Short answer: the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52, if you are buying new, though neither ranks well in its class. The JBL Stage A120 ranks higher than it (#69 vs #70 of 90 bookshelf speakers, 2.5/5 vs 2.4/5) but is discontinued, so only consider it used; the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 is still sold new at $799. Both are rated below 3.0/5 among the 90 bookshelf speakers; for better sound, the Philharmonic Ceramic Mini ranks #2 at $900.
Buy the ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 if you want one new; the JBL Stage A120 is discontinued, so only look for it used.
Still deciding? The full Passive Home rankings cover every ranked option.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Stage A120 | ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 per pair Discontinued | $799.00 per pair |
| Ranked | #69 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #70 of 90 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 0.75” tweeter + 5” woofer | 5.25” aluminum woofer, 4” aluminum midrange, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs (4.8 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 83.3dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
| Dimensions | 11.3”H x 6.8”W x 7.4”D (285.8 x 171.5 x 188.9 mm) | 13.6”H x 7.3”W x 10.8”D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 38.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 3.50 | 5.32 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 6.24 | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| DIY Kit | No | No |
| Crossover Frequency | - | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| Power Handling | - | 140W max |
Related Speaker Comparisons
How JBL Stage A120 compares with other leading options:
- JBL Stage A120 vs Ascend Sierra 1 v2
- KEF LS50 Meta vs JBL Stage A120
- JBL Stage A120 vs Arendal 1961 Monitor
- JBL Stage A120 vs Revel M105
- JBL Stage A120 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.
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The Two Speakers In Full
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 |
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ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52: $799.00 per pair Amazon eBay
Pros: Wide, smooth horizontal directivity: beamwidth holds to about ±60 degrees up to 8kHz before narrowing. Vertical directivity is substantially better than average, giving more listening-height leeway than most two-way bookshelf speakers. Measured bass extension of 55.7Hz (-3dB), with a measured sensitivity of 83.3dB.
Cons: Dipped 3db from 1.5-3kHz. On-axis response shelves down above 1.5kHz along with multiple resonances, leading the reviewer to predict it will “likely sound dull.” Nasty resonance at 600Hz: audible as an actual buzzing artifact on some recordings (the reviewer demonstrated it with an Eva Cassidy track), and it shows up as a sharp distortion spike exceeding 4% at 585Hz when driven to 96dB SPL/1m. Not recommended.
Full ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 38.6Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 55.7Hz (measured, Audio Science Review) |
| Crossover Frequency | 200Hz / 2000Hz |
| DIY Kit | No |
| Dimensions | 13.6”H x 7.3”W x 10.8”D (346 x 185 x 275 mm) |
| Drivers | 5.25” aluminum woofer, 4” aluminum midrange, 1” soft dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Power Handling | 140W max |
| Sensitivity | 83.3dB (measured by Audio Science Review; 85dB manufacturer specified) |
| Spinorama Preference Score | 5.32 (spinorama.org) |
| Spinorama Preference Score with Perfect Sub | 7.34 (spinorama.org) |
| Weight | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs KEF Q100
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- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs Q Acoustics 5020
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod)
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs Dynaudio X14
- ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52 vs JBL Stage A130
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