In this review, we will be comparing Reva 2 and A120, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and JBL.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Reva 2 and JBL A120 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Wharfedale Reva 2 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Dome Tweeter
- 5" Woven Glass Fiber Woofer
- 48-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-80watts
- Weight:7.82kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 358.0" x 7-7/8" x 12-13/16"( 358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm )
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 2 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 2 |
JBL A120 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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 2 and JBL A120 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Reva 2 and A120 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Wharfedale Reva 2 |
JBL A120 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4.5-inch
|
Reva 2 features a 1" woven textile Dome Tweeter and 1 x 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 2 has a frequency range of 48-20k Hz whereas A120 has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 48Hz, the Reva 2 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
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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
Reva 2 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
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 2 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas Reva 2 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS , 45 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 2 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 2's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
JBL A120's 5-way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Reva 2 has a bottom firing port whereas A120 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale Reva 2'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 2's and JBL A120's external dimensions. Wharfedale Reva 2 has external dimensions of 358.0 x 201.0 x 326.0mm ( 14-1/16 x 7-7/8 x 12-13/16inch) 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 2 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 29mm wider, 72mm taller and 137mm deeper than JBL A120.
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 2 is approximately 655.3cm2 / 101.6inch2 and base area of the JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2. The Reva 2 requires 102% more surface area than the A120 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.