In this review, we will be comparing SA-CS9 and C 912, two Powered Subwoofer speakers from Sony 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 Sony SA-CS9 and Jamo C 912 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.
The sections below take each area in turn: driver and amplifier, frequency response, physical size and connectivity.
Drivers
The efficiency of a subwoofer is directly proportional to the total radiating are squared hence the woofer quantity and diameter.Both Sony SA-CS9and Jamo C 912 have a single woofer setup however the Sony SA-CS9's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Jamo C 912 features a 12-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SA-CS9 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas C 912 has a frequency range of 29-125 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the SA-CS9 can go slightly deeper then the C 912's min frequency of 29Hz.
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 Sony SA-CS9 and Jamo C 912 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
The size of a speaker can sometimes be an important decision factor due to space constraints or in some cases purely for esthetic reasons. In this section, we are going to compare Sony SA-CS9's and Jamo C 912's external dimensions. Sony SA-CS9 has external dimensions of 345.0 x 295.0 x 400.0mm (11.6 x 13.6 x 15.7 inch) whereas Jamo C 912 has external dimensions of 461.0 x 358.0 x 507.0mm (18-1/8 x 14-1/16 x 19-15/16inch).
Jamo C 912 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 63mm wider, 116mm taller and 107mm deeper than Sony SA-CS9.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SA-CS9 and Jamo C 912 in scale.
Comparison image of Sony SA-CS9 and Jamo C 912 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 Sony SA-CS9 is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2 and base area of the Jamo C 912 is approximately 1815.1cm2 / 281.3inch2. The SA-CS9 requires 35% less surface area than the C 912 which gives it a small advantage 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 Sony SA-CS9 weighs 11.50kg / 25.3lbs and the Jamo C 912 weighs 18.98kg / 41.8lbs. This makes the C 912 65% heavier than the SA-CS9.
Here is a comparison of how SA-CS9 and C 912's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Powered Subwoofer class.
Weight
All Subwoofer Speakers
What's in the Box of Sony SA-CS9?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of SA-CS9:
- Sony SA-CS9 10-inch 115W Subwoofer
- 6.5-feet Phono Cord
- 4 x Foot Pads
- Grille
- Limited 90-Day Manufacturer Warranty
What's in the Box of Jamo C 912?
Here are the items that come with the C 912:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 6-feet AC power cord
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
29 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
125 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
345mm
vs
461mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1180cm2
vs
1815cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| Woofer Size |
12 inches
vs
10 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
248USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
Size, drawn to scale
Both subwoofers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same floor and pushed back to the same wall, so the bigger one visibly takes more of the room.
Jamo C 912 needs about 54% more floor area. Jamo C 912 stands 107mm further into the room. Jamo C 912 is 116mm taller.
| General |
Sony SA-CS9 |
Jamo C 912 |
| Brand |
Sony |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
115 watts |
200 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
29-125 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
115-watt RMS |
200-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
400-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
12" |
| Woofer Composition |
foamed-mica cellular reinforced |
IMG |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
345.0mm (13.6") |
461.0mm (18.1") |
| Width |
295.0mm (11.6") |
358.0mm (14.1") |
| Depth |
400.0mm (15.7") |
507.0mm (20") |
| Weight |
11.50kg (25.3lbs) |
18.98kg (41.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black |
n/a |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
2 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
2 Years |
No single best subwoofer here. Your room, where the box can physically go, and whether this is mainly for films or mainly for music will settle it long before the specs do.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | evenly matched | Effectively the same reach (28Hz vs 29Hz). |
| Amplifier power | B | Jamo C 912 has the bigger amplifier - 200W against 115W RMS, about 2.4dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | B | Jamo C 912 moves more air: 12" against 10" is 1.44x the cone area, not the 1.2x the diameters suggest. More area means the same output with less excursion, and less distortion with it. |
| Enclosure | evenly matched | Both are ported designs, so they roll off in much the same way. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Sony SA-CS9 is about 51% smaller by volume. In a subwoofer that is a real trade rather than a preference: box volume is how you get output low down without a bigger amplifier. |
| Price | B | Jamo C 912 costs less - $229 against $248, about 8% less. |
A Sony SA-CS9 B Jamo C 912
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system or how you will use them. Only specs published for both subwoofers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
Jamo C 912 has the edge on paper, though not by much. The "depends" rows are more likely to decide this than the score is. If placement is the constraint - a corner, behind a sofa, under a desk - Sony SA-CS9 is the one that will actually go there, and a well-placed small subwoofer beats a badly-placed big one every time.
One thing outweighs everything above: where the subwoofer stands. Room modes can add or remove 10dB or more at a given seat, which is far larger than any difference on this page. Before spending more, try the sub in two or three positions - the crawl test, where you put it in the listening seat and crawl the room to find where the bass sounds best, costs nothing and usually beats an upgrade.