In this review, we will be comparing A130 and S 803, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from JBL and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of JBL A130 and Jamo S 803 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | JBL A130 | Jamo S 803 |
|---|
| Brand | JBL
United States · founded 1946 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Hard-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Polycellulose | 5" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-40k Hz | 57-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-125 watts | up to 80 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.46kg / 12lbs | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 12-11/16" x 7-1/2" x 9-13/16"
323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm | 13.8" x 7.5" x 9.9"
353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the JBL A130 and Jamo S 803 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 A130 |
Jamo S 803 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Bad |
(* 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.
Drivers
Both A130 and S 803 are 2-way speakers.
JBL A130Jamo S 803
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 A130 |
Jamo S 803 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
A130 features a 1" aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer. On the other hand, the S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
A130 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz whereas S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the A130 can go slightly deeper then the S 803's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
A130 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 803 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. A130 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S 803's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Jamo S 803 a more sensitive speaker compared to JBL A130, 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.
A130 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS, whereas S 803 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the A130.
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
A130 features Post type posts and S 803 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
JBL A130's 5-way post terminals
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
A130 has a rear firing port whereas S 803 has a front firing ports. Jamo S 803's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to JBL A130 with its rear-firing port.
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 A130's and Jamo S 803's external dimensions. JBL A130 has external dimensions of 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm (12-11/16 x 7-1/2 x 9-13/16inch) whereas Jamo S 803 has external dimensions of 353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm (13.8 x 7.5 x 9.9inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL A130 and Jamo S 803 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL A130 and Jamo S 803 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 A130 is approximately 477.5cm2 / 74.0inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 803 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The A130 requires 1% less surface area than the S 803 which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is 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 JBL A130 and Jamo S 803 on a Media Console
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 A130 weighs 5.46kg / 12lbs and the Jamo S 803 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the A130 1% heavier than the S 803.
Here is a comparison of how A130 and S 803's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of JBL A130?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A130:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Jamo S 803?
Here are the items that come with the S 803:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
125 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
323mm
vs
353mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
477cm2
vs
481cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
300USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
JBL Stage A130 |
Jamo S 803 |
| Brand |
JBL |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-125 watts |
up to 80 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-40k Hz |
57-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Polycellulose |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Hard-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
323.0mm (12.7") |
353.0mm (13.9") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
250.0mm (9.8") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
5.46kg (12lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-26" |
24-28" |
| 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 |
No single best speaker here - they are built to different priorities, and the right one depends on your room, your amplifier and what you listen to.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (55Hz vs 57Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Jamo S 803 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | A | JBL A130 takes more power (125W vs 80W) - 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. JBL A130 sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Jamo S 803 is cheaper - $229 against $300, about 24% less. |
A JBL A130 B Jamo S 803
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. Match it to your room: we rate JBL A130 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Jamo S 803 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.