Polk XT70 and JBL Stage A180 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 XT70 and A180 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk XT70 |
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
|
XT70 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper 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
XT70 has a frequency range of 35-40k Hz whereas A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 35Hz, the XT70 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 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
XT70 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. XT70 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the A180's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A180 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. 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.
XT70 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas XT70 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
A180 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
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 Polk XT70's and JBL Stage A180'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 A180 has external dimensions of 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm ( 41-1/8 x 12 x 14-1/2inch) .
JBL Stage A180 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 30mm wider, 14mm taller and 29mm deeper than Polk XT70.
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 A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2. The XT70 requires 17% 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 Polk XT70 weighs 15.91kg / 35lbs and the JBL Stage A180 weighs 17.29kg / 38lbs. This makes the A180 9% heavier than the XT70.
Here is a comparison of how XT70 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 Polk XT70?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT70:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)Owners ManualOnline Product Registration
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A180?
Here are the items that come with the A180:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Low Frequency Response |
35 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Passive Radiator |
two 8-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1031mm
vs
1045mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
935cm2 (275x340mm)
vs
1125cm2 (305x369mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
698USD
vs
800USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 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 |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT70 |
JBL Stage A180 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
35-40k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| 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") |
1045.0mm (41.1") |
| Width |
275.0mm (10.8") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
340.0mm (13.4") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
15.91kg (35lbs) |
17.29kg (38lbs) |
| 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 |