In this review, we will be comparing Sib Evo and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Focal and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Focal Sib Evo and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Focal Sib Evo | Jamo S 801 |
|---|
| Brand | Focal
France · founded 1979 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Polyflex | 4" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 70-25k Hz | 76-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 1.80kg / 4lbs | 2.70kg / 5.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 9-7/8" x 6-3/8" x 6-7/16"
251.0 x 162.0 x 164.0mm | 11.2" x 6.1" x 6.4"
285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Focal Sib Evo 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* |
Focal Sib Evo |
Jamo S 801 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Good |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
**This post contains affiliate links, and we will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both Sib Evo and S 801 are 2-way speakers.
Focal Sib EvoJamo S 801
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Focal Sib Evo |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Sib Evo features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Polyflex Woofer. On the other hand, the S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Sib Evo has a frequency range of 70-25k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 70Hz, the Sib Evo can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 801's min frequency of 76Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
Neither pair reaches down to 20Hz, the usual definition of full-range, which is normal for speakers of this size. If you want the bottom octave for movies or bass-heavy music, add a subwoofer to whichever you choose. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Sib Evo is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 801 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Sib Evo sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the S 801's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the Focal Sib Evo a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 801, 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Sib Evo can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas S 801 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 140 watts less than the Sib Evo.
Note that higher power handling does not make a speaker louder: that depends mainly on
sensitivity and impedance. The calculator below shows how loud each of these actually plays
on a real amplifier.
Which plays louder on your amplifier?
Starting with a popular amplifier — change it to the one you own, or any you are
considering, and watch both numbers move.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
Sib Evo features Post type posts and S 801 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Focal Sib Evo's Push button terminals
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Sib Evo 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.
New
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 Focal Sib Evo's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. Focal Sib Evo has external dimensions of 251.0 x 162.0 x 164.0mm (28-36inch x 6-3/8inch x 6-7/16inch) whereas Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm (11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch).
Jamo S 801 is 6mm narrower and 1mm less deeper than Focal Sib Evo but it is also 34mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Focal Sib Evo and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of Focal Sib Evo 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 Focal Sib Evo is approximately 265.7cm2 / 41.2inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The Sib Evo requires 4% more surface area than the S 801 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 Focal Sib Evo weighs 1.80kg / 4lbs and the Jamo S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs. This makes the S 801 50% heavier than the Sib Evo.
Here is a comparison of how Sib Evo and S 801's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Focal Sib Evo?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Sib Evo:
- 2 Satellite loudspeakers (base attached)
- 2 Wall-mount brackets
- 6 Screws
- 6 Wall-anchors
- User Manual
- Thank You card
What's in the Box of Jamo S 801?
Here are the items that come with the S 801:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
70 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
251mm
vs
285mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
254cm2
vs
265cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
174USD
vs
499USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Focal Sib Evo |
Jamo S 801 |
| Brand |
Focal |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
up to 60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
70-25k Hz |
76-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polyflex |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
251.0mm (9.9") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
162.0mm (6.4") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
164.0mm (6.5") |
163.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
1.80kg (4lbs) |
2.70kg (5.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Lacquer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
Yes |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-36" |
28-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Focal Sib Evo costs roughly 2.9x what Jamo S 801 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Focal Sib Evo digs deeper - 70Hz against 76Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Focal Sib Evo is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Jamo S 801 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | Focal Sib Evo takes more power (200W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Jamo S 801 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Jamo S 801 is cheaper - $174 against $499, about 65% less; arguably a different class. |
A Focal Sib Evo B Jamo S 801
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 speakers are judged; anything missing on either side is left out rather than guessed.
Which should you choose?
The usual trade-off: Focal Sib Evo measures better, Jamo S 801 costs about about 2.9x the price% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 76Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 801 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Focal Sib Evo the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Jamo S 801 for near-field listening and a small room.
And remember what a spec sheet cannot show: how each looks in your room and whether the finish suits it, what dealer support and warranty are like where you live, and how they actually sound to you. If you can hear them first - ideally with your own music - that will tell you more than any number above.