In this review, we will be comparing two different types of speakers by Jamo. Jamo S 803 is a Bookshelf speaker whereas the S 81 CEN is a Center Channel speaker.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 803 and Jamo S 81 CEN first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 803 | Jamo S 81 CEN |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Aluminized Polyfiber | 2 x 4" polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-26k Hz | 71-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 80 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs | 5.00kg / 11lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.8" x 7.5" x 9.9"
353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm | 7-5/16" x 17-1/8" x 8-11/16"
186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm |
|---|
S 803 and S 81 CEN 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 81 CEN 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 81 CEN |
| 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 81 CEN are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 803Jamo S 81 CEN
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 81 CEN |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer. On the other hand, the S 81 CEN features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz whereas S 81 CEN has a frequency range of 71-26k 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 81 CEN's min frequency of 71Hz.
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 81 CEN 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 81 CEN's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Jamo S 803 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 81 CEN, 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 81 CEN 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 Binding post type posts and S 81 CEN has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Jamo S 81 CEN's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S 803 has a front firing port whereas S 81 CEN 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 81 CEN 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 81 CEN'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 81 CEN has external dimensions of 186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm (7-5/16 x 17-1/8 x 8-11/16inch).
Jamo S 81 CEN is 167mm shorter and 31mm less deeper than Jamo S 803 but it is also 244mm wider.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 803 and Jamo S 81 CEN in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 803 and Jamo S 81 CEN 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 81 CEN is approximately 961.4cm2 / 149.0inch2. The S 803 requires 50% less surface area than the S 81 CEN which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 81 CEN?
Here are the items that come with the S 81 CEN:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information