In this review, we will be comparing Monitor XT12 and S 808 SUB, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Polk Audio and Jamo. Being Powered subwoofers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them. Let's have a brief look at the main features of Polk Monitor XT12 and Jamo S 808 SUB first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
In the following sections, we will get into details in order to better understand how the Polk Monitor XT12 and Jamo S 808 SUB compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these subwoofers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Polk Monitor XT12and Jamo S 808 SUB have a single woofer setup however the Polk Monitor XT12's woofer is 12-inch whereas the Jamo S 808 SUB features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
Monitor XT12 has a frequency range of 24-160 Hz whereas S 808 SUB has a frequency range of 39-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 24Hz, the Monitor XT12 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 808 SUB's min frequency of 39Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Subwoofer class in our database.
Low Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
High Frequency
Subwoofer Speakers
Cabinet Type
Both Polk Monitor XT12 and Jamo S 808 SUB have Bass Reflex type cabinets. Bass Reflex type subwoofers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Physical Specs
Size of a speaker can sometimes become an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Polk Monitor XT12's and Jamo S 808 SUB's external dimensions. Polk Monitor XT12 has external dimensions of 418.0 x 408.0 x 485.0mm ( 16-7/16inch x 16-1/16inch x 19-1/16inch ) whereas Jamo S 808 SUB has external dimensions of 459.0 x 178.0 x 356.0mm ( 18-1/16 x 7 x 14inch) .
Jamo S 808 SUB is 230mm narrower and 129mm less deeper than Polk Monitor XT12 but it is also 41mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk Monitor XT12 and Jamo S 808 SUB in scale.
Comparison image of Polk Monitor XT12 and Jamo S 808 SUB Size and External Dimensions
Base Surface Area Comparison
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base surface area of the Polk Monitor XT12 is approximately 1978.8cm2 / 306.7inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 808 SUB is approximately 633.7cm2 / 98.2inch2. The Monitor XT12 requires 212% more surface area than the S 808 SUB which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a subwoofer may become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often to find the optimal positioning, also known as 'Subwoofer Crawling'. The Polk Monitor XT12 weighs 17.73kg / 39lbs and the Jamo S 808 SUB weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the Monitor XT12 105% heavier than the S 808 SUB.
Here is a comparison of how Monitor XT12 and S 808 SUB's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Polk Monitor XT12?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Monitor XT12:
Black powered subwoofer6.5-feet AC power cordGrilleOwners ManualOnline registration card
What's in the Box of Jamo S 808 SUB?
Here are the items that come with the S 808 SUB:
Powered subwooferGrille5-feet AC power cord6.5-feet Mono-RCA cable4 Rubber feetUser ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
 Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
24 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
418mm
vs
459mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 High Frequency Response |
180k Hz
vs
160k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
633cm2 (178x356mm)
vs
1978cm2 (408x485mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
399USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Polk Monitor XT12 |
Jamo S 808 SUB |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
50 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
24-160 Hz |
39-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
50-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
100-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
12" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Polyfiber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
Side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
418.0mm (16.5") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Width |
408.0mm (16.1") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
485.0mm (19.1") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
17.73kg (39lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
3 Years |
2 Years |