In this review, we will be comparing Prime Center and A135C, two Passive Center Channel speakers from SVS and JBL. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of SVS Prime Center and JBL Stage A135C first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the SVS Prime Center and JBL Stage A135C 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 SVS Prime Center and JBL Stage A135C 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Prime Center is a 3-way design whereas the A135C is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
SVS Prime Center |
JBL Stage A135C |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 3-1/2-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
6 x 3-inch
|
Prime Center features a 1" aluminum dome Tweeter , a 3-1/2" Midrange and 2 x 5.25" polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 350Hz and 2400Hz. On the other hand, the A135C features a 1" aluminum dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology Tweeter and 6 x 3" polycellulose Woofer .
Frequency Response
Prime Center has a frequency range of 48-25k Hz whereas A135C has a frequency range of 75-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Prime Center can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A135C's min frequency of 75Hz.
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 Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel 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
Prime Center is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A135C which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Prime Center sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the A135C's is rated at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the JBL Stage A135C a more sensitive speaker compared to SVS Prime Center, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
Prime Center can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas A135C has a max power handling value of 150 watts RMS, 50 watts less than the Prime Center.
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
Prime Center features 5-way post type posts and A135C has a 5-way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Prime Center has a rear firing port whereas A135C has a side firing ports.
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 SVS Prime Center's and JBL Stage A135C's external dimensions. SVS Prime Center has external dimensions of 196.0 x 475.0 x 232.0mm ( 7-11/16 x 18-11/16 x 9-1/8inch) whereas JBL Stage A135C has external dimensions of 105.0 x 747.0 x 186.0mm ( 4-1/8 x 29-3/8 x 7-5/16inch) .
JBL Stage A135C is 91mm shorter and 46mm less deeper than SVS Prime Center but it is also 272mm wider.
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 SVS Prime Center is approximately 1102.0cm2 / 170.8inch2 and base area of the JBL Stage A135C is approximately 1389.4cm2 / 215.4inch2. The Prime Center requires 21% less surface area than the A135C 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 SVS Prime Center weighs 9.18kg / 20.2lbs and the JBL Stage A135C weighs 7.46kg / 16.4lbs. This makes the Prime Center 23% heavier than the A135C.
Here is a comparison of how Prime Center and A135C's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of SVS Prime Center?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Prime Center:
Center channel loudspeakerGrille (pre-installed)4 Self-adhesive rubber bumpersOwners ManualSVS brochureOnline Product Registration Card
What's in the Box of JBL Stage A135C?
Here are the items that come with the A135C:
Center-channel loudspeakerGrille4 Leveling feet4 Rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Card
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
150 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
3 inches
|
Larger woofer |
Low Frequency Response |
48 Hz
vs
75 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Base Surface Area |
1102cm2 (475x232mm)
vs
1389cm2 (747x186mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
6
vs
2
|
More woofers |
High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Height |
105mm
vs
196mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Price per pair* |
300USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
SVS Prime Center |
JBL Stage A135C |
Brand |
SVS |
JBL |
Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker (Premium Black Ash) |
Low-profile center channel speaker |
Power Range |
20-200 watts |
20-150 watts |
Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
6 ohms |
Frequency Response |
48-25k Hz |
75-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
6 |
Woofer Size |
5.25" |
3" |
Woofer Composition |
polypropylene |
polycellulose |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
dome |
dome with HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide technology |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
3-1/2" |
N/A" |
Crossover Frequency |
350Hz and 2400Hz |
n/a |
Firing Direction |
rear |
side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
196.0mm (7.7") |
105.0mm (4.1") |
Width |
475.0mm (18.7") |
747.0mm (29.4") |
Depth |
232.0mm (9.1") |
186.0mm (7.3") |
Weight |
9.18kg (20.2lbs) |
7.46kg (16.4lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Available Colors |
Black |
Black |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |