In this review, we will be comparing 703 S3 and S 809, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Bowers Wilkins and Jamo. Let's have a brief look at the main features
of B&W 703 S3 and Jamo S 809 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the B&W 703 S3 and Jamo S 809 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the B&W 703 S3 and Jamo S 809 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that 703 S3 is a 3-way design whereas the S 809 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Driver |
B&W 703 S3 |
Jamo S 809 |
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
Midrange
|
1 x 6-inch |
- |
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 5-inch
|
703 S3 features a 1" Tweeter , a 6" Midrange and 2 x 6.5" Aerofoil Woofer . On the other hand, the S 809 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
703 S3 has a frequency range of 46-28k Hz whereas S 809 has a frequency range of 37-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the S 809 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the 703 S3's min frequency of 46Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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
703 S3 and S 809 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 88 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
703 S3 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the 703 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
703 S3 features Binding post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 809 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
703 S3 has a rear firing port whereas S 809 has a front firing ports. Jamo S 809's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to B&W 703 S3 with its rear-firing port.
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 703 S3's and Jamo S 809's external dimensions. B&W 703 S3 has external dimensions of 1117.0 x 192.0 x 353.0mm ( 44-inch x 7.6-inch x 13.9-inch) whereas Jamo S 809 has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm ( 41.0 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) .
B&W 703 S3 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 1mm wider, 75mm taller and 101mm deeper than Jamo S 809.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of B&W 703 S3 and Jamo S 809 in scale.
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 703 S3 is approximately 677.8cm2 / 105.1inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The 703 S3 requires 41% more surface area than the S 809 which gives it a small disadvantage on placement in tight spaces.
Weight Comparison The weight of a loudspeaker can become an important factor if you need to move and reposition the unit often. Weight of a speaker can also "sometimes" be an indicator of the rigidity of the enclosure and the quality of the internal components used. The B&W 703 S3 weighs 28.81kg / 63.4lbs and the Jamo S 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs. This makes the 703 S3 112% heavier than the S 809.
Here is a comparison of how 703 S3 and S 809's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of B&W 703 S3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of 703 S3:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrillePlinth (base)2 Jumper-straps (pre-installed)Two-piece foam port plug4 Rubber feet4 Spike feet4 Lock-nuts4 Screws4 Washers4 Lock washersHex-keyManualBowers & Wilkins brochureWarranty Information
What's in the Box of Jamo S 809?
Here are the items that come with the S 809:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Mounting feet16 ScrewsUser ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty Information
Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
High Frequency Response |
28k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
46 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional Jamo S 8 ATM Dolby Atmos upward-firing speakers
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Height |
1042mm
vs
1117mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
481cm2 (191x252mm)
vs
677cm2 (192x353mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
634USD
vs
5998USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Bowers & Wilkins 703 S3 |
Jamo Studio S 809 |
Brand |
Bowers Wilkins |
Jamo |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
30-200 watts |
120 watts |
Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
3.1 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
46-28k Hz |
37-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Aerofoil |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
6" |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1117.0mm (44") |
1042.0mm (41") |
Width |
192.0mm (7.6") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
Depth |
353.0mm (13.9") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
Weight |
28.81kg (63.4lbs) |
13.60kg (29.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Gloss Black,Satin White,Mocha,Rosenut |
Walnut |
Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |