In this review, we will be comparing Stage 260F and S 809, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from JBL and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL Stage 260F and Jamo S 809 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL Stage 260F | Jamo S 809 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose | 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-25k Hz | 37-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-225 watts | 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.55kg / 43lbs | 13.60kg / 29.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 40-13/16" x 12-1/4" x 14-5/16"
1037.0 x 312.0 x 364.0mm | 41.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"
1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL Stage 260F 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:
| Listening Environment* |
JBL Stage 260F |
Jamo S 809 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
(* 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
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that Stage 260F 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.
JBL Stage 260FJamo S 809
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
JBL Stage 260F |
Jamo S 809 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 5-inch
|
Stage 260F features a 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose 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
Stage 260F has a frequency range of 45-25k 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 Stage 260F's min frequency of 45Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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
Stage 260F is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 809 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 90 dBdB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
Stage 260F can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS, whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 105 watts less than the Stage 260F.
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
Stage 260F features Post type posts and S 809 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 809's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Stage 260F 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 JBL Stage 260F with its rear-firing port.
Jamo S 809 Port
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 JBL Stage 260F's and Jamo S 809's external dimensions. JBL Stage 260F has external dimensions of 1037.0 x 312.0 x 364.0mm (40-13/16inch x 12-1/4inch x 14-5/16inch) whereas Jamo S 809 has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm (41.0 x 7.5 x 9.9inch).
Jamo S 809 is 121mm narrower and 112mm less deeper than JBL Stage 260F but it is also 5mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage 260F and Jamo S 809 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage 260F and Jamo S 809 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 JBL Stage 260F is approximately 1135.7cm2 / 176.0inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The Stage 260F requires 136% 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 JBL Stage 260F weighs 19.55kg / 43lbs and the Jamo S 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs. This makes the Stage 260F 44% heavier than the S 809.
Here is a comparison of how Stage 260F 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 JBL Stage 260F?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Stage 260F:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker Grille Plinth 4 Spikes 4 Screws Hex-key Quick Start Guide Important Safety Instructions
What's in the Box of Jamo S 809?
Here are the items that come with the S 809:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Mounting feet
- 16 Screws
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
225 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 |
 Height |
1037mm
vs
1042mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
45 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
25k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
1135cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
634USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage 260F |
Jamo Studio S 809 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
20-225 watts |
120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
45-25k Hz |
37-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1037.0mm (40.8") |
1042.0mm (41") |
| Width |
312.0mm (12.3") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
364.0mm (14.3") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
19.55kg (43lbs) |
13.60kg (29.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Espresso,Latte |
Walnut |
| 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 |
A generation apart: JBL Stage 260F is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass |
B |
Jamo S 809 digs deeper - 37Hz against 45Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs |
evenly matched |
Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Jamo S 809 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
A |
JBL Stage 260F takes more power (225W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Jamo S 809 is easier to place; JBL Stage 260F is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability |
depends |
JBL Stage 260F: Atmos drivers; Jamo S 809: Atmos drivers. JBL Stage 260F sits in a wider range (8 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
B |
Jamo S 809 is cheaper - $634 against $999, about 37% less. |
A JBL Stage 260F
B Jamo S 809
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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?
Jamo S 809 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 45Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate JBL Stage 260F the better fit for a very large room, and Jamo S 809 for a mid-size 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.