In this review, we will be comparing S 801 and TSi100, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Jamo and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 801 and Polk TSi100 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 801 | Polk TSi100 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Aluminized Polyfiber | 5.25" Organic Fiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 76-26k Hz | 61-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 60 watts | 20-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 2.70kg / 5.9lbs | 4.53kg / 10lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11.2" x 6.1" x 6.4"
285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm | 11.0" x 7.0" x 10.1"
279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo S 801 and Polk TSi100 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 S 801 |
Polk TSi100 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both S 801 and TSi100 are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 801Polk TSi100
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 S 801 |
Polk TSi100 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer. On the other hand, the TSi100 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Organic Fiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz whereas TSi100 has a frequency range of 61-24k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 61Hz, the TSi100 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 801's min frequency of 76Hz.
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
S 801 and TSi100 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S 801 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the TSi100's is at 89 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Polk TSi100 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
TSi100 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas S 801 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the TSi100.
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
S 801 features Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts and TSi100 has a Pair of 5-way Binding Posts - Gold-Plated type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both S 801 and TSi100 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
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 S 801's and Polk TSi100's external dimensions. Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm (11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch) whereas Polk TSi100 has external dimensions of 279.4 x 177.8 x 259.0mm (11.0 x 7.0 x 10.1inch).
Jamo S 801 is 21.8mm narrower and 96mm less deeper than Polk TSi100 but it is also 5.6mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 801 and Polk TSi100 in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 801 and Polk TSi100 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 S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2 and base area of the Polk TSi100 is approximately 460.5cm2 / 71.4inch2. The S 801 requires 45% less surface area than the TSi100 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 Jamo S 801 and Polk TSi100 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 S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs and the Polk TSi100 weighs 4.53kg / 10lbs. This makes the TSi100 68% heavier than the S 801.
Here is a comparison of how S 801 and TSi100'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 S 801?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S 801:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk TSi100?
Here are the items that come with the TSi100:
- 2 Black bookshelf speakers
- Detachable cloth grille (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owner's Manual
- Wall-Mount template
- Online registration sheet
- Polk Audio product brochure
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
254cm2
vs
460cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
61 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
279mm
vs
285mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
149USD
vs
174USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Jamo S 801 |
Polk Audio TSi100 |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 60 watts |
20-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
76-26k Hz |
61-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
Organic Fiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
285.0mm (11.2") |
279.4mm (11") |
| Width |
156.0mm (6.1") |
177.8mm (7") |
| Depth |
163.0mm (6.4") |
259.0mm (10.2") |
| Weight |
2.70kg (5.9lbs) |
4.53kg (10lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White |
Black, Cherry |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
28-31" |
16-30" |
| 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 |
B |
Polk TSi100 digs deeper - 61Hz against 76Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Polk TSi100 is more sensitive (89dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
B |
Polk TSi100 takes more power (100W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Jamo S 801 is easier to place; Polk TSi100 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price |
B |
Polk TSi100 is cheaper - $149 against $174, about 14% less. |
A Jamo S 801
B Polk TSi100
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 TSi100 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Jamo S 801 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 76Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Jamo S 801 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.