In this review, we will be comparing SA-CS9 and S 808 SUB, 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 S 808 SUB 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 S 808 SUB have a single woofer setup however the Sony SA-CS9's woofer is 10-inch whereas the Jamo S 808 SUB features a 8-inch woofer.
Frequency Response
SA-CS9 has a frequency range of 28-200 Hz whereas S 808 SUB has a frequency range of 39-180 Hz. With a minimum frequency of 28Hz, the SA-CS9 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 Sony SA-CS9 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
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 S 808 SUB'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 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 117mm narrower and 44mm less deeper than Sony SA-CS9 but it is also 114mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SA-CS9 and Jamo S 808 SUB in scale.
Comparison image of Sony SA-CS9 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 Sony SA-CS9 is approximately 1180.0cm2 / 182.9inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 808 SUB is approximately 633.7cm2 / 98.2inch2. The SA-CS9 requires 86% 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 Sony SA-CS9 weighs 11.50kg / 25.3lbs and the Jamo S 808 SUB weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the SA-CS9 33% heavier than the S 808 SUB.
Here is a comparison of how SA-CS9 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 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 S 808 SUB?
Here are the items that come with the S 808 SUB:
- Powered subwoofer
- Grille
- 5-feet AC power cord
- 6.5-feet Mono-RCA cable
- 4 Rubber feet
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Woofer Size |
10 inches
vs
8 inches
|
Larger woofer |
| Low Frequency Response |
28 Hz
vs
39 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
200 Hz
vs
180 Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
345mm
vs
459mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
633cm2
vs
1180cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
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.
Sony SA-CS9 needs about 86% more floor area. Sony SA-CS9 stands 44mm further into the room. Jamo S 808 SUB is 114mm taller.
| General |
Sony SA-CS9 |
Jamo S 808 SUB |
| Brand |
Sony |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Powered Subwoofer |
Powered Subwoofer |
| Max Amplifier Output |
115 watts |
50 watts |
| Frequency Response |
28-200 Hz |
39-180 Hz |
Amplifier |
|
|
| Watts RMS (Continuous) |
115-watt RMS |
50-watt RMS |
| Watts Peak (Max) |
n/a |
100-watt RMS |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
10" |
8" |
| Woofer Composition |
foamed-mica cellular reinforced |
Polyfiber |
| Tweeter Size |
- |
- |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
Side |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
345.0mm (13.6") |
459.0mm (18.1") |
| Width |
295.0mm (11.6") |
178.0mm (7") |
| Depth |
400.0mm (15.7") |
356.0mm (14") |
| Weight |
11.50kg (25.3lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| 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 |
Different price classes - Sony SA-CS9 costs roughly 1.7x what Jamo S 808 SUB does. Before paying it, read the note below about two smaller subwoofers.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass depth | A | Sony SA-CS9 goes deeper - 28Hz against 39Hz. A real difference, though most music has little content below 39Hz. |
| Amplifier power | A | Sony SA-CS9 has the bigger amplifier - 115W against 50W RMS, about 3.6dB more on tap. In a large room that is headroom before the DSP starts limiting. |
| Driver area | A | Sony SA-CS9 moves more air: 10" against 8" is 1.56x the cone area, not the 1.25x 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. |
| Driver placement | depends | Sony SA-CS9 fires front and Jamo S 808 SUB fires side. A down-firing driver is more forgiving of a grille-less look and of a hard floor; a front-firing one is the safer choice on a thick carpet or a suspended timber floor. |
| Cabinet size | depends | Jamo S 808 SUB is about 29% 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 S 808 SUB costs less - $149 against $248, about 40% less. |
A Sony SA-CS9 B Jamo S 808 SUB
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?
The usual trade-off: Sony SA-CS9 measures better, Jamo S 808 SUB costs about 40% less. In a normal room, placement will make a bigger difference than the gap between these two. Two small subwoofers beat one big one in most rooms - a pair evens out the room modes in a way no single box can, whatever its specs. At $149 each, two Jamo S 808 SUB cost about $298 against $248 for one of the other, which is worth a thought.
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.