Short answer: the Q Acoustics 3020i. It ranks #39 of 56 bookshelf speakers by sound quality at $314.99; the JBL Stage A130 ranks #44 and costs $399, so there is not much of a tradeoff to weigh.
What the Q Acoustics 3020i gets right: UK-designed (Finkteam) with attractive styling, including recessed binding posts and custom connectors. The catch: On-axis response shows a rising upper-frequency trend and a dip in the 2-4kHz crossover region alongside two resonance-related dips; a significant resonance appears at 366Hz in the waterfall plot.
What the JBL Stage A130 offers: More constant, better-behaved directivity than the smaller A120 once past the tweeter crossover point, giving a more consistent radiation pattern that likely explains some of its positive reception among other reviewers. Watch for: Still shows the same underlying “Batman”-shaped response pattern as the A120: a bass bump, a midrange dip, a cabinet-resonance peak around 800Hz-1.7kHz (confirmed via accelerometer testing on the cabinet panels).
Buy the Q Acoustics 3020i. It ranks higher for sound quality than the JBL Stage A130 and costs less, so there is no real case for the other one.
If sound quality matters at all to you, skip the JBL Stage A130. It ranks near the bottom of the 56 bookshelf speakers, so look higher up the list instead.
Specifications Side By Side
| Q Acoustics 3020i | JBL Stage A130 | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $314.99 | $399 Discontinued |
| Ranked | #39 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers | #44 of 56 in Medium Size Bookshelf Speakers |
| Drivers | 125mm (5") bass driver, 22mm (0.9") tweeter | 5.25" (133mm) polycellulose woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum dome tweeter |
| Dimensions | 10.9"H x 6.7"W x 11.1"D (278 x 170 x 282 mm) | 12.6"H x 7.5"W x 9.1"D (321 x 190 x 230 mm) |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs / 4.8 kg each | 12 lbs / 5.45 kg each |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) | 85.2dB (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz | 3.2kHz |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum | 6 ohms nominal, about 4.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, reflex | ported |
| Discontinued | - | Yes |
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | - | 66Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | - | 50Hz (measured, Erin’s Audio Corner) |
Related Speaker Comparisons
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- KEF Q100 vs JBL Control 1 Pro
- Pioneer SP-BS22-LR (Philharmonic AAM Mod) vs KEF Q100
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- KEF Q150 vs JBL Stage A130
The Two Speakers In Full
Q Acoustics 3020i: $314.99 Amazon
Pros: UK-designed (Finkteam) with attractive styling, including recessed binding posts and custom connectors. Vertical directivity is good enough that the tweeter doesn’t need to be exactly at ear level. With EQ correction, especially high-frequency shelving and a sub-40Hz high-pass filter, Amir found performance “improves substantially.”
Cons: On-axis response shows a rising upper-frequency trend and a dip in the 2-4kHz crossover region alongside two resonance-related dips; a significant resonance appears at 366Hz in the waterfall plot. Horizontal directivity is narrow and uneven due to a woofer/tweeter beamwidth mismatch. Amir cautions the speaker is “merely a distortion generator” if played too low, and its low impedance demands a quality amplifier. Without EQ, Amir “can’t recommend the Q Acoustics 3020i.”
Full Q Acoustics 3020i review and specifications →
| Crossover Frequency | 2.4kHz |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 10.9"H x 6.7"W x 11.1"D (278 x 170 x 282 mm) |
| Drivers | 125mm (5") bass driver, 22mm (0.9") tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, 4 ohms minimum |
| Sensitivity | 86dB (2.83V/1m, manufacturer specified) |
| Weight | 10.6 lbs / 4.8 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported, reflex |
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- Reviews, Comparisons and Sound Samples
- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs KEF Q100
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs Micca RB42
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs JBL Stage A120
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs Q Acoustics 5020
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs JBL L52 Classic
- Q Acoustics 3020i vs Fluance Signature HFS
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JBL Stage A130: $399 Discontinued
Pros: More constant, better-behaved directivity than the smaller A120 once past the tweeter crossover point, giving a more consistent radiation pattern that likely explains some of its positive reception among other reviewers. Distortion at 96dB measures slightly better than a direct competitor (Emotiva Airmotiv B1+) in the low end, though slightly worse at high frequencies. The tweeter itself sounded decent to the reviewer, who considers it a reasonable value at its price point despite other reservations. Wide, well-filled horizontal radiation through the midrange.
Cons: Still shows the same underlying “Batman”-shaped response pattern as the A120: a bass bump, a midrange dip, a cabinet-resonance peak around 800Hz-1.7kHz (confirmed via accelerometer testing on the cabinet panels), and roughly a 5dB treble bump around 10kHz. Does not include a port bung, so sealed-cabinet listening requires DIY stuffing rather than a proper factory solution. The reviewer’s own measurements notably diverge from another well-known publication’s results on this same model, possibly reflecting a running production change, though this couldn’t be confirmed. Overall sound quality struck the reviewer as not a good-sounding speaker despite the more favorable measurements relative to the A120. Output-limited at extreme volumes (102dB), similar to its smaller sibling. Loses to the similarly-priced Emotiva Airmotiv B1+ in overall linearity and neutrality, according to the reviewer’s direct comparison. Discontinued.
Full JBL Stage A130 review and specifications →
| Bass Extension (-10dB) | 50Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
|---|---|
| Bass Extension (-3dB) | 66Hz (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Crossover Frequency | 3.2kHz |
| Dimensions | 12.6"H x 7.5"W x 9.1"D (321 x 190 x 230 mm) |
| Discontinued | Yes |
| Drivers | 5.25" (133mm) polycellulose woofer, 1" (25mm) aluminum dome tweeter |
| Impedance | 6 ohms nominal, about 4.3 ohms minimum (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Sensitivity | 85.2dB (measured, Erin's Audio Corner) |
| Weight | 12 lbs / 5.45 kg each |
| Woofer Cabinet | ported |
As an eBay Partner, we may be compensated if you make a purchase.
- Links
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- Head-to-Head Comparisons
- JBL Stage A130 vs Fluance Signature HFS
- JBL Stage A130 vs JBL Control 1 Pro
- JBL Stage A130 vs Q Acoustics 5020
- JBL Stage A130 vs Micca RB42
- JBL Stage A130 vs Polk T15
- JBL Stage A130 vs Definitive Technology ProMonitor 1000
- JBL Stage A130 vs KEF Q100
- JBL Stage A130 vs ELAC Uni-Fi 2.0 UB52
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