In this review, we will be comparing S 803 and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers by Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 803 and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 803 | Jamo S 801 |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Aluminized Polyfiber | 4" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-26k Hz | 76-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 80 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs | 2.70kg / 5.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.8" x 7.5" x 9.9"
353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm | 11.2" x 6.1" x 6.4"
285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm |
|---|
S 803 and S 801 are members of Jamo's Studio 8 series of speakers. Below you can find the loudspeakers from this series.
What size room are the Jamo S 803 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 S 803 |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both S 803 and S 801 are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 803Jamo S 801
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 803 |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer. On the other hand, the S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 57Hz, the S 803 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 803 and S 801 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S 803 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the S 801's is at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Jamo S 803 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.
S 803 can handle a max power of 80 watts RMS, whereas S 801 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the S 803.
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 803 features Post type posts and S 801 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S 803 has a front firing port whereas S 801 has a rear firing ports. Jamo S 803's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Jamo S 801 with its rear-firing 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 S 803's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. Jamo S 803 has external dimensions of 353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm (13.8 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) 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 803 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 35mm wider, 68mm taller and 89mm deeper than Jamo S 801.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 803 and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 803 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 S 803 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The S 803 requires 89% more surface area than the S 801 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 803 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 S 803 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs and the Jamo S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs. This makes the S 803 100% heavier than the S 801.
Here is a comparison of how S 803 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 S 803?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S 803:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 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
 Max Input Power |
80 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Height |
285mm
vs
353mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
254cm2
vs
481cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
174USD
vs
229USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Jamo S 803 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 80 watts |
up to 60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-26k Hz |
76-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
353.0mm (13.9") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
252.0mm (9.9") |
163.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
2.70kg (5.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
28-31" |
| 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 |
Siblings in Jamo's Studio 8 series, so they share a family sound. It comes down to size, output and price.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | A | Jamo S 803 digs deeper - 57Hz against 76Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | Jamo S 803 is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Jamo S 803 takes more power (80W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 801 is easier to place; Jamo S 803 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Jamo S 801 is cheaper - $174 against $229, about 24% less. |
A Jamo S 803 B Jamo S 801
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?
Jamo S 803 leads across most of the measured areas for a fairly modest premium, which makes it the easier pick if the budget stretches. Jamo S 801 is the one to take if it does not. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 76Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 801 much easier to justify. 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.