In this review, we will be comparing S 803 and R-41M, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Jamo and Klipsch.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 803 and Klipsch R-41M first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 803 | Klipsch R-41M |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Klipsch
United States · founded 1946 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Tractrix Horn |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Aluminized Polyfiber | 4" Copper-spun IMG |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-26k Hz | 68-21k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 80 watts | 50 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs | 3.20kg / 7lbs |
|---|
| 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 5.7" x 7.8"
287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo S 803 and Klipsch R-41M 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 |
Klipsch R-41M |
| 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 R-41M are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 803Klipsch R-41M
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 |
Klipsch R-41M |
|
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 R-41M features a 1" Tractrix Horn Tweeter and 1 x 4" Copper-spun IMG Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 1730Hz.
Frequency Response
S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz whereas R-41M has a frequency range of 68-21k 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 R-41M's min frequency of 68Hz.
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 R-41M 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 R-41M's is at 90 dB. This 3 dB difference makes the Klipsch R-41M a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 803, 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 R-41M has a max power handling value of 50 watts RMS, 30 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 Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts and R-41M has a Single Gold Plated Binding Posts type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Klipsch R-41M's Single Gold Plated Binding Posts terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S 803 has a front firing port whereas R-41M 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 Klipsch R-41M 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 Klipsch R-41M'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 Klipsch R-41M has external dimensions of 287.0 x 146.0 x 200.0mm (11.2 x 5.7 x 7.8inch).
Jamo S 803 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 45mm wider, 66mm taller and 52mm deeper than Klipsch R-41M.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 803 and Klipsch R-41M in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 803 and Klipsch R-41M 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 Klipsch R-41M is approximately 292.0cm2 / 45.3inch2. The S 803 requires 65% more surface area than the R-41M 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 Klipsch R-41M 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 Klipsch R-41M weighs 3.20kg / 7lbs. This makes the S 803 69% heavier than the R-41M.
Here is a comparison of how S 803 and R-41M'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 Klipsch R-41M?
Here are the items that come with the R-41M:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Quick Setup Guide
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
80 watts
vs
50 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
57 Hz
vs
68 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
21k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Mounting Bracket |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows mounting on walls |
 Height |
287mm
vs
353mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
292cm2
vs
481cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Jamo S 803 |
Klipsch Reference R-41M |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Klipsch |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 80 watts |
50 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-26k Hz |
68-21k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
Copper-spun IMG |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Tractrix Horn |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
1730Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
353.0mm (13.9") |
287.0mm (11.3") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
146.0mm (5.7") |
| Depth |
252.0mm (9.9") |
200.0mm (7.9") |
| Weight |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
3.20kg (7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White |
Black |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
Keyhole |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
26-31" |
| 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 |
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 | A | Jamo S 803 digs deeper - 57Hz against 68Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Klipsch R-41M is more sensitive (90dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | A | Jamo S 803 takes more power (80W vs 50W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Klipsch R-41M is easier to place; Jamo S 803 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($229 vs $229 a pair). |
A Jamo S 803 B Klipsch R-41M
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 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 68Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Klipsch R-41M 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.