Customer Ratings & Reviews

The JBL Stage 220P is part of the Stage 2 set of speakers from JBL. This series is budget friendly, but up-market in looks, with nice veneer, magnetic detachable grilles, and premium overall feel make these a contender in many homes. Is the 220P worth the cash in the mid low-end sub market though? Both units I purchased were open box models, but BestBuy appeared to ship me new units. Neither had been removed from the box and were still factory sealed. Inside the box is pretty basic stuff, including documentation, metal pegs for carpet installation, and the unit itself and grille. My application is paring 2 of these Stage 220p subwoofers with 260F floor standing speakers and a 245c center channel for the front portion of my 7.2.4 Atmos setup. These are placed next to the 260F speakers under my projector screen. The room is an a shape with sloped vaulted ceilings that meet for about 8ft of flat ceiling in the middle. These subwoofers align in the center to help produce even bass in the room. With only one subwoofer, I found large dead spots (not a fault of the 220p, but of the room design). The Stage 220p is easy to work with in most home theater installations. It supports RCA subwoofer level input, which is pretty standard these days. There is a separate volume control, cross over adjust, power mode (On or Auto), Phase (normal or reverse), and a switch for the power supply mode (120v or 220v, which comes locked to 120v unless you remove some screws). Most modern receivers will allow you to adjust the crossover for the subwoofer channel, but it's nice that this unit has an adjustable crossover if you want to tune it w/ a sound bar, or other non-home theater receiver. Installation was a breeze. My Marantz receiver has dual subwoofer outputs, so I'm able to tune individual volumes at the receiver, however each subwoofer has its own volume control. I pushed both of these to about 80% volume on the subwoofers themselves, and my Audeseey calibration put them at -12db. This felt a bit anemic after watching a few scenes and I wonder if it was characteristics of the room that caused this calibration issue (or maybe I just like boomy bass). After calibration, and further 'tweaking' in which I moved the subwoofers to -2db, I set out with some scene watching/calibrations. These speakers may not be high end $1k units, but the dual port design and large 12" driver coupled with a powerful 250w amp make them a force to be reckoned with. I found 25hz just audible, but these subwoofers can produce non-audible frequencies that you want in a home theater. I didn't find them overly boomy, unless I cranked the volume higher. These subwoofers are a dual ported design, and thus can be a bit sloppier than a sealed design. The tradeoff is great volume, and decent frequency response. The 12" drivers are definitely capable. Again, I found them quite responsive and complementary to the rest of the Stage 2 equipment I've purchased. They sound quite nice, and I found them excellent for both music and movies (with a definite lean towards movies). I'm certainly no audiophile, but I felt like for the price these definitely filled my room with the bass I crave for a home theater. I have a dedicated room for media watching, so their size is no problem for me. The fact they match the Stage 2 260F speakers so well means ascetically they match quite well. The espresso color with black grilles matches the rest of the room's vibe quite well. I received my floor standing Stage 2 260F speakers as part of a promotion/review program, but the 245c and both 220p's I purchased out of pocket. Overall while some reviewers have panned this series, properly powered, and calibrated I've been quite happy. They offer a lot more power and volume of sound compared to my old speakers. Overall I won't say they're five stars. I feel like these compete with a lot of other budget units, and while they have some more control, and a bit higher quality than some competitors in this range, they're also quite a bit more expensive. These are mid-way to a higher end sub - which for my budget theater application are perfect. I need loud, responsive, big boom speakers, and two of these completely cover my movie listening area with ease.

JBL’s Stage 220P subwoofer is great looking, includes useful controls, and packs an amazing punch. Description The Stage 220P has a 12-inch ribbed cone low frequency woofer driven by an internal power amplifier that provides 300 watts RMS, 500 watts peak. The speaker’s +/- 6dB frequency response is from 26 Hz to 150 Hz, with a variable crossover control from 50 Hz to 150 Hz. There is also a volume control, as well as phase and auto-power selections. The enclosure features bass reflex tuning via dual rear-firing flared tuned ports. The cabinet is 16.4 inches high, 15.9 inches wide, 17.5 inches deep and weighs 41.2 lbs. The grill cover is held to the front plate with magnets that do a great job properly positioning the grill cover and hold it securely in place. The subwoofer has a line-level LFE (Low Frequency Effect) input intended to be driven from an AVR (Audio/Video Receiver) subwoofer pre-amp output through a single-ended RCA subwoofer cable. It requires AC power. Impressions The subwoofer cabinet has a beautiful and expensive looking finish and grill cover, which is nice because subwoofers are generally difficult to tuck away somewhere! The Stage 220P produces an amazing home theater experience. It can absolutely shake the house, producing the kind of movie theater low-frequency experience that you feel as well as hear. The subwoofer power switch has two settings, ON and STANDBY. The auto-power STANDBY setting is great, the subwoofer stays in a low-power standby mode until it gets signal from the AVR, at which point it automatically transitions to ON. Part of my AVR setup includes speaker level balancing where a test tone is played through each speaker individually. Sound level is measured with a dB meter, and an AVR gain setting for each speaker is adjusted to obtain the same dB meter sound level from each. In the case of the subwoofer, its crossover frequency setting and volume setting also affect the measured dB level. I found that setting the subwoofer crossover frequency to 110 Hz and volume to 80% worked well. Using those settings I get balanced dB meter sound levels with the AVR subwoofer gain set to +6dB. I need to put in a good word for JBL support here. Being new to setting up a subwoofer and balancing sound levels, I was curious if there is anything unusual about my subwoofer settings with +6dB gain in the AVR. In less than 24 hours after contacting support, I got an excellent technical response via email from an experienced audio person. I learned that what I am seeing is well within normal parameters for subwoofer setup, and they also agreed that with a second subwoofer I should require less AVR gain to each. I am incredibly impressed with the speed and technical quality of the response from JBL support. This isn’t what I’ve come to expect when I contact a manufacturer with a technical question. Bravo JBL! With speaker levels balanced and AVR room EQ completed, the home theater experience is truly wonderful. Subwoofer controls made it easy to set up and adjust to my particular room, speaker and AVR requirements, and the low-frequency contribution makes an enormous difference. JBL’s Stage 220P subwoofer really delivers and is an extremely welcome addition to my home theater setup.

JBL and Harman have been iconic names in professional and consumer audio for decades. Both names date back to the audio products of the 1940’s and 1950’s. By the late 1960’s and early 1970’s JBL speakers were the premier speakers in Fender guitar amplifiers and speaker cabinets as well as many stage monitors. In the mid 1970’s the Grateful Dead toured with their famous “Wall of Sound” which contained a reported 586 JBL speakers (5”, 12” and 15”). James B. Lansing was associated with a lot of great music. By the 1970’s Harman Kardon stereo receivers were a favorite among audiophiles. JBL and Harman Kardon were responsible for some of the most respected and popular professional audio equipment as well as consumer products. Through the decades the companies experienced ownership and management changes wherein fast-forward to the present day, Harman International is a subsidiary of Samsung, and includes JBL and a collective of some of the most renowned and respected audio products companies. JBL Harman just released the new product line comprised of MA (Modern Audio) series AV receivers and JBL Stage 2 series speakers. Among the factors that attracted me to these new components is that the MA AV receivers and Stage 2 speakers are matched components. From my perspective, there are several compelling advantages to using matched components, particularly as compared to cobbling together a home theater system from components from various manufacturers or even various products from a single manufacturer. First, all of the speakers share the same physical appearance characteristics, including their modern, minimalist design style, and their availability in either an Espresso (dark) or Latte (light) woodgrain speaker enclosure finish, with complimentary colored black or gray, magnetically attached removable grilles. The MA receivers are available with either a black or white face on a black cabinet. More importantly, they are matched technically. All of the speaker enclosures share the same construction and sound shaping characteristics with similar tuned rear ports, transducer design, construction and electrical characteristics, similar crossover networks and matched impedance. These speakers are also technically matched to the new MA model AV receivers, including matched power handling, with the intention of producing outstanding sound reproduction. In fact, towards those end-goals, the new MA AV receivers and the Stage 2 speakers were all designed and engineered at the JBL Harman Acoustic Engineering Center of Excellence in Northridge, California. The speakers and receivers will perform optimally together, because they are purposefully designed for perfect integration and compatibility. Another important attribute of the MA series receivers and Stage 2 series speakers is that JBL designed and engineered them for simplicity of setup/installation and simplicity of operation. People who are neither devoted audiophiles, engineers or industry professionals are able to rely on these components being the perfect accompaniments for each other. There are enough selections available to get just what you want and need, but there is no overwhelming complexity to create a difficult or intimidating experience when selecting, setting up or using these terrific components. I am extremely impressed with the performance of my JBL Harman components, all of which sound terrific. My outstanding JBL Harman home theater system is comprised of: MA7100HP – 7.2 Channel AV Receiver Stage 280F – Floorstanding (Tower) Speakers – Front Channels Stage 240H – Atmos Height Modules (Atmos Caps) – Mounted on 280F Speakers Stage 245C – Center Channel Speaker Stage 250B – Bookshelf Speakers – Rear Channels Stage 220P – 12” 250 Watt RMS Powered Subwoofer This assemblage of perfectly matched JBL Harman components is a stellar home theater system which sounds absolutely amazing! I am incredibly impressed and completely satisfied with the Stage 220P Subwoofer Speaker. The 220P Subwoofer is the larger of the two powered subwoofer speaker models available in the JBL Stage 2 series. SPECIFICATIONS – STAGE 220P (From JBL Documentation): Type: Powered Subwoofer Low Frequency Driver: 12-inch (300mm) Polycellulose Ribbed High Excursion Amplifier Power: 250W RMS (500W Dynamic) Frequency Response ± 6dB: 26Hz-150Hz (Conflicts with other JBL Documentation stating: 29Hz-150Hz) Crossover Frequencies: 50Hz-150Hz (variable) 24dB/octave Controls: 35Hz-150Hz (Conflicts with other JBL Documentation stating: 50Hz-150Hz) Controls: Auto Power, Crossover, Level, Phase Inputs: One (1) Line-Level LFE Input Enclosure Tuning: Bass-Reflex via Dual Rear-Firing Tuned Ports Power Requirements: 120V, 60Hz (US) 220-230V, 50/60Hz (EU) Power Consumption: <0.5W (standby) / 205W/1.6A (max – 230V) / 205W/3.15A (max – 120V) Finish: Espresso or Latte Dimensions (HxWxD): 16.4in x 15.9in x 17.5in (416mm x 405mm x 444mm) Product Weight: 41.2 lbs. (18.7 kg) Shipping Weight: 51.4 lbs. (23.3kg) The large and fairly heavy Stage 220P active, powered subwoofer is equipped with a front firing 12” polycellulose transducer which very effectively moves a lot of air and produces energetic, palpable bass notes. The 250 watt RMS powered amplifier coupled to the large speaker delivers very deep, room filling bass even in a large room. Proper subwoofer placement and crossover frequency selection optimize production of deep, accurate and smooth bass. Since low frequencies are not directional like higher frequencies, placement near a room corner is frequently the preferred location for optimizing bass response by capitalizing on low frequencies being reflected by hard surfaces like walls, and minimizing absorption by soft furnishings. The magnetically attached grille with its orange frame exposed at the sides matches the other Stage 2 series speakers. The rear panel includes the jack for the detachable power cord and a protected voltage selection switch which also allows use of the 220P on 220-240V mains. The rear panel also has the RCA connector for the subwoofer input cable, a rotary knob for the 50Hz – 150Hz crossover network, a volume control knob, a phase reversal slide switch, a similar switch to select “auto-power”, and a power LED. There are a pair of stacked ports on the rear of the subwoofer enclosure which JBL describes as “ Bass-Reflex Design with Dual Rear-Firing Flared Ports. The Bass-Reflex design of the 220P use dual rear-firing flared ports. This new flared design reduces the velocity of the air when exiting the speaker cabinet, eliminating any chuffing or coloration of output”. I adhere to the generally accepted “standard” of setting the low-pass crossover of my receiver at 80 db and directing the low frequencies to the powered subwoofer. Adjustment of subwoofer gain is subjective, but I like to set up my subwoofer to deliver strong, palpable yet smooth bass presence, holding short of overdriven thumping distorted bass. The JBL Stage 220P is an absolutely outstanding Low Frequency Effects (LFE) speaker that is ideally matched with the rest of my JBL home theater components. It has more than sufficient power to compliment the substantial and impressive audio being delivered by the large Stage 2 speakers which are driven by the powerful MA 7100HP receiver. The bass in music as well as the low frequency effects in movies is powerful, accurate and realistic. Low frequencies are felt by the body as much as they are heard by the ear, and the Stage 220P really delivers! The matched design and engineering of the Stage 2 series speakers and the MA series AV receivers makes it extremely simple and easy to specify and select a complete home theater system comprised of excellent, premium level components from an outstanding audio component manufacturer, with a very long and rich company heritage. Our listening and viewing experience has improved significantly with the Harman JBL home theater components. Whether playing streamed movies or music, or using my Blu-Ray player, CD changer, or turntable, we are now enjoying the experience more than we did previously. The Stage 2 speakers and MA7100HP AVR provide extraordinary, room filling, high resolution audio with incredible fidelity across the full sound spectrum. As soon as I had connected and configured the system, running Top Gun Maverick, with its powerful soundtrack including plentiful height effects and powerful low frequency effects, was really incredible and satisfying! A few movies and concert videos later I was beyond impressed with how outstanding the Harman JBL components are! This is really how high-performance component audio should sound. The home theater experience with these components is truly a theater experience! I am confident that the Stage 220P powered subwoofer is the best choice for low frequency effect speaker in this great home theater system. I am extremely impressed with it, and I am enjoying its powerful performance.

I'm in the midst of upgrading my home theater setup and this sub was the last piece, so to speak, of that process. I had a subwoofer before however it was on the cheap side so getting this one was definitely a huge upgrade for me. I have this paired with the matching bookshelf speakers and receiver from JBL. I'm not a big fan of mixing and matching so I wanted to go with the complete set to ensure compatibility and functionality. As with most subs, this is quite hefty. Little unsure of it's location next to my TV but I'm working on that. It's small enough where it's noticeable however not large where it's an eyesore. Also comes in handy as a makeshift shelf as well. I don't have a lot of space near my TV so this was a nice choice in both size, quality and price. As far as sound goes, very pleasantly surprised with this. It's good enough where it'll add that extra oompf when watch action movies but also boomy enough when playing music. It's not a muddled sounding bass either that I had with my previous subwoofer. The lows are clean and clear without too much reverb on them. Great addition to the home setup and sounds great.

The JBL 12-inch subwoofer is an impressive addition to any audio setup, delivering a perfect combination of power, precision, and depth. Whether you're enhancing a home theater system, upgrading your car audio, or building a custom sound system, this subwoofer exceeds expectations across the board. Sound Quality The sound output is where the JBL 12-inch subwoofer truly shines. It produces deep, punchy bass that you can feel, making it ideal for movies, music, and gaming. The bass response is clear and distortion-free, even at high volumes. This subwoofer handles low frequencies with remarkable accuracy, bringing your favorite tracks or cinematic moments to life. Build Quality JBL is known for its durable products, and this subwoofer is no exception. The build quality is top-notch, featuring a rugged, long-lasting design that can withstand heavy use. The cone material feels premium and is designed for optimal performance, while the surround is engineered to provide flexibility and strength, ensuring a long lifespan. Ease of Installation Installation is straightforward, whether you’re setting it up in a car or a home theater system. Its compact yet powerful design fits seamlessly into most setups. The wiring connections are intuitive, and the detailed manual ensures you can have it up and running without any hassle. Power and Performance The subwoofer delivers impressive power output, capable of handling high wattage without breaking a sweat. Whether you're playing bass-heavy music genres or watching action-packed movies, the dynamic range and impactful bass elevate the listening experience. Value for Money For its price point, the JBL 12-inch subwoofer offers incredible value. It competes with higher-end subwoofers while remaining accessible to budget-conscious buyers. It's an investment that adds significant depth and richness to your audio setup. Pros Deep, powerful bass with minimal distortion Durable and well-built design Easy installation and setup Excellent value for the price Cons Requires an amplifier capable of driving its power needs May overpower smaller speakers if not properly tuned Verdict The JBL 12-inch subwoofer is a fantastic choice for anyone looking to enhance their sound system with rich, room-shaking bass. It combines high-quality sound, durability, and affordability, making it a standout option in its class. Whether you're a bass enthusiast or just want a fuller, more immersive audio experience, this subwoofer won't disappoint. Highly recommended! Rating: 4.8/5

I have the Expresso version of this beast of a subwoofer which has a very dark brown woodgrain finish. It’s a rich change from plain black. It’s large, measuring about 16.5”x16”x17.5” and has a grille cloth that’s black with a little grayish fleck in it. There’s also a thin JBL orange plastic frame that stands off the grille from the speaker cabinet. It matches the trim on the MA series receivers and other Stage 2 speakers I have. The orange is not visible from head on, only when viewed from the side. The grille attaches magnetically so there’s no visible mounts when the grille is removed. It’s got some weight to it, I believe it’s just over 41 lbs so lift with your legs. All controls are concealed on the back. There’s a continuously variable crossover that adjusts from 50 to 150 Hz, a volume knob, a phase selector switch, a switch to select either power on or auto power on, and there’s a mains voltage switch under a cover to select input voltage. The 12” polycellulose cone woofer moves a lot of air and that gives a satisfying rumble to movie soundtracks that you can feel. Took very little tweaking to get it dialed in on my system, I usually just cue up the first Ironman movie and it’s good before AC/DC finishes. Lol Pairs well with the Stage2 250B bookshelf speakers if you don’t have enough space for tower speakers on your front channel. Make sure you pick up a subwoofer specific cable in the appropriate length since one is not included. The sub can be placed anywhere in the room, it just needs to be close to an outlet to plug it in.

JBL has jumped into the home theater speaker space with the zest that only an established brand can. They are coming out swinging with their stage2 set of speakers and the Stage2 250B 2-Way 5.25-inch (130mm) Bookshelf Loudspeakers are another example of quality with a price tag that reflects value. You get a pair of these for $400, but let me tell you, they punch above their weight class when it comes to the price. JBL has been around for generations. They developed their first speakers in 1946! The American company has made a name for themselves throughout the last 80 years as a value-centric option for your speaker needs - especially when it comes to headphones, earbuds and portable speakers. Lately they have dominated the portable speaker market with their options, which are high-quality, yet less expensive than so many other options out there. The new Stage2 speaker line-up gives a very nice modern look, and offer the same hint of orange on the speaker grills as the other speakers in the line-up (floorstanding R&L, dolby atmos speakers, center speaker, and most stylish being, the new receiver options. I'm impressed with the style JBL chose - as it's not overwhelmingly modern. The color choices (Espresso and latte) fit any decor and are consistent among the products. These look awesome! Feature wise these loudspeakers include a 5.25-inch (130mm) Polycellulose Ribbed Cone Woofer. Each speaker in the Stage 2 series features Polycellulose ribbed cone woofers, which help with consistency and a sound that emphasizes that consistency. According to the descriptions, it includes a pure pulp cone has a proprietary mix of other materials added to improve its rigidity and the ribs echo legendary JBL designs. The conclusion is that these woofers produce deep, accurate, room filling bass and excellent sound. They also include a 1-inch (25mm) Anodized Aluminum Tweeter that JBL says is in "Next Generation HDI™ Waveguide." Through intense research of previous waveguide designs, JBL has developed a new complex geometry that improves directivity, reduced diffraction, and an overall neutral frequency response both on and off axis. The Stage 2 HDI Horn is coupled to an anodized aluminum dome tweeter to enhance efficiency and dynamics. This new design offers a neutral frequency response both on and off axis. Premium components are used to construct the crossovers fitted to the Stage 2 line. The High frequency section features air core inductors and mylar capacitors that reduce distortion and improve sonic performance. The low frequency section includes laminate core inductors and electrolytic capacitors. These premium materials can handle more power and transmit energy faster elevating system performance. Sturdy 5-way binding posts provide the listener with their choice of high-quality connection. They also match the binding posts on the JBL MA AVRs, carrying the cohesive look throughout. JBL has premium details throughout the line including magnetically attached grilles, unique trim rings and the floating front baffle design - upscale features not typically found on loudspeakers in this price range. A flared port is featured on the 250B. This new flared design reduces the velocity of the air when exiting the speaker cabinet, eliminating any chuffing or coloration of output. The 250B includes anti slip pads to hold the speaker securely in place, minimize vibrations. For $400, these speakers are a value and offer such a fluid sound when coupled with the rest of JBL's Stage2 lineup. I'm going from a Klipsch set of premium speakers, coupled with an Onkyo RZ-50 (which has had its fair share of technological issues) and have been super impressed with the clear, robust sound. There is a beautiful separation with these speakers that you can tell have been fine tuned by the developers, who obviously know what they're doing. I'm excited for what's to come with JBL if this is their first stab into upper-mid tier Dolby home theater.

The JBL Stage 220P subwoofer is a high value, budget friendly 12-inch, dual rear-ported subwoofer that will provide a satisfying experience when well placed, configured correctly, and paired with the right equipment. The subwoofer, in my opinion, is the second most important speaker for any home theater. The subwoofer provides heft and weight to the music, dialogue, and special effects in our movies, TV shows, video games, and music. The JBL Stage 220P subwoofer has a single 12-inch polycelullos ribbed cone with dual rear firing ports. The sub’s power supply provides 250 watts RMS which is capability of hitting 500 watts in short bursts. The 220P is not powerful enough to shake the room or scare the cat. It is powerful enough to pressurize a small to medium sized room and bring some big sound to your home theater. In my room, the 220P was able to rattle a few photos on my walls during loud, sharp base notes such as heavy footfalls or loud explosions. The back of the subwoofer has a single input used to connect to the AVR. The 220P does not come with a cable. Meaning, you will need to purchase a cable that is long enough to comfortably accommodate your sub’s final room position. There is a volume knob, crossover control knob (which I set to 100hz), phase switch, power mode, a power mode indicator light, a main voltage selector switch, and a power input. The 220P does come with the power cord. I set the power to Auto which is JBL speak for standby mode. I have a small room that measures 10W x 18L x 6H. I placed the 220P in the front left corner of my room next to my JBL Stage 2 280F Tower speaker. This will maximize bass output and minimize the power required to achieve my desired output levels through boundary reinforcement. However, corner loading the sub also comes with the risk of overloading the room with muddy, bloated bass. It’s a balancing act that requires some patience to get it right. My goal is beautifully integrated bass; not blow me out of the room bass. To start, I tried to manually integrate the sub with the speakers. This did not work well for me. So, I set the subwoofer volume knob to 50% and let my JBL MA710HP AVR’s calibration routine figure it out. Long story short, I ultimately settled on 75% volume. This created the best balance between seamless integration and power. I preset the speaker crossovers to 80Hz, THX standard. Ran the calibration. Presto Magico, the subwoofer was fully integrated for music and movies. Eventually, I lowered the front left and right speaker crossovers to 40hz so I could take full advantage of the additional bass output from the huge 8” woofers of my JBL 280F Tower Speakers. The results were a well-integrated and exciting musical and cinematic experience. === Performance === For reference, my 220P subwoofer is integrated into a 5.1.2 theater consisting of the JBL Stage 2 250B bookshelf speakers, 280F tower speakers, 240H height speakers, 245C center channel, and the JBL MA710HP AVR. My test 4K movie for any new speakers, subwoofers, or gear is Pacific Rim, Scene 2. This is the first fight between Gypsy Danger and a Kaiju. The scene has everything from thunder, metal fists punching kaiju jaw, billowing boat horns, distressed and breaking metal, and the deep roars of the kaiju. Sometimes all at once! For example, the system explodes with a wall of sound when Gypsy Danger unleashes a fist full of metal fury into her kaiju’s opponents head. The system did not skip a beat. The 220P also performed admirably in complete isolation. For example, there is a short scene after Gypsy’s battle where she is staggering to shore. The 220P did an excellent job of keeping up with the action. And the isolated bass from the footfalls, and her final collapse on the beach, showed that the 220P had enough power to provide an emotional connection to the scene. Bass did not sound bloated or boomy. Integration with all seven speakers in my little home theater sounded good. Next, I played Rebel Moon: The Director’s Cut Part 1 on Netflix. The movie opens with the Armies of whoever the bad guy is are mowing down civilians who are trapped in an urban environment. The laser blasts in this movie carry a lot of low-end bass. The subwoofer as literally jumping off the floor with every laser bolt. This was prior to the calibration steps above and really showed the weakness of my manual integration efforts. I calibrated the system and re-ran the same scene. This time the bass heavy laser blasts were perfectly in tune with the rest of the system. Each blast was tight, had weight, and was satisfying to listen to. The same was true with explosions, warship cannon shots, and heavy bass of rocket engines as they landed, and even the low frequency hum common associated with being on board sci-fi spaceships. It all came together with the 220P performing wonderfully. I also ran the theater for a short time with the subwoofer turned off. The front Left and Right JBL 280F tower speakers were able to hold their own to a point. It became quickly apparent that even these behemoths needed the punch, power, and sound reinforcement that only a powered subwoofer can provide. Music that has heavy rhythm and/or full of heavy bass drops sounded great for 2.1 channel listening. The difference in sound was obvious when I flipped between 2.1 and 2.0 listening modes. For example, John William’s “Imperial March” from Star Wars sounded great with just the two 280F tower speakers. However, adding the subwoofer provided the power and authority required to really make the Imperial March sound convincingly menacing. This was also true with Jacques Loussier Trio’s jazz rendition of Bach’s Fugue in G Minor BWV 578, Boston’s, “Amanda”, Sturgill Simpson, “Remember to breathe, and PSY’s bass heavy, “Gentleman”. Overall, once I got the sub dialed in properly, it was a joy to listen too. === Construction and aesthetics === The 220P subwoofer is a well-constructed subwoofer even by budget subwoofer standards. The vinyl espresso wood wrap is very well executed and matches my entertainment center. This is a happy accident which helps to visually unify my front stage. The front baffle of the 220P is matt black. The baffle’s edges extend beyond the sides and top edge of the subwoofer cabinet by a few millimeters. I believe this was done to make the 220P match the aesthetic of the rest of the Stage 2 line of speakers. The baffle also gives the subwoofer grills some depth by framing the grey grill fabric with a recessed black border. This gives the subwoofer an extra sharp look when the grills are on. The subwoofer grills are smartly constructed, attractive, and help the subwoofers pop. The grill frame is constructed of a single piece of JBL Orange molded plastic. Gray toned textured colored acoustic fabric is stretched across the plastic frame. JBL brand is silk screened onto the front bottom of each grill. The fabric appears machine cut and glued to the back of the frame. The design and construction are very clean and give the subwoofer a professional look. The grills stick to the baffle with strong magnets. Simply brushing the subwoofer during a walk-by will not be enough to knock the grills off. The back side of the subwoofer grills have soft felt to protect the subwoofer baffle from scratching due to removing and replacing the subwoofer grills. I performed the knock test on the front, back, side, and top of the subwoofer. Essentially, knock on the sides of the subwoofer like you would a door. The top and sides sounded hollow as one would expect from a budget subwoofer. The front baffle sounds dull compared to the sides and top. This tells me that the front baffle is thicker and more inert than the sides and top. Which is what I would expect from a budget subwoofer. Overall, the fit, finish, and construction of these subwoofers are fantastic. === Conclusion === Normally, budget friendly subwoofers look slapped together and cheap. The JBL Stage 220P subwoofer looks anything but cheap. This subwoofer is very well thought out, purposely stylized, professionally executed, and looks fantastic in my room. The 220P is easy to recommend as a high value, budget friendly subwoofer. There is a lot to like here. It will sound great if it is properly integrated with the speakers and calibrated to play within the sonic limits of the room. Do not put this sub in a small room, dial it up to 11, and expect heavy metal nirvana. It does not work that way. Treat the JBL Stage 220P with respect and it will reward you with a solid cinematic and musical performance.

If JBL stands for Just Be Loud, they are doing it right. This is a massive subwoofer built with an old-school design philosophy that bigger is better. They’ve succeeded in putting together a 12” subwoofer driver in a heavy, solid box that can contain it nicely. The solid enclosure resists unwanted vibrations, while the driver and dual ports in the back put out a load of sound that will resonate through even larger rooms. The built-in amplifier is quite capable and efficient. Two knobs, crossover frequency and volume, are exactly what you need (although I cranked the crossover all the way up since my receiver has a built-in subwoofer crossover). Big rubber feet help to keep it from rattling the floor more than you want it to, with optional spikes if you want to isolate it that way (i.e. on a carpet the spikes may work better). Sometimes with a larger diameter subwoofer driver, the sound can get boomy and unrefined. But this one is not overly messy. The bass remains relatively tight and clear. It produces good sound down below the lowest frequency I can hear, adding a strong bass foundation for your loudspeakers. If you have larger main loudspeakers it might be tempting to think that you don’t need a subwoofer (I thought so with some big high-quality speakers) but there’s something to be added even with excellent full-range speakers. This is especially true in a surround system, to help tie the sound together across all your speakers. This product is almost large enough to be considered a piece of furniture. It’s a little lower than coffee table height, but close to it. The styling is sleek enough to be worth showing off in your living room or den. The woodgrain look is classy, as is the cloth grille. JBL snuck in a strip of their bright orange brand color just behind the grille, which I thought was a nice way to give a nod to their reputation for bold party-style equipment while still being subdued enough to be appropriate for a more mature decor. This unit did not come with an audio cable, only a power cable, so make sure you have the RCA cable you need to connect it to your equipment.

The JBL Stage 220P Sub-Woofer is easy to set up and provides a great bass boost to the overall audio system. It comes with carpet spikes to prevent it from moving around on a soft floor in a living room environment. What I liked most about the system is that it's well matched with the JBL MA510 AVR as an upgrade to a typical Sound Bar system. It works great in a home theater environment, or as a classic bookshelf style AV system. JBL offers multiple options for the MA 510 system including a center speaker, a pair of front speakers and a pair of surround speakers and a subwoofer. Notably, you can add a second sub-woofer if you choose. This means you provide your own wiring for components, including TVs, speakers and sub woofers as well as network wiring if necessary. So, on that basis if you want to get started quickly and easily, you can start with a simple Stereo installation and gradually add the well matched JBL speaker components as your space or budget allows. The JBL system is easy to set up once you gather sources for content and the necessary wiring for speakers taking twenty to thirty minutes for a 2.1 channel, stand-alone system without permanent installation such as with hidden cables. This Sub-Woofer would certainly beef up your gaming audio if you chose to do so. Otherwise, if you are planning to install the system permanently, it obviously takes a lot more planning than I have committed to. I would highly recommend matching this sub-woofer with the MA 510 or MA 710 AVR systems including the Center and Surround Speakers to bring the system up to a minimum of 5.1 channels. However, because I am not game oriented, the two extra channels in a 7.1 system just seems superfluous. The Stage 220 P pairs well with the matching JBL Stage 2-250B speakers are an awesome combination together with the MA 510 AVR. JBL made it easy to match the various components of a top-notch system. Plus, the sound quality is terrific. The is modern look in the Espresso color also goes well in a traditional environment. In summary, this JBL system provides an easy to set up, well-matched upgrade from a 'Soundbar' System.

This 12” powered subwoofer digs and digs deep. I have a fairly large theater room and the JBL Stage 2 220P has no issues pressurizing the room. The built-in amp is rated for 250W RMS and can shake my whole house with the proper placement. The frequency response range is 26Hz-150Hz. It’s rear ported which helps reduce the overall height of the box so I can also easily fit it underneath my projector screen when compared to front ported boxes. The dark wood looks amazing in my decor and I highly recommend this sub for anyone building out their home theater. Set a proper crossover within your AVR for your speaker types and let this sub do all the heavy lifting. I recommend setting all your speakers to “Small” and start with a 80Hz crossover to the 220P. Set your crossover knob to the max crossover on your sub and let your AVR do all the crossover for you. Adjust the volume knob of the sub to match the dB levels of your entire system. Proper placement is key to have tight and deep bass. Best way I found is to do the infamous “sub crawl”. Simply put the sub directly on your main sitting position and listen to your favorite bass heavy track. Then slowly move on your hands and knees around the perimeter of your home theater until you can hear and feel the most bass. There are usually a few spots that will sound the loudest and that's the spot to put the sub. Next for proper calibration is to do room correction if your AVR is capable of doing it. The minimum one should do is set the distance of the sub to your sitting location and set the level to match the rest of your setup. The distance will ultimately set the delay and the level will make sure you’re within range of your set dB at reference level listening. Best practice is to adjust all your speakers to 75dB with an SPL meter capable of C weighted readings at reference level volume to your main sitting position. Then bump the volume of your subwoofer +10dB if you like a heavier bass presence or adjust the subwoofer level within your AVR. In summary, I do recommend the JBL Stage 2 220P subwoofer for your home theater. It hits so hard that I’m considering getting a 2nd one to help balance out the room.

I got the subwoofer to go along with my JBL bookshelf speakers and receiver, and I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised with the power of this subwoofer provides. I’m a fan of things that are packaged well and this definitely was packaged to survive HDS🤣. It comes securely packaged in Styrofoam and a really nice touch is the Mylar bag it comes in. Before they used to pack things and like Mylar slips, but this isn’t an actual bag with a tie off that not only adds a touch of elegance, but provides many ways to reuse it if you ever need to move or package it. Set up is very straightforward. Make sure it’s properly supported on the ground. Get it plugged in hook up your cable and then power the sub on. This goes without saying, but it does not come with a sub cable. You need to provide your. I used an AudioQuest, Irish Red cable with mine. This sub is part of a 2.1 set up in my game room, which is more than enough power for what I needed to do. The base is deep and rich it can handle a lot of volume before you get distortion and it helps make your gaming experience much better!! One of my personal favorite things is how the front screen attaches with magnets no more posts very easy off if you wanted to dust the sub real quick and then really easy back on.

I read a lot of opinions on forward firing vs down firing on cement slab floors. Our HT is in our basement so we have LVP over a cement basement floor. It is paired with a Yamaha Dolby Atmos AVR and I could not be happier with the sound performance. I have the crossover set at 80Hz on the sub as well as in my AVR. The sub volume is set to about 70% (rep at the Best Buy store was spot on--he said with this sub on a slab floor, 70%-80% would be the ideal level). My only complaint is I have to set my AVR sub level to +10 db, but I suspect this has to do with the room materials. We don't listen to music on the system. We did a Star Wars marathon and the lows hit right where I remember them. We have the unit placed about 2/3 between the LF and the screen facing outward, approx 6" from the wall to allow the rear ports to move air. The bass is uniform with no indication of direction. Very satisfied with the purchase.

Awesome sound! Easy hookup, great with receiver and stereo setup.

These are some of the worst sub's I have ever heard. I purchased a pair and would be crazy to not return them. There are so many better options out there.... for half the price! I have not been thrilled with any of JBLs new Stage line of speakers and receivers. I have tried most of the products in the line and their receivers and sub are the worst, and that says allot as every other item is mediocre at best. Horrible frequency response, no liveliness, no punch, no depth, far from clean, I could pretend to be an audiophile and throw every adjective out there with labeling this sub, but truth be told, for even a "normal" persons' ear, these are garbage. They do look pretty, especially as a set, but for JBL to bank on people purchasing items in this product line for the looks will be short lived once mainstream reviews show-face.

Great sound without sounding obnoxious. Great great buy! Literally plug and play with simple sound adjustments.

Very good subwoofer bass very good for home theater and karaoke

Awesome sounds very deep it adds so much to your sound no distortion rattling or humming you will be so happy with your investment and JBLis the best

Excellent speaker! Sounds amazing!i qas blown away with the build and dept of bass from this small nut mighty speaker

Aweome sub deep bass goes great with my other sub rocks the house