In this review, we will be comparing S 803 and Diamond 220, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Jamo and Wharfedale.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 803 and Wharfedale 220 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 803 | Wharfedale 220 |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5" Aluminized Polyfiber | 5" Woven Kevlar |
|---|
| Frequency response | 57-26k Hz | 56-20k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 86 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 80 watts | 25-100 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs | 5.32kg / 11.7lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.8" x 7.5" x 9.9"
353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm | 12.4" x 6.8" x 10.0"
315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo S 803 and Wharfedale 220 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 |
Wharfedale 220 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
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.
Drivers
Both S 803 and Diamond 220 are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 803Wharfedale 220
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 |
Wharfedale 220 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer. On the other hand, the Diamond 220 features a 1" Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2200Hz.
Frequency Response
S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz whereas Diamond 220 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Diamond 220 can go slightly deeper then the S 803's min frequency of 57Hz.
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 Diamond 220 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 Diamond 220's is at 86 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Jamo S 803 a more sensitive speaker compared to Wharfedale 220, 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.
Diamond 220 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas S 803 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the Diamond 220.
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
Diamond 220 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 803 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Wharfedale 220's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S 803 has a front firing port whereas Diamond 220 has a bottom firing ports. Jamo S 803's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Wharfedale 220 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 Wharfedale 220'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 Wharfedale 220 has external dimensions of 315.0 x 174.0 x 255.0mm (12.4 x 6.8 x 10.0inch).
Wharfedale 220 is 17mm narrower and 38mm shorter than Jamo S 803 but it is also 3mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 803 and Wharfedale 220 in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 803 and Wharfedale 220 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 Wharfedale 220 is approximately 443.7cm2 / 68.8inch2. The S 803 requires 8% more surface area than the Diamond 220 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 Wharfedale 220 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 Wharfedale 220 weighs 5.32kg / 11.7lbs. This makes the S 803 2% heavier than the Diamond 220.
Here is a comparison of how S 803 and Diamond 220'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 Wharfedale 220?
Here are the items that come with the Diamond 220:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- User's Manual
- Installation Guide
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
249USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
56 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
315mm
vs
353mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
443cm2
vs
481cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Jamo S 803 |
Wharfedale Diamond 220 |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Wharfedale |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 80 watts |
25-100 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
86 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
n/a |
4.1 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
57-26k Hz |
56-20k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
Woven Kevlar |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2200Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
353.0mm (13.9") |
315.0mm (12.4") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
174.0mm (6.9") |
| Depth |
252.0mm (9.9") |
255.0mm (10") |
| Weight |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
5.32kg (11.7lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Wood veneer |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Black, White |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
Yes |
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 | evenly matched | Much the same reach (57Hz vs 56Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (87dB vs 86dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Wharfedale 220 takes more power (100W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Expandability | depends | Wharfedale 220: bi-amping. Jamo S 803 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | evenly matched | Much the same money ($229 vs $249 a pair). |
A Jamo S 803 B Wharfedale 220
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?
Wharfedale 220 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does.
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.