This stimulus money will be going towards my new budget Audiophile system. Some say buy food and pack it away for the end of America but I'm going to enjoy this system I'm slowly building until the electrical grid goes down.
Rock city, you are a thinking person. Imagine that in America in 2021 that there are worries in the regard of our power grid. When i mention things like that, people, ususally the liberal ones, say Im crazy.
Amazon delivered a pair of these yesterday and so far I really like them, very enjoyable even at lower volumes. Turn them up and they do not disappoint. great sounding speaker. Powered by the Fosi Audio BT20A, I am still blown away by the sound quality and power that comes out of that little sucker. So far, I am streaming to the Fosi via bluetooth as my DAC has not arrived yet.
You are getting really good at this Randy. A fantastic video. I've never heard these JBLs, but based on my experience with the other speakers you referenced, which I do own, feel like I've already listened to them. Thumbs up!
My R-51's that are now completely broken in after about 75 hours of stretch playing of my multi genre playlist sound absolutely amazing. There is a huge difference in playing the 51's new on a 25 watt system and playing a worked speaker on a 100 watt per channel system. Now my JBL's Studio 530's after break in begin to take on Klipsch sound properties. The entire tweeter changes after it's been broken in. The 51's are amazing after breaking in if you like Klipsch. The 530's are astonishing in bass if you push the bass during breaking in. Overall a proper break in of JBL and Klipsch yield similar sounding speakers except JBL base is quicker and more detailed while Klipsch is more round & thicker.
Hey man just wanted to say thanks. I've never owned so-called hi-fi speakers before as they have very inaccessible prices in my country. However for some reason I found these JBL a130 on a reasonable enough price for my country (about $245 USD converted, and yeah that IS very cheap compared to the rest, taxes for imported goods suck in Brazil lol for example the Klipsch here are almost double that price). Also paired them with the only cheap amp I could get my hands on from China (some FX-Audio D502BT, I bet it isn´t even that good, but OMG did these speakers change my entire listening experience. It's almost unbelievable how much better these are compared to the JBL soundbar I had before (JBL Bar 3.1). It was your review that made me decide to pull the trigger on these and I couldn't be happier with the results. Thanks a ton and keep doing your awesome work!
Maybe try swapping polarity at the posts and compare. Mine have phase distortion when wired as sold. It's as if JBL made a speaker that could be made to sound budget or reference depending on phase orientation.
Stopped in to say Thank You! I had some old old Fischer floor standing speakers that I wanted to replace with something that sounded good and didn't make me miss the Fischers. So I watched many reviews, mostly yours, and after deliberation decided on these Jbl Stage A130s. I just got them yesterday and spent the night listening to how good they made my LPs sound. I also upgraded to an AT-VM95E stylus which probably helped.
The best sound system I have in my house now is at my computer desk with Amazon Music HD/Micca OriginG2 dac/Fosi Audio TB10A amp/Klipsch R51M . I had the Klipsch R51M in my living room and they were not too impressive but at my desk they are amazing!
Just bought those and they’re arriving tomorrow and this review made me so impatient to hear them. They’ll be powered by an amp that i found on amazon (fosi BT20a) that i bought while i wait for the OSD NERO-MAX12 to be back in stock but hopefully it will still sound good.
As I type this (22 May21) the price has dropped back to $179. Jumped on this and yes these are great. I just listen to 2 or 2.1 stereo and would be happy if these were the only speakers I had. A bit brighter than my old Polks which helps my old ears which have lost hearing on the high end. These have extended listenability and I can relax and just enjoy the details in all kinds of music genres. Randy is right on about these.
I have been listening to the A170 for the last few days. They are an amazing value when on sale. If you like a live and expansive sound with great tonality, these are excellent.
Totally awesome...JBL is really doing the damn thang...I looked at the Klipsch 51 like a year ago did not pull the trigger...this JBL 130 really "sounds" like a viable option...Happy Birthday young fella...
I move my stuff around too much. Stack speakers on top of each other etc. if I moved them less than I do I wouldn’t imagine most speakers would probably be fine from a finish stand point
@@cheapaudioman good point but nice to know which are more durable. Some of us may have kids or just are not great at babying stuff like it is a museum piece. An thanks especially for the video work with the legendary Steve Guttenberg
@@jetfansuperd I don't baby them but do not find the need to move them. If I were a reviewer yes. In fact all grills are off, that includes the metal grills on the tweeters.
So glad you reviewed this Randy! Not only does it sound great, but it also measured extremely well in test by audio science review. So now we have an objective review, and the science to backup what you experienced. The A130 is likely the best all-round speaker for less than $500. I would encourage you to test the A190 if you get the opportunity. Also, the white polycellulose woofer is likely an homage to the vintage JBL speakers.
Love your reviews a d descriptive, homey delivery. We completely get what you're saying by not relying arrogantly on cold technospecs. I wanted some of your recent live stream, but frustrated with the rapid comments and snobbishness contained within. I watch you streams, but find it worthless to send off responses. HOWEVER, it's like visiting you directly. You're great!
Next week's sponsor? Bonomo's Turkish taffy banana flavor! Any of you boys and girls old enough to remember that? Also had vanilla, chocolate and strawberry if I remember correctly? JBL still has it, now and then! My main system is a pair of old JBL L80ts and a Chinese tube integrated El 34 @ 50 watts x 2 into 8 ohms, also does 4 ohms. And it still sounds great! Bought these refurb from JBL in 1991 with the full warranty at 60% off. Was that cheap? Well, it was affordable back then, and I was working at my first full time with benefits job! Bought a car a year later. Shows you WHERE my priorities were, lol! Keep it cheap, but don't sacrifice the audio!
I've gotta say, you have a definite way with words! I'm in the market for some new bookshelf speakers and it seem like you've done a review on just about everything I'm looking at. What I find most impressive though, is how you articulate using words what I'm seeing in numbers and measurements. I'm all about those numbers and there is no way you have seen some of the measurements I have, and yet you seem to describe almost perfectly what I'm seeing on frequency sweeps. After watching many of your videos now, I've learned to trust your ears almost as much as my measurement software and microphone! Very well done man, and of coarse I subscribed! Cheers 🍻.
I've done the research, and the results are in -- you are the best (and least precious, by far) audio reviewer on the TH-cams. I'd take my hat off to you, but I don't want anyone to see my bald spot.
Thank you Randy for finally reviewing a JBL specially the Stage A130. I own the discontinued JBL Studio 220 and 230 respectively which were the predecessors of the Stage A130. Their difference are just black woofers, exactly what the Black Panther likes. You are my idol Cheapaudio man. You have the most accurate and the most honest reviews sir. Wakanda Forever
Actually the studio 2 series, (now discontinued) were produced to a higher price point, with better build and sound quality, than these stage series. And the woofers were silver not black.
Jut an FYI for those who like their Rock music at really loud levels, like turning an amp all the way up, the Boston Acoustics M25, discontinued but available new on Amazon or used via ebay, where made for that. They are dark sounding at low to moderate volumes but give them power and current and they open up when other speakers would flat out distort. Just an FYI. The JBLs are probably the best option at its' price for low to moderate volumes.
Add the Sony SCSS5s for a low-priced item too. I'm looking for something for my son at college. Bookshelf + a small bluetooth capable amp from Fosi, Topping, Dayton, or SMSL. The speaker comparo would be awesome. Gen 2 of your
@@marcegomez5168 The Stage A130s rip. I'd recommend them for the price. They have a sweet bass sound with a fantastic roll off, and as far as the tweeters go, they sound very much like being in a concert, which I think is from the wave guides that JBL places over the tweeters. They're amazing speakers and I'm excited to listen to them as much as I am able to do so.
I purchased a set of these because for the money they measure better than speakers costing double or triple. AudioScienceReview gave them a great review and wanted to have a speaker around that measures well to compare to other speakers I like that dont measure well. These are proof a very good speaker is possible under $200 and expensive speakers or gear doesn't always sound or perform better.
First of all, they would never stoop so low as to have JBL speakers in Wakanda. They have their own line of speakers with vibranium tweeters, that just blow away anything else on this planet. Sadly, they are not available outside of Wakanda, but we would never be able to afford them anyway. But, I'm super glad you did this review! If there's one company that can beat Klipsch at their own game, JBL can. Glad they sprinkled some of their magic into these very affordable little guys, even if they just have common aluminum tweeters rather than vibranium. Best of all, you snuck in one of my all-time favorite statistics: CUBIC INCHES! I thought I was the only audio nerd that found that stat informative. Interesting note: The JBL speaker displaces more than TWO Chevy big block V-8's! Talk about power! Now if you will excuse me, I need to go finish that tree house in the backyard, while I listen to Andrew Robinson reviews on my outdoor speakers, which look like little fake-granite rocks. Maybe you can do some fake granite rock speaker reviews in the future.....
@@IrenESorius Yeah, that's why most of the best recordings ever made where from old sound engineer geezers in studios. Like most of the stuff everyone listens too.
Im thinking about adding these to my system, i currently own the stage a170 floorstanding ones from the series, and the a100p sub, if i add these its a complete system😮
I love my JBLs and have no desire to upgrade unless I go stupid and get something like JTRs, Mine are 20 year old Studio series, 1st gen with copper toned drivers. S312 towers left right, S-Center for center, S38 for side surrounds, and when I upgraded setup to 11 channels I got 6 S36s from ebay for rears and ceiling. I have 4 of them hanging from the ceiling as my Atmos speakers.
Those are great speakers. I’ve owned a bunch of the Studio MKII’s. Still have a pair of S26II’s and S412PII’s. These Stage A130’s are excellent but sound quite a bit different.
Yes, and I could hear the butterfly landing in the right rear corner of the recording studio when I added the third power conditioner. You need the $1500 power cable for the second power conditioner, otherwise it sounds gray. What the hell does gray sound like?
I decided on the JBL Stage a130. I'm not an expert on this stuff. But I do like the sound of these. Because I am using old lamp tables which sit kind of low, I definitely do not need a sub with these. Sometimes I need to boost the treble, a bit! This is more true when I play records using my Audio technica AT-LPGO-BT (Wal-Mart AT-LP60XBT).
Good review, on point. I owned these for several months before gifting to my brother and this is the best sub $200 bookshelf imo. Go grab some! Would have kept if I wasn't grabbing the AA+'s.
I notice that this tweeter has a diffuser lens; similar to the one that is on the SVS Prime, (and a few others). This seems like this is a feature that is worth noting. White woofers are kind of JBL's signature look; going all the way back to the L100. I *think* the "polycellulose - is multiple types of fiber in the paper? This is probably one of the *big* advantages it has over the Klipsch aluminum cones - metal has nasty breakup modes.
I have always been a HUGE Cerwin Vega fan, since the 70s, and I like them even more than JBL, and much more than the Klipsch RB series. I have a pair of their small SL5M bookshelf speakers. They were $150 on Amazon, and they still have the signature CV sound, fast, punchy, and so real and alive sounding that they make most other speakers sound slow, dull, and veiled in comparison. But, like all the best CVs, they sound best to me with the bass turned down a little and the treble turned up a little. Then they're perfect.
@@DougMen1 Thank you! I find it most ODD they are not reviewed more by the bigger YT personalities. Im not even necessarily a fan of CV either, lol but seeing the brand revival few years back has had me curious!
I am from Brazil and I'm searching for good bookshelves to build my First home theater room. I will use 70% to watch movies and 30% to play video games. I Will make a 5.1.4 audio system. I have watched a lot of videos on TH-cam. Here in Brazil It costs about 1500 reais a pair (300 dollars) because they are imported from USA. Thanks so much to your recomendations. ( Sorry to my bad english)
Hey Randy. I finally have the space to dip my toes back into a small system. Based on your reviews, I’m considering the following. Thoughts? Thanks, Brian Aiyima A08 pro Jbl stage 130
Hi - you have a great YT channel. Please help, which speakers would you recommend, JBL Stage 130 or ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, currently I have JBL es 30 which I have already listened to for a while and I am thinking about changing to JBL Stage 130 which in Poland cost the same as ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and I can pay extra for the ELAC Uni-Fi reference B6, but they cost twice as much as the JBL Stage 130 and I don't know if it's worth paying that much extra.
The R152 is still on sale now for $129, which is just insane to think you can get that much speaker at that price, but the with the stage series on sale at the same time, a120 is $149 and the a130 is $179, it makes the infinitys a bit less of a bargain at the minute. I was about to pull the trigger on the r152 for a secondary near field setup but I'm happy I waited, the next day the stage series went back on sale and I grabbed a pair of the a130. I hope it's not too big and integrates into a near field setup ok. They are scheduled for delivery today so we'll see how it goes.
I auditioned a pair of the A120's which are a bit smaller but what a surprise! Dynamic and full bodied sound that caught me off guard. Of course, they're small and inexpensive but still have that classic JBL aesthetic and sound. Lively little speakers; easy to recommend.
@@charlesludwig9173 Same company. It would be marketing suicide for the A130 to be able to compete with the HDI-1600. I've been in the hobby for 30 years and I can't remember a time when I paid substantially more to upgrade a component and found it wasn't vastly better than the cheaper component I had before. That being said, it's all about what YOU are looking for. I own the A130 and it's fine (for me) for hanging out in my garage.
This isn't surprising when you consider there are no off the shelf parts in these speakers and that jbl builds and designs their drivers as well as makes their own wave guides "which is a lot of complex math"
Crutchfield currently has this for $180. Been enjoying the Sony sscs5 for the last month and figured i step up a bit to see what this adds. Just got this in about 30 minutes ago and it sounds a bit fuller and not as "shiny" as the Sonys. I think i enjoy both depending on what mood i am in. The JBL's surely doesnt shiver like the Sonys on higher volumes. Thanks CAM
@@diamondbraceletteUSB from pc to schitt modi 3+ into SMSL SA300. I think I will gradually be accustomed to the sound after months of listening to the Sonys. This plays like a floorstanding speaker. At $180 I really don't see why I will spend more on a "high end" speaker. If I am missing anything soundwise, I can live without it. Lol. I love this speaker so far. Tone, staging, the mids are all just balanced. I am using a sub though but this has a lot of punchy bass on its own. I just need a bit more for reggae
@@ellison8309 Nice. And sub makes sense for reggae for sure. Glad to hear there's an appreciable difference between the Sony's given how the two sometimes get grouped together. I thought the Sonys soundstage fairly well but eager to hear what the JBL's offer or improve upon in this area.
@@diamondbracelette Should u get this let me know what your opinion is. Sonys are great but after listening to this i can understand why they are grouped together. Similar in a lot of things but this just has that "umpgh!"
Something I’d LOVE to hear in your reviews is how each speaker handles bad recordings. If it still sounds good with fairly inexpensive amps/equipment. If it’s scalable, as in as you add better amps and peripherals, will the speaker continue sounding better and better? I know you do sometimes, but just a suggestion. Thanks for the good content.
"Kind of Blue" ... you have good taste for a youngster. Check out "Birth of the Cool" . For a rock experience: "One More Tomorrow" by Henry Gross ... a great Cashman & West production.
@@cheapaudioman just schiit talk Brother. I really enjoy your channel. In case you haven't noticed, you've Sparked the Audio community. Pun intended. Well done!
I love my JBL Power Series 6.5" components I installed in my car. Clear, detailed, bright but not harsh. Unfortunately the rubber surround tore on one midrange driver. Somehow it still plays fine at moderate volumes. I need to contact JBL about it but I don't know if they even stock replacement drivers since these have been out of production for a couple years. If I can't get it replaced I'm hoping maybe somebody can repair it. I really like the way these speakers sound... even bought some Morel components to replace them with but I still like the JBL's too much to give up on them yet.
i own both R51m and A130 , i preferred the Klipsch ! also like the magnetic grills and has better vinyl cover , the Jbl looks very cheap on the outside .
Holy cow those look so cool and sorta pro. A bargain. I wouldn't be surprised if JBL has more speaker patents than anyone else. Also wanted to mention - cabinet size also has an effect on efficiency, all else being equal.
I just purchased on through the market place a speaker called rhyme acoustics NuScale 216. I’m don’t looking these things are crazy good. Not much on them. They are the same as a fountek version of the speaker using there drivers. They respond from 45hz-40khz. I think they go even lower in my room and sound flat yet fun. Best part I paid 100$ for the pair. Stole them.
Randy, you already sold me on the Sony SSC5S’s about 3 weeks ago. I bought them and am really happy with them. The rest of these speaker reviews are just a temptation! How about a review of a 10” to 12” subwoofer to go with the Sony’s? How about a Robovac with a sub? Nice mug. Looks like it would be hard to drink out of; a dribble cup.
I bought the Sony’s recently too. They are awesome! But I know what you mean about further temptation. Speaking of, I think the corresponding Sony sub is on sale for $150-160, I am considering that but really I have been very pleased with the bass in these Sony’s. I should probably not watch any more speaker vids, but I would suffer extreme withdrawal.
I have a set of SSCS5's paired to a polk psw505. All in the 2.1 setup cost about $274 (the sub has went up to about $300 in price though). I just watched this video and ordered the JBLs.
What would be the chances of you adding the TSI 100 by poke to the mix? JBL versus EMOTIVA, versus Polk audio TSI 100 thank you very much Mr. awesome awesome man
Hey Randy, I know you're not a center channel enthusiast, but I love your videos and I would love to see you do some comparisons / reviews of center channel speakers. Detailed center channel commentary is an oddly empty niche in the world of audiophile TH-cam. You could fill that niche very well! Just think of the fake sponsors -- crappy universal remotes, Blu Ray players, HDMI cables, cable management stuff, on and on forever. Thanks!
Thoughts on xt 60 floor Polk... Maybe Review !? Asking around 250 sometimes less, comparison test!? Has good reviews! Mostly 5 star. Please 😁🤘❤️ Good job, by the way! 🎁
86 dB is way too low, I like Rock and Blues so the R-51M at 93dB is much better for my bedroom system. My main system I have Heresy's and a sub. I do like your videos even though I don't agree with some of your choices, it good to hear other opinions.....
Brother Love?, I really liked the review. But it got me thinking about the current pair of JBL Venue bookshelf speakers I'm using. Wondering what they would sound like side by side, Wondering if the crossovers are similar or the same 15 years later. Sorry pontificating all over the place I'll bring a bag next time.
I love you and your channel but I want to see more cheap floor standers Randy! I really can't do bookies due to the fact that my listening room is also the living room, where the speakers get moved in and out a bunch and my dog could knock bookies off the stands onto his little (but energetic) 20 lb self... How about the Polk S50? Or maybe the Tekton Mini Lore (with some of your discount code magic?) Pretty pleeeassee!!
![Sony SSCS5 vs JBL Stage A130 Sound Comparison [Blind Test] With Marantz PM7000N](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/yX-U68N6adE/mqdefault.jpg)
![BOWKYLION - วิงวอน (ex-change) [Official MV]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLdnZWDaO-w/mqdefault.jpg)
I'm not even an audiophile, and I enjoy these reviews. It's all the music of my childhood.
This stimulus money will be going towards my new budget Audiophile system. Some say buy food and pack it away for the end of America but I'm going to enjoy this system I'm slowly building until the electrical grid goes down.
Get some solar panels, and a battery. I've got a small solar system just for audio emergencies! Lol
When America ends at least we’ll have a kick ass soundtrack and system to hear it on.
Damn straight
What speakers do you want?
Rock city, you are a thinking person. Imagine that in America in 2021 that there are worries in the regard of our power grid. When i mention things like that, people, ususally the liberal ones, say Im crazy.
Amazon delivered a pair of these yesterday and so far I really like them, very enjoyable even at lower volumes. Turn them up and they do not disappoint. great sounding speaker. Powered by the Fosi Audio BT20A, I am still blown away by the sound quality and power that comes out of that little sucker. So far, I am streaming to the Fosi via bluetooth as my DAC has not arrived yet.
You are getting really good at this Randy. A fantastic video. I've never heard these JBLs, but based on my experience with the other speakers you referenced, which I do own, feel like I've already listened to them. Thumbs up!
My R-51's that are now completely broken in after about 75 hours of stretch playing of my multi genre playlist sound absolutely amazing. There is a huge difference in playing the 51's new on a 25 watt system and playing a worked speaker on a 100 watt per channel system. Now my JBL's Studio 530's after break in begin to take on Klipsch sound properties. The entire tweeter changes after it's been broken in. The 51's are amazing after breaking in if you like Klipsch. The 530's are astonishing in bass if you push the bass during breaking in. Overall a proper break in of JBL and Klipsch yield similar sounding speakers except JBL base is quicker and more detailed while Klipsch is more round & thicker.
Exactly what I was looking for, just used your link to buy a pair!!
I haven't met a bad JBL speaker. There are some that aren't amazing but never bad. Always good to excellent IMO
Hey man just wanted to say thanks. I've never owned so-called hi-fi speakers before as they have very inaccessible prices in my country. However for some reason I found these JBL a130 on a reasonable enough price for my country (about $245 USD converted, and yeah that IS very cheap compared to the rest, taxes for imported goods suck in Brazil lol for example the Klipsch here are almost double that price). Also paired them with the only cheap amp I could get my hands on from China (some FX-Audio D502BT, I bet it isn´t even that good, but OMG did these speakers change my entire listening experience. It's almost unbelievable how much better these are compared to the JBL soundbar I had before (JBL Bar 3.1). It was your review that made me decide to pull the trigger on these and I couldn't be happier with the results. Thanks a ton and keep doing your awesome work!
Maybe try swapping polarity at the posts and compare. Mine have phase distortion when wired as sold. It's as if JBL made a speaker that could be made to sound budget or reference depending on phase orientation.
Stopped in to say Thank You! I had some old old Fischer floor standing speakers that I wanted to replace with something that sounded good and didn't make me miss the Fischers. So I watched many reviews, mostly yours, and after deliberation decided on these Jbl Stage A130s. I just got them yesterday and spent the night listening to how good they made my LPs sound. I also upgraded to an AT-VM95E stylus which probably helped.
When I hear so many speakers compared / contrasted to the Elac B5.2s, I'm so glad I bought mine a couple years ago at $199 when I found them.
The best sound system I have in my house now is at my computer desk with Amazon Music HD/Micca OriginG2 dac/Fosi Audio TB10A amp/Klipsch R51M . I had the Klipsch R51M in my living room and they were not too impressive but at my desk they are amazing!
Just bought those and they’re arriving tomorrow and this review made me so impatient to hear them. They’ll be powered by an amp that i found on amazon (fosi BT20a) that i bought while i wait for the OSD NERO-MAX12 to be back in stock but hopefully it will still sound good.
As I type this (22 May21) the price has dropped back to $179. Jumped on this and yes these are great. I just listen to 2 or 2.1 stereo and would be happy if these were the only speakers I had. A bit brighter than my old Polks which helps my old ears which have lost hearing on the high end. These have extended listenability and I can relax and just enjoy the details in all kinds of music genres. Randy is right on about these.
I have been listening to the A170 for the last few days. They are an amazing value when on sale. If you like a live and expansive sound with great tonality, these are excellent.
Thanks for your insight on these JBL speakers. Very good video and helpful. Keep em coming. Lifetime Texan here.
Totally awesome...JBL is really doing the damn thang...I looked at the Klipsch 51 like a year ago did not pull the trigger...this JBL 130 really "sounds" like a viable option...Happy Birthday young fella...
My Elac B6.2's are 2 years old this month and the cabinets are still PERFECT.
I move my stuff around too much. Stack speakers on top of each other etc. if I moved them less than I do I wouldn’t imagine most speakers would probably be fine from a finish stand point
@@cheapaudioman good point but nice to know which are more durable. Some of us may have kids or just are not great at babying stuff like it is a museum piece. An thanks especially for the video work with the legendary Steve Guttenberg
@@jetfansuperd I don't baby them but do not find the need to move them. If I were a reviewer yes. In fact all grills are off, that includes the metal grills on the tweeters.
@@cheapaudioman Good review for the JBL's. I thought they would be really good especially for the price. Thanks !!
They look rad with the white woofers!
Fantastic review, very concise and helpful, especially with comparisons to other speakers and even the 530
Good review. JBLs have never let me down.
You beat me to it Randy. Great review 👍Mine will be out in a few days.
So glad you reviewed this Randy! Not only does it sound great, but it also measured extremely well in test by audio science review. So now we have an objective review, and the science to backup what you experienced. The A130 is likely the best all-round speaker for less than $500. I would encourage you to test the A190 if you get the opportunity. Also, the white polycellulose woofer is likely an homage to the vintage JBL speakers.
Uh oh. I can’t believe something I like got the ASR seal of approval. Glad I’m hearing things right at least
@@cheapaudioman hahahahahahahaha. I hate to tell you, but they like a lot of the speakers you like.
Love your reviews a d descriptive, homey delivery. We completely get what you're saying by not relying arrogantly on cold technospecs. I wanted some of your recent live stream, but frustrated with the rapid comments and snobbishness contained within. I watch you streams, but find it worthless to send off responses. HOWEVER, it's like visiting you directly. You're great!
Next week's sponsor? Bonomo's Turkish taffy banana flavor! Any of you boys and girls old enough to remember that? Also had vanilla, chocolate and strawberry if I remember correctly? JBL still has it, now and then! My main system is a pair of old JBL L80ts and a Chinese tube integrated El 34 @ 50 watts x 2 into 8 ohms, also does 4 ohms. And it still sounds great! Bought these refurb from JBL in 1991 with the full warranty at 60% off. Was that cheap? Well, it was affordable back then, and I was working at my first full time with benefits job! Bought a car a year later. Shows you WHERE my priorities were, lol!
Keep it cheap, but don't sacrifice the audio!
I bought the JBL A130’s and love them.
I made the choice on you have kept the as a benchmark in comparison with others
You are awesome Randy. I always enjoy the reviews.
I've gotta say, you have a definite way with words! I'm in the market for some new bookshelf speakers and it seem like you've done a review on just about everything I'm looking at. What I find most impressive though, is how you articulate using words what I'm seeing in numbers and measurements. I'm all about those numbers and there is no way you have seen some of the measurements I have, and yet you seem to describe almost perfectly what I'm seeing on frequency sweeps. After watching many of your videos now, I've learned to trust your ears almost as much as my measurement software and microphone!
Very well done man, and of coarse I subscribed!
Cheers 🍻.
I've done the research, and the results are in -- you are the best (and least precious, by far) audio reviewer on the TH-cams. I'd take my hat off to you, but I don't want anyone to see my bald spot.
ha
Thank you Randy for finally reviewing a JBL specially the Stage A130. I own the discontinued JBL Studio 220 and 230 respectively which were the predecessors of the Stage A130. Their difference are just black woofers, exactly what the Black Panther likes. You are my idol Cheapaudio man. You have the most accurate and the most honest reviews sir. Wakanda Forever
I own these both as well. they are my rear and Dolby heights in my system and perform flawlessly.
Actually the studio 2 series, (now discontinued) were produced to a higher price point, with better build and sound quality, than these stage series.
And the woofers were silver not black.
Gosh, how is that you are not famous? Great video!🤘🤘🤘🤘🤘
Jut an FYI for those who like their Rock music at really loud levels, like turning an amp all the way up, the Boston Acoustics M25, discontinued but available new on Amazon or used via ebay, where made for that. They are dark sounding at low to moderate volumes but give them power and current and they open up when other speakers would flat out distort. Just an FYI. The JBLs are probably the best option at its' price for low to moderate volumes.
thank you for good review. I love you do give song test examples. thank you!
speaker shootout: micca rb42, jb stage a130, elac b5.2, emotiva b1+, jamo s803...
Add the Sony SCSS5s for a low-priced item too. I'm looking for something for my son at college. Bookshelf + a small bluetooth capable amp from Fosi, Topping, Dayton, or SMSL. The speaker comparo would be awesome. Gen 2 of your
I just ordered these for $188.00 as they're on sale. This review was instrumental in that. I look forward to giving these speakers a run. Thanks!
Where were they $188?
@@nc3419 Crutchfield.
@@snowfiend_8062 after buying this, what do you think about the stage a130?
@@marcegomez5168 The Stage A130s rip. I'd recommend them for the price. They have a sweet bass sound with a fantastic roll off, and as far as the tweeters go, they sound very much like being in a concert, which I think is from the wave guides that JBL places over the tweeters. They're amazing speakers and I'm excited to listen to them as much as I am able to do so.
@@snowfiend_8062 thanks very much for sharing! I am from Argentina 🇦🇷, I order the stage 130 yesterday, hope to enjoy them a lot!! 😁
I was waiting for this review video!
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL
I purchased a set of these because for the money they measure better than speakers costing double or triple. AudioScienceReview gave them a great review and wanted to have a speaker around that measures well to compare to other speakers I like that dont measure well. These are proof a very good speaker is possible under $200 and expensive speakers or gear doesn't always sound or perform better.
Man if I knew ASR gave these a good review i would have passed on them... kidding... I’m kidding....
First of all, they would never stoop so low as to have JBL speakers in Wakanda. They have their own line of speakers with vibranium tweeters, that just blow away anything else on this planet. Sadly, they are not available outside of Wakanda, but we would never be able to afford them anyway.
But, I'm super glad you did this review! If there's one company that can beat Klipsch at their own game, JBL can. Glad they sprinkled some of their magic into these very affordable little guys, even if they just have common aluminum tweeters rather than vibranium.
Best of all, you snuck in one of my all-time favorite statistics: CUBIC INCHES! I thought I was the only audio nerd that found that stat informative. Interesting note: The JBL speaker displaces more than TWO Chevy big block V-8's! Talk about power!
Now if you will excuse me, I need to go finish that tree house in the backyard, while I listen to Andrew Robinson reviews on my outdoor speakers, which look like little fake-granite rocks.
Maybe you can do some fake granite rock speaker reviews in the future.....
Gutenberg always said he liked the floor standing versions of these.
I would´nt invest to much in what a +70 year old geezer says about sound.
I think he's in the camp where floorstanding speakers are preferred but I think he reviewed a similar JBL bookshelf model favorably.
How do these compare with Q acoustic 3030i?
@@IrenESorius Yeah, that's why most of the best recordings ever made where from old sound engineer geezers in studios. Like most of the stuff everyone listens too.
@@phantasm1004 could you not tell That @Irene Sonus was being sarcastic? She does start by saying the best recordings were made by “old geezer’s”!
Thanks for all the info I have been looking for a video on the speakers
Im thinking about adding these to my system, i currently own the stage a170 floorstanding ones from the series, and the a100p sub, if i add these its a complete system😮
I love my JBLs and have no desire to upgrade unless I go stupid and get something like JTRs, Mine are 20 year old Studio series, 1st gen with copper toned drivers. S312 towers left right, S-Center for center, S38 for side surrounds, and when I upgraded setup to 11 channels I got 6 S36s from ebay for rears and ceiling. I have 4 of them hanging from the ceiling as my Atmos speakers.
Those are great speakers. I’ve owned a bunch of the Studio MKII’s. Still have a pair of S26II’s and S412PII’s. These Stage A130’s are excellent but sound quite a bit different.
Great video RandALL! :) That unexpected ending was hysterical! Hope you had a wonderful Birthday!!! :)
Great review Randy, Ron named his Neumann, Randy. Maybe you should name your helper, Kristi.
I think he should name it Olaf.
I have a power conditioner for my power conditioner. Thinking about adding a third.
Lol, you should say that at an audiophile meeting.
Haha!
Yes, and I could hear the butterfly landing in the right rear corner of the recording studio when I added the third power conditioner. You need the $1500 power cable for the second power conditioner, otherwise it sounds gray. What the hell does gray sound like?
God bless the cheapaudioman.
Oops I posted that in the wrong spot, EMOTIVA, JBLA 130, Polk audio TSI 100? Thank you very very much Mr. cheap audio man
I own these. Sounds great. Paired them with marantz NR 1509
I decided on the JBL Stage a130. I'm not an expert on this stuff. But I do like the sound of these. Because I am using old lamp tables which sit kind of low, I definitely do not need a sub with these. Sometimes I need to boost the treble, a bit! This is more true when I play records using my Audio technica AT-LPGO-BT (Wal-Mart AT-LP60XBT).
Good review, on point. I owned these for several months before gifting to my brother and this is the best sub $200 bookshelf imo. Go grab some! Would have kept if I wasn't grabbing the AA+'s.
aa+ ? What's that
@@porkchopspapi5757 affordable accuracy + ; it's a DIY speaker
Awesome!!!!!! Thanks, Randy!
I notice that this tweeter has a diffuser lens; similar to the one that is on the SVS Prime, (and a few others). This seems like this is a feature that is worth noting.
White woofers are kind of JBL's signature look; going all the way back to the L100. I *think* the "polycellulose - is multiple types of fiber in the paper? This is probably one of the *big* advantages it has over the Klipsch aluminum cones - metal has nasty breakup modes.
Agree, when good enough is good enough. Just remember you get what you pay for.
Ha. Not always. Watch the podcast Ron and I did last week. High end audio can be a complete sham with some companies. He has a few examples.
Nice to hear these are better then Klipsch
I gleaned joy from this video just as kids glean joy in from tree house.
Randy you think that this JBLs would work with a nad 316 bee v2?
Its about time Cheapaudioman!! Thank you sir! Cerwin Vega's in the not so near future maybe?
I have always been a HUGE Cerwin Vega fan, since the 70s, and I like them even more than JBL, and much more than the Klipsch RB series. I have a pair of their small SL5M bookshelf speakers. They were $150 on Amazon, and they still have the signature CV sound, fast, punchy, and so real and alive sounding that they make most other speakers sound slow, dull, and veiled in comparison. But, like all the best CVs, they sound best to me with the bass turned down a little and the treble turned up a little. Then they're perfect.
@@DougMen1 Thank you! I find it most ODD they are not reviewed more by the bigger YT personalities. Im not even necessarily a fan of CV either, lol but seeing the brand revival few years back has had me curious!
I am from Brazil and I'm searching for good bookshelves to build my First home theater room. I will use 70% to watch movies and 30% to play video games. I Will make a 5.1.4 audio system. I have watched a lot of videos on TH-cam. Here in Brazil It costs about 1500 reais a pair (300 dollars) because they are imported from USA. Thanks so much to your recomendations. ( Sorry to my bad english)
I bought these little boys but still can't use them because it's banana plug caps are just impossible to take off...
Hey Randy. I finally have the space to dip my toes back into a small system. Based on your reviews, I’m considering the following. Thoughts? Thanks, Brian
Aiyima A08 pro
Jbl stage 130
Hi - you have a great YT channel. Please help, which speakers would you recommend, JBL Stage 130 or ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2, currently I have JBL es 30 which I have already listened to for a while and I am thinking about changing to JBL Stage 130 which in Poland cost the same as ELAC Debut 2.0 B6.2 and I can pay extra for the ELAC Uni-Fi reference B6, but they cost twice as much as the JBL Stage 130 and I don't know if it's worth paying that much extra.
I was hoping you’d review these!!!
You should check out the Infinity R152 or R162. They frequently go on sale for under $200. And are a great value at those prices.
My thought exactly!
The R152 is still on sale now for $129, which is just insane to think you can get that much speaker at that price, but the with the stage series on sale at the same time, a120 is $149 and the a130 is $179, it makes the infinitys a bit less of a bargain at the minute. I was about to pull the trigger on the r152 for a secondary near field setup but I'm happy I waited, the next day the stage series went back on sale and I grabbed a pair of the a130. I hope it's not too big and integrates into a near field setup ok. They are scheduled for delivery today so we'll see how it goes.
I’ll take 2 please with a Tree house 😂
Another outstanding Review Randy !
Oh and I’d also Like a female black panther 🤣
I auditioned a pair of the A120's which are a bit smaller but what a surprise! Dynamic and full bodied sound that caught me off guard. Of course, they're small and inexpensive but still have that classic JBL aesthetic and sound. Lively little speakers; easy to recommend.
I’d like to see a comparison and contrast of these speakers to the JBL HDI-1600’s.
A $200 speaker vs a $900 speaker made by the same company? I'm pretty sure there is no comparison.
@@ld4974 Why are you sure there is no comparison?
@@charlesludwig9173 Same company. It would be marketing suicide for the A130 to be able to compete with the HDI-1600. I've been in the hobby for 30 years and I can't remember a time when I paid substantially more to upgrade a component and found it wasn't vastly better than the cheaper component I had before. That being said, it's all about what YOU are looking for. I own the A130 and it's fine (for me) for hanging out in my garage.
Good one, Randy. Gonna wait for a good sale on these.... I feel it coming soon. Still digging my Sony’s and Wharfedales........
Compared with Dali Zensor 3 ?
Great review!
So when you say they disappeared easily that's a good thing?
This isn't surprising when you consider there are no off the shelf parts in these speakers and that jbl builds and designs their drivers as well as makes their own wave guides "which is a lot of complex math"
Crutchfield currently has this for $180. Been enjoying the Sony sscs5 for the last month and figured i step up a bit to see what this adds. Just got this in about 30 minutes ago and it sounds a bit fuller and not as "shiny" as the Sonys. I think i enjoy both depending on what mood i am in. The JBL's surely doesnt shiver like the Sonys on higher volumes. Thanks CAM
I'm on the same path lol. How are you powering?
@@diamondbraceletteUSB from pc to schitt modi 3+ into SMSL SA300. I think I will gradually be accustomed to the sound after months of listening to the Sonys. This plays like a floorstanding speaker. At $180 I really don't see why I will spend more on a "high end" speaker. If I am missing anything soundwise, I can live without it. Lol. I love this speaker so far. Tone, staging, the mids are all just balanced. I am using a sub though but this has a lot of punchy bass on its own. I just need a bit more for reggae
@@ellison8309 Nice. And sub makes sense for reggae for sure. Glad to hear there's an appreciable difference between the Sony's given how the two sometimes get grouped together. I thought the Sonys soundstage fairly well but eager to hear what the JBL's offer or improve upon in this area.
@@diamondbracelette Should u get this let me know what your opinion is. Sonys are great but after listening to this i can understand why they are grouped together. Similar in a lot of things but this just has that "umpgh!"
@@ellison8309 Yeah that's a plus for sure. Sony's have a nice airiness to them but with room for additional ooomph. I'll report back
Something I’d LOVE to hear in your reviews is how each speaker handles bad recordings. If it still sounds good with fairly inexpensive amps/equipment. If it’s scalable, as in as you add better amps and peripherals, will the speaker continue sounding better and better? I know you do sometimes, but just a suggestion. Thanks for the good content.
Great review, you sound like you got a good night sleep!
"Kind of Blue" ... you have good taste for a youngster. Check out "Birth of the Cool" . For a rock experience: "One More Tomorrow" by Henry Gross ... a great Cashman & West production.
Great review. Hopefully your fame or co-host hasn't scared away your fine sponsors.
They’re coming back. I just need to figure some out because I’ve run out of things to grab in the house
@@cheapaudioman just schiit talk Brother. I really enjoy your channel. In case you haven't noticed, you've Sparked the Audio community. Pun intended. Well done!
@@ouslander1 I can’t even believe people are even watching. I’m having so much fun
I love my JBL Power Series 6.5" components I installed in my car. Clear, detailed, bright but not harsh. Unfortunately the rubber surround tore on one midrange driver. Somehow it still plays fine at moderate volumes. I need to contact JBL about it but I don't know if they even stock replacement drivers since these have been out of production for a couple years. If I can't get it replaced I'm hoping maybe somebody can repair it. I really like the way these speakers sound... even bought some Morel components to replace them with but I still like the JBL's too much to give up on them yet.
i own both R51m and A130 , i preferred the Klipsch ! also like the magnetic grills and has better vinyl cover , the Jbl looks very cheap on the outside .
Glad you like the Klipsch. Very popular speaker
Holy cow those look so cool and sorta pro. A bargain. I wouldn't be surprised if JBL has more speaker patents than anyone else. Also wanted to mention - cabinet size also has an effect on efficiency, all else being equal.
They’re really good. Going to be in the sat speaker shootout tomorrow
i have always loved JBL and your review really caught my attention. Will these do well with an NAD316BeeV2?
I just purchased on through the market place a speaker called rhyme acoustics NuScale 216. I’m don’t looking these things are crazy good. Not much on them. They are the same as a fountek version of the speaker using there drivers. They respond from 45hz-40khz. I think they go even lower in my room and sound flat yet fun. Best part I paid 100$ for the pair. Stole them.
Another Great Find!!! Keep hunting for Audio Treasures! 👍👍👍
😂🤣😂 great guest!! She's a looker too! 👌
Good review. 👌 I like these. Good price.
Great review. I've been looking at the Sony SS-CS5 but I think I'll go with these instead.
both incredible but this is really a step up from the Sony's
Randy, you already sold me on the Sony SSC5S’s about 3 weeks ago. I bought them and am really happy with them. The rest of these speaker reviews are just a temptation! How about a review of a 10” to 12” subwoofer to go with the Sony’s? How about a Robovac with a sub? Nice mug. Looks like it would be hard to drink out of; a dribble cup.
Like the Elac 1010 sub.
I bought the Sony’s recently too. They are awesome! But I know what you mean about further temptation. Speaking of, I think the corresponding Sony sub is on sale for $150-160, I am considering that but really I have been very pleased with the bass in these Sony’s. I should probably not watch any more speaker vids, but I would suffer extreme withdrawal.
I have a set of SSCS5's paired to a polk psw505. All in the 2.1 setup cost about $274 (the sub has went up to about $300 in price though). I just watched this video and ordered the JBLs.
Hi Randy they sound like a real bargain I wonder if I can get them in the UK. Great video also the music you use for the review is quality.
Kef q150 or JBL a130 ?
Stage A130 vs Airmotiv B1+?
Especially with good gear like the Spark II.
Would love to hear this as well. B1+ and the A130 are on my short list along with the Chane A1.5 so I'd love to see how those compare.
What would be the chances of you adding the TSI 100 by poke to the mix? JBL versus EMOTIVA, versus Polk audio TSI 100 thank you very much Mr. awesome awesome man
when you started moving the table, i knew something is coming... hilarious again with the female ending, this channel rocks
Something about paper woofers and all their variants over Kevlar, polypropylene, Arimid fiber, etc...
Agree 100%, paper sounds natural
Hey Randy, I know you're not a center channel enthusiast, but I love your videos and I would love to see you do some comparisons / reviews of center channel speakers. Detailed center channel commentary is an oddly empty niche in the world of audiophile TH-cam. You could fill that niche very well! Just think of the fake sponsors -- crappy universal remotes, Blu Ray players, HDMI cables, cable management stuff, on and on forever. Thanks!
Do you think this speaker is good enough to be added to your recommended speaker list in your description?
Thoughts on xt 60 floor Polk... Maybe Review !? Asking around 250 sometimes less, comparison test!? Has good reviews! Mostly 5 star. Please 😁🤘❤️ Good job, by the way! 🎁
Now that was super Duper funny LOL I love it, if your voice was just a little bit more raspy, you would sound like Jack’s from Sons of Anarchy
Hi, love your reviews. Interested for some review from 'european market' speakers, like Magnat. Thinking of buying Magnat Monitor Supreme towers.
86 dB is way too low, I like Rock and Blues so the R-51M at 93dB is much better for my bedroom system.
My main system I have Heresy's and a sub. I do like your videos even though I don't agree with some of your choices, it good to hear other opinions.....
Brother Love?, I really liked the review. But it got me thinking about the current pair of JBL Venue bookshelf speakers I'm using. Wondering what they would sound like side by side, Wondering if the crossovers are similar or the same 15 years later. Sorry pontificating all over the place I'll bring a bag next time.
I’d recommend a music god in Latin rock, -Gustavo Cerati especially the song “tabú “ . I think you’ll enjoy it for testing. A lot of things going on.
I love you and your channel but I want to see more cheap floor standers Randy! I really can't do bookies due to the fact that my listening room is also the living room, where the speakers get moved in and out a bunch and my dog could knock bookies off the stands onto his little (but energetic) 20 lb self... How about the Polk S50? Or maybe the Tekton Mini Lore (with some of your discount code magic?) Pretty pleeeassee!!
Would love to get the Tekton’s in. I need to email him again
@@cheapaudioman Awesome! From what I hear, Eric Alexander is more of a phone call guy.