JBL Stage A130 Review (speaker)

[Erici]

Did anyone provide an EQ based on Erin's data?

There are 2 on the spinorama.org site. Pierre has done a amazing job compiling data on a large number of speakers!

Anechoic EQ for loudspeakers

www.spinorama.org

Scroll down to the A130

 

[CardiganB]

The answer to your question is that A130 Stage were sold with a phase error, easily corrected at the binding posts. I know it sucks when the obvious solution is overlooked but yeah, it's really that simple.

 

[flaviocc]

Hi guys

Objective question pls:

Amp aiyima d03

Room size about 20m2

Speakers placement: rack and near the wall

What’s the best choice:

- JBL stage A 130

- pioneer sp bs22 (a guy here in my country have an old stock with 2 pairs in a box)

Musical style: jazz / acoustic guitars / vocal / country / soft rock / 80’s and 90’s pop


Thank you so much for point me the best option

Forgot about price: JBL is cheaper ( ~50 dollars)

Tks guys.

 

[SMc]

Hi guys
What’s the best choice:

- JBL stage A 130

- pioneer sp bs22 (a guy here in my country have an old stock with 2 pairs in a box)

Musical style: jazz / acoustic guitars / vocal / country / soft rock / 80’s and 90’s pop


Thank you so much for point me the best option

Forgot about price: JBL is cheaper ( ~50 dollars)

Tks guys.

Can’t do objective but for me Infinity Primus 150 > Pioneer B22.

 

[flaviocc]

Can’t do objective but for me Infinity Primus 150 > Pioneer B22.

Long time ago…. infinity Primus was my first speakers.

But today in my country I have to focus on the 2 speakers I wrote.

I have an option to buy a Polk Es 15 or Q Acoustic 3010i too.

But pioneer and jbl are cheaper.

 

[SMc]

Long time ago…. infinity Primus was my first speakers.

But today in my country I have to focus on the 2 speakers I wrote.

I meant to imply a family resemblance between the Harman speakers. Check out the Stereophile review of the Infinity and the JBL review here for objective information.

 

[Teeter]

Long time ago…. infinity Primus was my first speakers.

But today in my country I have to focus on the 2 speakers I wrote.

I have an option to buy a Polk Es 15 or Q Acoustic 3010i too.

But pioneer and jbl are cheaper.

I do have the JBL Stage A130's collecting dust. I thought they would be good sounding per original ASR review. They lasted 4 months, as were too neutral for my ears, listening to DD movies and more so for internet MP3 music. I also have the older Polk E-15 and were nice, right out of the box.

With the 2 speakers you have mentioned, I would lean towards the ES-15, for out of the box performance. Good luck with your decision.

 

[flaviocc]

I do have the JBL Stage A130's collecting dust. I thought they would be good sounding per original ASR review. They lasted 4 months, as were too neutral for my ears, listening to DD movies and more so for internet MP3 music. I also have the older Polk E-15 and were nice, right out of the box.

With the 2 speakers you have mentioned, I would lean towards the ES-15, for out of the box performance. Good luck with your decision.

Tks !!!

I read your saga with the speakers back and going LOL !

Now I have another option - Polk XT20 or 15 (15 it's better size for me).

I read the Erin's review on that and do no what is better line - ES or XT.

Tks !

EDIT - The review from Polk here is S15 not ES15, any difference?

 

[Teeter]

Looking at mfg specs on both Polks, ES being the newer, there isn't much difference, IMO. I'd go with the S15, as hardly worth going to the ES for a small difference. The crossover might be a little better on the ES.

 

[flaviocc]

Looking at mfg specs on both Polks, ES being the newer, there isn't much difference, IMO. I'd go with the S15, as hardly worth going to the ES for a small difference. The crossover might be a little better on the ES.

Tks.

I don’t know if I can find S15 here (I’m from Brazil). I’ll look for.

Some models it’s ok to find and others don’t. And we have the price problem. Sometimes a model that is cheaper in USA is more expensive here….

 

[GoDawgs]

I've noticed Amazon, Crutchfield, and JBL, etc. all are out of stock on the JBL Stage A130 speakers and do not expect a restock. Is this speaker being discontinued or is the model being updated or something? I ended up ordering one from Japan from eBay today so I wouldn't have to buy used.

 

[phoenixsong]

I've noticed Amazon, Crutchfield, and JBL, etc. all are out of stock on the JBL Stage A130 speakers and do not expect a restock. Is this speaker being discontinued or is the model being updated or something? I ended up ordering one from Japan from eBay today so I wouldn't have to buy used.

It's still being sold by various sources in Singapore, albeit mostly on discount

 

[Geezerman]

the last review on Crutchfield says, "Yes, they are an engineering marvel with an architecture that is spot on at any price. Yes, they are an advanced phase dependent design. Yes, JBL sold thousands of these babies out of phase because they overachieved, and not by a smidgen either. The difference depending on phase is absurd. You've just gotta swap "polarity" at the terminals to find out. You may be rewarded with improvement that is total.....coloration eliminated (and I mean COMPLETELY), jaw dropping texture across the entire spectrum, bass accuracy, imaging, vocal presence. It's all there."

 

[Teeter]

@phoenixsong Here is Erin's review on the 130A's, if all about measurements, out of the box: https://www.erinsaudiocorner.com/loudspeakers/jbl_stage_a130/

I have a pair, but as earlier mentioned, "To Neutral." They were not dynamic for my ears. It is a matter of taste.

@Geezerman said, "Swap Polarity." I think I read somewhere back on this thread, they change a capacitor or resistor, but could be mistaken, to b ring out the performance.

 

[Lednek]

the last review on Crutchfield says, "Yes, they are an engineering marvel with an architecture that is spot on at any price. Yes, they are an advanced phase dependent design. Yes, JBL sold thousands of these babies out of phase because they overachieved, and not by a smidgen either. The difference depending on phase is absurd. You've just gotta swap "polarity" at the terminals to find out. You may be rewarded with improvement that is total.....coloration eliminated (and I mean COMPLETELY), jaw dropping texture across the entire spectrum, bass accuracy, imaging, vocal presence. It's all there."

I took mine apart and had a look. Everything seemed to be wired correctly. Is this an issue where the tweeter is out of phase with the woofer? If so, how would switching the wires at the terminal fix this? I'm always looking to improve my system. Especially when it's this easy.... and at zero cost. I'm not writing off what you've said, just trying to understand.

 

[GoDawgs]

the last review on Crutchfield says, "Yes, they are an engineering marvel with an architecture that is spot on at any price. Yes, they are an advanced phase dependent design. Yes, JBL sold thousands of these babies out of phase because they overachieved, and not by a smidgen either. The difference depending on phase is absurd. You've just gotta swap "polarity" at the terminals to find out. You may be rewarded with improvement that is total.....coloration eliminated (and I mean COMPLETELY), jaw dropping texture across the entire spectrum, bass accuracy, imaging, vocal presence. It's all there."

It was likely poster #997 of this thread after making his claim, CardiganB was asked for the source of his information and replied on Feb 15, 2024:

The source is right here in my bedroom. Polarity swapped, never to return to its former sad state. Two hundred dollar speakers that could be sold for two grand and nobody would be the wiser. There's some sorcery going on with these things. Here's the list of improvements once alignment is corrected: 1. vocal presence restored
2. mid-bass boom eliminated
3. Accuracy, resolution, texture are elevated to mind blowing.
4. Imaging is vast
5. less excursion for a given output

That was it, he may even be the Crutchfield reviewer, which was written February 27, 2024, 13 12 (I was wearing mittens), days later hmm.

 

[Graham849]

Scored the last pair from local hifi dealer who is closing at end of month. $222USD. Looking forward to setting them up over weekend.

 

[Graham849]

Wow what a thread.

So very confused about leaving the grills on - there are comments here about electric grills, charcoal etc.

And should I turn the treble on my amp back to the 10 or 11 pm position, or better to use some EQ inside JRiver?

 

[GoDawgs]

very confused about leaving the grills on

They were originally measured with the grills off, I do not know if there is an actual audible difference either way.

 

[375HP2482]

I always leave the grilles on. Bump the Treble a bit, keeps the cones clean.