In this review, we will be comparing 607 S3 and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 607 S3 and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
B&W 607 S3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter
- 5" Continuum Woofer
- 52-28k Hz Frequency Response
- 84 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:30-100watts
- Weight:4.65kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 300.0" x 6.5" x 9.3"( 300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm )
Jamo S 801 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer
- 76-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 60watts
- Weight:2.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 285.0" x 6.1" x 6.4"( 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm )
What size room are the B&W 607 S3 and Jamo S 801 speakers good for?
The size of the room in which you are planning to use these loudspeakers is an important decision
factor. Here we have compared their suitability to various sizes of environments considering their size
and max power parameters:
| Listening Environment* |
B&W 607 S3 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* Approximate Room sizes: Small < 100sq. ft / 9 m2,
Mid-size: 100-220 sq. ft / 9-20 m2, Large 220-400 sq. ft / 20-36 m2, Very Large: >
400 sq. ft / 36 m2.
Average Floor Height: 9" / 2.7m. Typical room sizes differ from country to country, and the actual
listening experience changes depending on floor height, room shape, surface materials, listening
position, speaker locations, etc.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 607 S3 and Jamo S 801 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both 607 S3 and S 801 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
B&W 607 S3 |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
607 S3 features a 1" Titanium Decoupled Double Dome Titanium Tweeter and 1 x 5" Continuum Woofer . On the other hand, the S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
607 S3 has a frequency range of 52-28k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 52Hz, the 607 S3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 801's min frequency of 76Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
607 S3 and S 801 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. 607 S3 sensitivity is rated at 84 dB and the S 801's is at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Jamo S 801 a more sensitive speaker compared to B&W 607 S3, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Bookshelf Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
607 S3 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 801 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the 607 S3.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
607 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 801 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
B&W 607 S3's Binding post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both 607 S3 and S 801 have rear firing ports. Rear ported speakers generally need more room between the backside of the speaker and the wall compared to sealed and front/bottom ported speakers. Placing the speakers too close to the walls may cause the bass to sound boomy.
If you are limited in space and can't get the speakers away from the backwall, check our Speakers with Front Firing Ports page.
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 B&W 607 S3's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. B&W 607 S3 has external dimensions of 300.0 x 166.0 x 235.0mm ( 11.8 x 6.5 x 9.3inch) whereas Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm ( 11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch) .
B&W 607 S3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 10mm wider, 15mm taller and 72mm deeper than Jamo S 801.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 607 S3 and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of B&W 607 S3 and Jamo S 801 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 B&W 607 S3 is approximately 390.1cm2 / 60.5inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The 607 S3 requires 53% more surface area than the S 801 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an another comparison that shows both speakers on a BDI Octave Media Cabinet, next to a standard size amplifier and turntable in scale:
Size Comparison image of B&W 607 S3 and Jamo S 801 on a Media Console