Short answer: the ELAC BS U5 for measured smoothness, the JBL Stage A120 for adjustability, though neither ranks well in its class. The BS U5 is fairly even on-axis to 3kHz but distorts heavily at both crossovers, exceeding 3% at the mid-range one. The A120 ships with a port bung so you can try it sealed, which the reviewer preferred, but its Batman-shaped response, elevated treble about 3-4dB above the midrange and a cabinet resonance around 800Hz-1.7kHz, is a lot to accept. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 90 bookshelf speakers, so if sound quality matters, consider the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini instead, ranked #2 at $900.
Buy the ELAC BS U5 only if you find one used in good condition; both are discontinued, and it is the better rated of the two. For a new speaker, start with the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini instead.
Looking for alternatives? See the complete Passive Home rankings.
Specifications Side By Side
| ELAC BS U5 | JBL Stage A120 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $856 per pair Discontinued | $299 per pair Discontinued |
| Ranked | #60 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #69 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) | 71Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 5.25” woofer | 0.75” tweeter + 5” woofer |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) | 83dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) | 6 ohms |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 7”W x 11.5”D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) | 11.3”H x 6.8”W x 7.4”D (285.8 x 171.5 x 188.9 mm) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear | ported |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.71 (spinorama.org) | 3.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.79 (spinorama.org) | 6.24 |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How ELAC BS U5 compares with other leading options:
- ELAC BS U5 vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- KEF LS50 Meta vs ELAC BS U5
- ELAC BS U5 vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- ELAC BS U5 vs Revel M105
- ELAC BS U5 vs Klipsch RP-500M II
Prices on this page were last checked October 2, 2026 at 10:18 PM UTC. Product prices and availability are accurate as of that date/time and are subject to change; the price and availability shown on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
The Two Speakers In Full
ELAC BS U5: $856 per pair Discontinued eBay
Pros: This slim three-way coaxial design (an Andrew Jones creation) shows a fairly even on-axis response up to 3kHz, with off-axis behavior notably smoother than the on-axis curve. Predicted in-room response looks like it should give good tonality. Vertical directivity is better than average, a benefit of the coaxial layout. Measured bass extension of 63Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
Cons: Distortion is very high right at both crossover points (around 270Hz (mid-range) and 2700Hz (tweeter)) at both 86dB and 96dB SPL/1m, exceeding 3% at the mid-range crossover. Minimum impedance dips to 3.4 ohms with a possible resonance around 500Hz visible in the impedance/phase curve. Discontinued.
Full ELAC BS U5 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 41Hz (derived, log-interpolated between spinorama.org -9dB/-12dB points) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 63Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.4”H x 7”W x 11.5”D (339.1 x 178.0 x 293.1 mm) |
| Drivers | 1” tweeter + 5.25” woofer |
| Impedance | 4 ohms nominal (3.4 ohms minimum) |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (2.83V/1m, measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 4.71 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.79 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 13.2 lbs (6 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC BS U5 vs Acoustic Energy AE100 Mk2
- ELAC BS U5 vs Dynaudio Emit M10
- ELAC BS U5 vs Dynaudio X14
- ELAC BS U5 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL L52 Classic
- ELAC BS U5 vs JBL Stage 250B
- ELAC BS U5 vs Paradigm Monitor SE Atom
- ELAC BS U5 vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- See all 32 comparisons
JBL Stage A120: $299 per pair Discontinued eBay
Newer model: the JBL Stage 2 240B. It’s likely to perform similarly, though we don’t have measurements to confirm that yet.
Pros: Comes with a port bung, letting you experiment between ported and sealed configurations: the reviewer found the sound improved somewhat with the port sealed. Distortion at 96dB is broadly comparable to competitors in this price range outside of some elevated low-end THD. Wide horizontal radiation pattern for a compact bookshelf speaker in the low-to-midrange. Measured bass extension of 71Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83dB.
Cons: A pronounced “Batman”-shaped frequency response: boosted bass, a scooped midrange, and elevated treble (about 3-4dB above the midrange), driven partly by confirmed cabinet panel resonance around 800Hz-1.7kHz. Directivity shows significant back-to-back peaks and dips, making the speaker harder to correct with EQ since the off-axis sound doesn’t track the direct sound cleanly. Elevated treble that some might call “detailed” reads as an unwelcome boost to the reviewer rather than genuine resolution. Compression testing shows the low end degrading substantially at high output (102dB). Overall considered one of the weaker speakers the reviewer has tested in this class, with a competing model (Emotiva Airmotiv B1+) recommended instead at a similar price. Discontinued.
Full JBL Stage A120 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 11.3”H x 6.8”W x 7.4”D (285.8 x 171.5 x 188.9 mm) |
| Drivers | 0.75” tweeter + 5” woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.50 |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.24 |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Stage A120 vs Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit
- JBL Stage A120 vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- JBL Stage A120 vs KEF Q100
- JBL Stage A120 vs JBL L52 Classic
- JBL Stage A120 vs Q Acoustics 3020i
- JBL Stage A120 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- JBL Stage A120 vs Micca RB42
- JBL Stage A120 vs Dynaudio X14
- See all 36 comparisons