Short answer: the JBL Stage A120 ranks #27 of 34 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $299; the Jamo C 93 II ranks #33 at $299. Close enough in price that the sound-quality gap is the deciding factor.
What the JBL Stage A120 offers: Comes with a port bung, letting you experiment between ported and sealed configurations - the reviewer found the sound improved somewhat with the port sealed. Watch for: 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.
What the Jamo C 93 II offers: Attractive cabinet and finish for the price. Watch for: Extremely non-linear tonal balance: Erin measured treble averaging roughly 5dB above the midrange, with local swings from near the midrange level to +6dB by about 12kHz.
Buy the JBL Stage A120. It ranks higher for sound quality than the Jamo C 93 II at the same price, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip both of these and look higher up the 34 bookshelf speakers instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| JBL Stage A120 | Jamo C 93 II | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $299 Discontinued | $299.00 |
| Ranked | #27 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #33 of 34 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 0.75" tweeter + 5" woofer | 6" HCCC cone woofer, 1" silk-dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Discontinued | Yes | - |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs / 4.8 kg | 14.1 lbs / 6.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported | ported, rear |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | 84dB (measured average, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Dimensions | 11.3"H x 6.8"W x 7.4"D (285.8 x 171.5 x 188.9 mm) | 13.8"H x 7.9"W x 10.2"D (350 x 200 x 260 mm) |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 71Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 53Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) | - |
Related Speaker Comparisons
More useful head-to-heads from the same speaker class:
- JBL Studio 530 vs Parts Express Copperhead Desktop Kit
- KEF Q150 vs JBL Stage A130
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs Jamo S 803
- ELAC Debut 2.0 B5.2 vs JBL Stage A120
- JBL Stage 2 250B vs JBL Stage A120
The Two Speakers In Full
JBL Stage A120: $299 Discontinued
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.
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) |
| Dimensions | 11.3"H x 6.8"W x 7.4"D (285.8 x 171.5 x 188.9 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 0.75" tweeter + 5" woofer |
| Impedance | 6 ohms |
| Sensitivity | 83dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs / 4.8 kg |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
Jamo C 93 II: $299.00
Pros: Attractive cabinet and finish for the price. The mild midbass rise can add subjectively enjoyable punch at modest playback levels, and the speaker is reasonably compact. Erin measured about 84dB sensitivity through the midrange. Harmonic distortion at moderate output is not the central problem; the much larger limitations are frequency-response accuracy, directivity and compression.
Cons: Extremely non-linear tonal balance: Erin measured treble averaging roughly 5dB above the midrange, with local swings from near the midrange level to +6dB by about 12kHz. The result is hollow midrange, exaggerated apparent detail and a bright, fatiguing balance. Multiple diffraction discontinuities around the crossover and waveguide prevent reliable EQ correction; turning the speakers 30 degrees outward does not fix the irregularity. Midwoofer directivity narrows before the tweeter abruptly widens, indicating poor crossover/directivity matching. Vertical listening position should remain near tweeter axis. Output behavior is exceptionally poor: Erin found compression running off the plotted scale at high level and multitone distortion crossing -20dB (10%) across roughly 200Hz-1.2kHz, which produces audible grain. The grille makes response still less linear. Erin judged the cheaper Emotiva B1+ better in accuracy, soundstage and output.
Full Jamo C 93 II review and specifications →
| Dimensions | 13.8"H x 7.9"W x 10.2"D (350 x 200 x 260 mm) |
|---|---|
| Drivers | 6" HCCC cone woofer, 1" silk-dome tweeter with waveguide |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal (manufacturer specified) |
| Sensitivity | 84dB (measured average, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 14.1 lbs / 6.4 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, rear |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons