In this review, we will be comparing C 9 CEN II and ES30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Jamo and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo C 9 CEN II and Polk ES30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo C 9 CEN II | Polk ES30 |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" HCCC (Hybrid Composition Conical Cone) | 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-24k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 50-140 watts | 20-125 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.09kg / 6.8lbs | 8.64kg / 19lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 7-3/16" x 18-5/16" x 9-1/16"
183.0 x 466.0 x 231.0mm | 7-1/2" x 20-1/16" x 10-5/8"
191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo C 9 CEN II and Polk ES30 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* |
Jamo C 9 CEN II |
Polk ES30 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
Drivers
Both C 9 CEN II and ES30 are 2-way speakers.
Jamo C 9 CEN IIPolk ES30
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Jamo C 9 CEN II |
Polk ES30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5.5-inch
|
C 9 CEN II features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 4" HCCC (Hybrid Composition Conical Cone) Woofer. On the other hand, the ES30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.5" mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance Woofer.
Frequency Response
C 9 CEN II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz whereas ES30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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
C 9 CEN II is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the ES30 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. C 9 CEN II sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the ES30's is rated at 89 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Polk ES30 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo C 9 CEN II, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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.
C 9 CEN II can handle a max power of 140 watts RMS, whereas ES30 has a max power handling value of 125 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the C 9 CEN II.
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
C 9 CEN II features 5-Way post type posts and ES30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo C 9 CEN II's 5-Way post terminals
Polk ES30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both C 9 CEN II and ES30 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.
Polk ES30 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 Jamo C 9 CEN II's and Polk ES30's external dimensions. Jamo C 9 CEN II has external dimensions of 183.0 x 466.0 x 231.0mm (7-3/16 x 18-5/16 x 9-1/16inch) whereas Polk ES30 has external dimensions of 191.0 x 510.0 x 270.0mm (7-1/2 x 20-1/16 x 10-5/8inch).
Polk ES30 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 44mm wider, 8mm taller and 39mm deeper than Jamo C 9 CEN II.
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 Jamo C 9 CEN II is approximately 1076.5cm2 / 166.9inch2 and base area of the Polk ES30 is approximately 1377.0cm2 / 213.4inch2. The C 9 CEN II requires 22% less surface area than the ES30 which gives it a small advantage 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 Jamo C 9 CEN II weighs 3.09kg / 6.8lbs and the Polk ES30 weighs 8.64kg / 19lbs. This makes the ES30 180% heavier than the C 9 CEN II.
Here is a comparison of how C 9 CEN II and ES30's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Jamo C 9 CEN II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of C 9 CEN II:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 2 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk ES30?
Here are the items that come with the ES30:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Max Input Power |
140 watts
vs
125 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Height |
183mm
vs
191mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1076cm2
vs
1377cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Woofer Size |
5.5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
299USD
vs
344USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Jamo Concert 9 Series C 9 CEN II |
Polk Audio Signature Elite ES30 |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker (Black Ash) |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
50-140 watts |
20-125 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-24k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
HCCC (Hybrid Composition Conical Cone) |
mica-reinforced polypropylene Dynamic Balance |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
183.0mm (7.2") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Width |
466.0mm (18.3") |
510.0mm (20.1") |
| Depth |
231.0mm (9.1") |
270.0mm (10.6") |
| Weight |
3.09kg (6.8lbs) |
8.64kg (19lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF, Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black Ash, White Oak,Dark Apple |
Black, Walnut, White |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk ES30 is the newer design, against a 2016 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (55Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 89dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Polk ES30 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (140W vs 125W). |
| Size | depends | Jamo C 9 CEN II is easier to place; Polk ES30 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Polk ES30 sits in a wider range (12 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Polk ES30 is cheaper - $299 against $344, about 13% less. |
A Jamo C 9 CEN II B Polk ES30
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?
Polk ES30 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.