In this review, we will be comparing C 91 II and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Jamo Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo C 91 II and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Jamo C 91 II Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Composite Woofer
- 65-24k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 6ohms
- Power Range:50-100watts
- Weight:4.10kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 265.0" x 6.7" x 7.5"( 265.0 x 171.0 x 191.0mm )
Jamo S 801 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer
- 76-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 60watts
- Weight:2.70kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 285.0" x 6.1" x 6.4"( 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm )
What size room are the Jamo C 91 II and Jamo S 801 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 91 II |
Jamo S 801 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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 Jamo C 91 II and Jamo S 801 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 C 91 II and S 801 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Jamo C 91 II |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
C 91 II features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Composite Woofer . On the other hand, the S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
C 91 II has a frequency range of 65-24k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the C 91 II can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 801's min frequency of 76Hz.
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
C 91 II is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 801 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. C 91 II sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S 801's is rated at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Jamo C 91 II a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 801, 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.
C 91 II can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 801 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the C 91 II.
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
C 91 II features Post type posts and S 801 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo C 91 II's 5-way post terminals
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both C 91 II and S 801 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.
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 Jamo C 91 II's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. Jamo C 91 II has external dimensions of 265.0 x 171.0 x 191.0mm ( 10.4 x 6.7 x 7.5inch) whereas Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm ( 11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch) .
Jamo S 801 is 15mm narrower and 28mm less deeper than Jamo C 91 II but it is also 20mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo C 91 II and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo C 91 II and Jamo S 801 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 Jamo C 91 II is approximately 326.6cm2 / 50.6inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The C 91 II requires 28% more surface area than the S 801 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Jamo C 91 II and Jamo S 801 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 Jamo C 91 II weighs 4.10kg / 9lbs and the Jamo S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs. This makes the C 91 II 52% heavier than the S 801.
Here is a comparison of how C 91 II and S 801's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of Jamo C 91 II?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of C 91 II:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet 4 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers User Manual Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Jamo S 801?
Here are the items that come with the S 801:
2 Bookshelf loudspeakers 2 Grilles User Manual Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information