In this review, we will be comparing A180 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 A180 and Jamo S 809 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
JBL Stage A180 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 6.5" Polycellulose Woofer
- 40-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:20-225watts
- Weight:17.29kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1045.0" x 12" x 14-1/2"( 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm )
Jamo S 809 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Tweeter
- 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer
- 37-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 90 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:120watts
- Weight:13.60kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 1042.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"( 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm )
What size room are the JBL Stage A180 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 A180 |
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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the JBL Stage A180 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.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both A180 and S 809 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
JBL Stage A180 |
Jamo S 809 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 5-inch
|
A180 features a 1" aluminum HDI (High Definition Imaging) waveguide 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
A180 has a frequency range of 40-40k Hz whereas S 809 has a frequency range of 37-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the S 809 can go slightly deeper then the A180's min frequency of 40Hz.
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
A180 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. 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.
A180 can handle a max power of 225 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 105 watts less than the A180.
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
A180 features 5-Way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 809 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 809's Post terminals
Jamo S 809 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 Stage A180's and Jamo S 809's external dimensions. JBL Stage A180 has external dimensions of 1045.0 x 305.0 x 369.0mm ( 41-1/8 x 12 x 14-1/2inch) whereas Jamo S 809 has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm ( 41.0 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) .
JBL Stage A180 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 114mm wider, 3mm taller and 117mm deeper than Jamo S 809.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of JBL Stage A180 and Jamo S 809 in scale.
Comparison image of JBL Stage A180 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 A180 is approximately 1125.5cm2 / 174.5inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The A180 requires 134% 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 A180 weighs 17.29kg / 38lbs and the Jamo S 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs. This makes the A180 27% heavier than the S 809.
Here is a comparison of how A180 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 A180?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of A180:
Floorstanding loudspeakerGrille4 Outriggers4 Rubber feet4 Spikes8 Screws2 Terminal jumpers (pre-installed)Owners ManualWarranty Card
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