JBL Stage A130 is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Bookshelf speaker by JBL. It features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. JBL A130 has an MSRP of 300$ per pair but can often be found around 200$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the JBL A130 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
A130 is a member of JBL's Stage series of Passive speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
JBL Stage Series Speakers
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Frequency Response of the JBL A130 Speaker
JBL A130 has a Frequency response range of 55-40k Hz at ±3dB and Power Range of 20-125 watts. With a minimum frequency of 55 Hz, A130 delivers moderate bass depth so depending on your use case, you might want to consider adding a subwoofer to your system.
To focus on the subwoofers that are in a similar price range with JBL A130, check out the Powered Subwoofers under $300. Alternatively, find the Full list of Powered Subwoofers regardless of the price.
Here we have a comparison of how A130's Low and High frequency values compare with the average, max and min Low and High frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Impedance and Sensitivity
JBL A130'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 A130 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 A130 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.
Check the amplifiers that are in a similar price range to the JBL A130:
Input Type
A130 features 5-way post type connectors. Bi-amping and Bi-wiring are not possible.
JBL A130 External Dimensions and Weight
JBL A130 has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 12-11/16 x 7-1/2 x 9-13/16inch (323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm ).
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 A130 is approximately 477.5cm2 / 74.0inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of JBL A130, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Here we place the JBL A130 virtually next to a standard width amplifier and turntable on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet to get a better idea about the size.
WeightThe JBL A130 weighs 5.46kg / 12lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how A130's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Weight
Bookshelf Speakers under $300
Cabinet type and Materials
JBL A130 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 A130 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 A130 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 A130 is available in Black.
Wall Mounting
A130 doesn't sport any built-in mounting bracket, so you need an external structure to mount it on walls.
Does the JBL A130 come with a Grille?
A130 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.
What's in the Box of JBL A130?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A130:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Rubber feetOwners ManualWarranty Card
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the JBL Stage A130.
- Speaker Cable and Connectors
- Vibration Isolators: IsoAcoustics isolators 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.