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.
JBL A130 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Polycellulose Woofer
- 55-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-125watts
- Weight:5.46kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 323.0" x 7-1/2" x 9-13/16"( 323.0 x 191.0 x 250.0mm )
Jamo S 803 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer
- 57-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 80watts
- Weight:5.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 353.0" 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL A130 and Jamo S 803 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both A130 and S 803 are 2-way speakers.
| 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.
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
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. 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.
A130 can handle a max power of 125 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 803 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 45 watts less than the A130.
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
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
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 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 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 JBL A130 and Jamo S 803 on a Media Console