In this review, we will be comparing ES55 and A180, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES55 and JBL Stage A180 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk ES55 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 34-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 89 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:40-200watts
- Weight:20.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1056.0" x 8-1/2" x 12-3/8"( 1056.0 x 216.0 x 315.0mm )
JBL Stage A180 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer
- 40-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-225watts
- Weight:17.29kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1045.0" x 12" x 14-1/2"( 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm )
What size room are the Polk ES55 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:
| Listening Environment* |
Polk ES55 |
JBL Stage A180 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk ES55 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ES55 and A180 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES55 |
JBL Stage A180 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
ES55 features a 1" Terylene High-Res Soft-Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. 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
ES55 has a frequency range of 34-40k Hz whereas A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 34Hz, the ES55 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
ES55 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. ES55 sensitivity is rated at 89 dB and the A180's is rated at 90 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A180 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES55, 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.
ES55 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas ES55 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
Both ES55 and A180 features dual binding post speaker terminals for 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 Polk ES55's and JBL Stage A180's external dimensions. Polk ES55 has external dimensions of 1056.0 x 216.0 x 315.0mm ( 41-9/16 x 8-1/2 x 12-3/8inch) 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) .
Polk ES55 is 89mm narrower and 54mm less deeper than JBL Stage A180 but it is also 11mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES55 and JBL Stage A180 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES55 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 Polk ES55 is approximately 680.4cm2 / 105.5inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2. The ES55 requires 40% 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 ES55 weighs 20.00kg / 44lbs and the JBL Stage A180 weighs 17.29kg / 38lbs. This makes the ES55 16% heavier than the A180.
Here is a comparison of how ES55 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 ES55?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of ES55:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille (attached)4 Feet (pre-installed)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 |
 Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
34 Hz
vs
40 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
680cm2
vs
1125cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
225 watts
vs
200 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
89 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Height |
1045mm
vs
1056mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
800USD
vs
898USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES55 |
JBL Stage A180 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
JBL |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
40-200 watts |
20-225 watts |
| Sensitivity |
89 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
34-40k Hz |
40-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
Polycellulose |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Butyl rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2500Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
n/a |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1056.0mm (41.6") |
1045.0mm (41.1") |
| Width |
216.0mm (8.5") |
305.0mm (12") |
| Depth |
315.0mm (12.4") |
369.0mm (14.5") |
| Weight |
20.00kg (44lbs) |
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 |
Yes |
Yes |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |