JBL Stage A120 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by JBL. It was released in 2018. It features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4.5" Polycellulose Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 60-40k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. JBL A120 has an MSRP of 250$ per pair but can often be found around 150$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the JBL A120 is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Poor |
| Small Room | Average |
| Mid-size Room | Good |
| Large Room | Average |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
JBL's Stage Series of Loudspeakers
A120 is a member of JBL's Stage series of Passive speakers. The Stage range are JBL's affordable home-theatre and hi-fi speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 10 JBL Stage models compared »
JBL Stage Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the JBL A120 Speaker
JBL A120 has a Frequency response range of 60-40k Hz and Power Range of 20-125 watts. With a minimum frequency of 60 Hz, A120 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
Here we have a comparison of how A120's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Thinking about a subwoofer for the JBL A120?
Impedance and Sensitivity
JBL A120's nominal impedance level is
6 ohms and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Nominal Impedance of the 6 Ohms makes the JBL Stage A120 a relatively difficult to drive speaker compared to more frequently found 8 ohms speakers from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, JBL Stage A120 is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the JBL A120 plays in your room →
Running more than one pair from a single amplifier? Check the load it would present →
What amplifier does the JBL A120 need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
25–125 W
per channel into 6 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $300, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
A120 features 5-way post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
JBL A120 Back View
JBL A120 External Dimensions and Weight
JBL A120 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 11-1/4 x 6-3/4 x 7-7/16inch (286.0 x 172.0 x 189.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of JBL A120 is approximately 325.1cm2 / 50.4inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of JBL A120, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
JBL A120 Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Here we place the JBL A120 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
JBL A120 Speaker next to an amplifier and turntable
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove → · Work out where they should sit in the room →
WeightThe JBL A120 weighs 3.82kg / 8.4lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how A120's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $300
How does the JBL A120 compare to the JBL Stage A130?
One of the natural alternative to the JBL A120 is the A130 which is located one step higher in JBL's Passive Bookshelf selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of JBL A120 and JBL A130 Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of JBL A120 vs A130 for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
JBL A120 has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet and a MDF, Vinyl finish. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
JBL A120 comes with 8 Rubber feet which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on.
It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Port Position
JBL A120 is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
JBL A120 is available in Black.
Wall Mounting
A120 has Keyholes w/ bracket mounting bracket that makes it possible to mount on walls and similar surfaces easily.
Does the JBL A120 come with a Grille?
A120 comes with grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible.
JBL A120 with Grille
What's in the Box of JBL A120?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A120:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 2 Foam plugs
- 4 Brackets
- 8 Rubber feet
- 8 Screws (M6 x 8mm)
- Owner-feets Manual
- Warranty Card
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the JBL Stage A120.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators are our favorite isolators but you may find more affordable options too.
- Acoustic Panels and Treatments: Your room is as important as your stereo equipment so acoustic treatments goes a long way in improving the overall performance.
- Speaker Stands: Stands bring your bookshelf speakers to ideal height (rule of thumb is to have the tweeter level with your ear in your listening position), helps stability and acoustical isolation.
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.