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Wharfedale Reva 1 vs JBL A120 Comparison

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Wharfedale Reva 1

Passive Bookshelf | 52-20k Hz

Wharfedale Reva 1
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JBL A120

Passive Bookshelf | 60-40k Hz

JBL Stage A120
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Wharfedale Reva 1 Wharfedale Reva 1
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JBL A120 JBL A120
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Wharfedale Reva 1
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JBL A120
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Wharfedale Reva 1 vs JBL A120 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing Reva 1 and A120, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and JBL.

Let's have a brief look at the main features of Wharfedale Reva 1 and JBL A120 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Wharfedale Reva 1 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Dome Tweeter
  • 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer
  • 52-20k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 8ohms
  • Power Range:20-60watts
  • Weight:5.64kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 318.0" x 6-13/16" x 11-3/16"( 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm )

JBL A120 Key Specs

  • 2-way Design
  • 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
  • 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer
  • 60-40k Hz Frequency Response
  • 86 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:20-125watts
  • Weight:3.82kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 286.0" x 6-3/4" x 7-7/16"( 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm )

What size room are the Wharfedale Reva 1 and JBL A120 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* Wharfedale Reva 1 JBL A120
Near-field Good Poor
Small Room Good Average
Mid-size Room Average Good
Large Room Poor Average
Very Large Room No way 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.)

In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Wharfedale Reva 1 and JBL A120 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 Reva 1 and A120 are 2-way speakers.

Driver Wharfedale Reva 1 JBL A120
Driver Setup 2-way 2-way
Tweeter 1-inch 1-inch
Midrange - -
Woofer 1 x 4.5-inch 1 x 4.5-inch

Reva 1 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer . On the other hand, the A120 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer .

Frequency Response

Reva 1 has a frequency range of 52-20k Hz whereas A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the Reva 1 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the A120's min frequency of 60Hz.

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 Bookshelf class in our database.

Low Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Reva 1
A120
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Wharfedale Reva 1
JBL A120
Min
Average
Max

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

Reva 1 is a 8 ohms speaker compared to the A120 which has a nominal impedance of 6 ohms.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 86 dBdB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

Reva 1
A120
Min
Average
Max

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.

Reva 1 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Reva 1 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS , 65 watts less than the A120.

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

Reva 1 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. A120 has a 5-way post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Wharfedale Reva 1 Terminals
Wharfedale Reva 1's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring

JBL A1205-way post Terminals
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

Reva 1 has a bottom firing port whereas A120 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 1's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL A120 with its rear-firing port.

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 Wharfedale Reva 1's and JBL A120's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 1 has external dimensions of 318.0 x 174.0 x 285.0mm ( 12-1/2 x 6-13/16 x 11-3/16inch) whereas JBL A120 has external dimensions of 286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm ( 11-1/4 x 6-3/4 x 7-7/16inch) .

Wharfedale Reva 1 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 2mm wider, 32mm taller and 96mm deeper than JBL A120.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Reva 1 and JBL A120 in scale.

Wharfedale Reva 1 vs JBL A120 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and JBL A120 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 Wharfedale Reva 1 is approximately 495.9cm2 / 76.9inch2 and base area of the JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2. The Reva 1 requires 53% more surface area than the A120 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.

Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:

Wharfedale Reva 1 vs JBL A120 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Wharfedale Reva 1 and JBL A120 on a Media Console
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 Wharfedale Reva 1 weighs 5.64kg / 12.4lbs and the JBL A120 weighs 3.82kg / 8.4lbs. This makes the Reva 1 48% heavier than the A120.

Here is a comparison of how Reva 1 and A120's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Wharfedale Reva 1
JBL A120
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Wharfedale Reva 1?

Here are the items that are included inside the box of Reva 1:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
  • 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
  • 4 Jumper bars (pre-installed)
  • Pair of white gloves
  • User-feets Manual
  • What's in the Box of JBL A120?

    Here are the items that come with the A120:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • 2 Foam plugs
  • 4 Brackets
  • 8 Rubber feet
  • 8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)
  • Owner-feets Manual
  • Warranty Card

  • Reasons to choose Wharfedale Reva 1 over JBL Stage A120
    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Low Frequency Response 52 Hz vs 60 Hz Generates deeper bass
    Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring Yes vs No Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections

    Reasons to choose JBL Stage A120 over Wharfedale Reva 1

    Max Input Power 125 watts vs 60 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    High Frequency Response 40k Hz vs 20k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Mounting Bracket Yes vs No Allows mounting on walls
    Height 286mm vs 318mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 325cm2 vs 495cm2 Takes less floor space
    Wharfedale Reva 1 vs JBL A120 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Wharfedale Reva 1 JBL Stage A120
    Brand Wharfedale JBL
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range 20-60 watts 20-125 watts
    Sensitivity 86 dB 86 dB
    Impedance 8 ohms 6 ohms
    Frequency Response 52-20k Hz 60-40k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 4.5" 4.5"
    Woofer Composition Woven Glass Fiber Polycellulose
    Woofer Surround Material Rubber Rubber
    Tweeter Size 1" 1"
    Tweeter Type Dome Hard-Dome
    Aimable Tweeter No No
    Midrange Driver No No
    Firing Direction bottom rear
    Physical Specs
    Height 318.0mm (12.5") 286.0mm (11.3")
    Width 174.0mm (6.9") 172.0mm (6.8")
    Depth 285.0mm (11.2") 189.0mm (7.4")
    Weight 5.64kg (12.4lbs) 3.82kg (8.4lbs)
    Enclosure Bass Reflex Bass Reflex
    Finish Wood composite laminate MDF, Vinyl
    Available Colors Walnut Black
    Mounting Bracket No Keyholes w/ bracket
    Recommended Stand Height 28-30" 26-28"
    Grille Yes Yes
    Moisture Resistancy No No
    Connections
    Biamp Inputs Yes No
    Other
    Parts Warranty 5 Years 5 Years
    Labor Warranty 5 Years 5 Years

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