In this review, we will be comparing S 81 CEN and S 83 CEN, two Passive Center Channel speakers by Jamo
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 81 CEN and Jamo S 83 CEN first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Jamo S 81 CEN Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer
- 71-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 86 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 60watts
- Weight:5.00kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 186.0" x 17-1/8" x 8-11/16"( 186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm )
Jamo S 83 CEN Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter
- 2 x 5" polyfiber Woofer
- 65-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 80watts
- Weight:6.80kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 216.0" x 19-5/8" x 9-11/16"( 216.0 x 499.0 x 247.0mm )
S 81 CEN and S 83 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 81 CEN and Jamo S 83 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 81 CEN |
Jamo S 83 CEN |
| 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Jamo S 81 CEN and Jamo S 83 CEN compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking
through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both S 81 CEN and S 83 CEN are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
Jamo S 83 CEN |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 5-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the S 83 CEN features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 5" polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
S 81 CEN has a frequency range of 71-26k Hz whereas S 83 CEN has a frequency range of 65-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the S 83 CEN can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 81 CEN's min frequency of 71Hz.
Below graphs depict how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average values of the Min and Max Frequencies of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
High Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
None of these speakers achieves full range experience which is commonly agreed as 20Hz-20kHz. In order to achieve lower lows / deeper bass, we recommend you pair these with a subwoofer. Visit our Powered Subwoofers section to find out more about the available options.
Impedance and Sensitivity
S 81 CEN and S 83 CEN have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S 81 CEN sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S 83 CEN's is at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Jamo S 83 CEN a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 81 CEN, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
Power Range
Power
range is the range of input power in watts RMS that a loudspeaker is designed to handle. While using
an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the
max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
S 81 CEN can handle a max power of 80 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 81 CEN has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS , 20 watts less than the S 83 CEN.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
S 81 CEN features Binding post type posts and S 83 CEN has a Binding post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 81 CEN's Binding post terminals
Jamo S 83 CEN's Binding post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both S 81 CEN and S 83 CEN 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
Size of a speaker can sometimes become 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 81 CEN's and Jamo S 83 CEN's external dimensions. 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) whereas Jamo S 83 CEN has external dimensions of 216.0 x 499.0 x 247.0mm ( 8-1/2 x 19-5/8 x 9-11/16inch) .
Jamo S 83 CEN is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 64mm wider, 30mm taller and 26mm deeper than Jamo S 81 CEN.
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 81 CEN is approximately 961.4cm2 / 149.0inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 83 CEN is approximately 1232.5cm2 / 191.0inch2. The S 81 CEN requires 22% less surface area than the S 83 CEN which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
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 81 CEN weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Jamo S 83 CEN weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs. This makes the S 83 CEN 36% heavier than the S 81 CEN.
Here is a comparison of how S 81 CEN and S 83 CEN's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Jamo S 81 CEN?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S 81 CEN:
Center-channel loudspeaker Grille User Manual Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Jamo S 83 CEN?
Here are the items that come with the S 83 CEN:
Center-channel loudspeaker Grille User Manual Important Safety Instructions Warranty Information
 Height |
186mm
vs
216mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
961cm2
vs
1232cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
174USD
vs
229USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
80 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
87 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
71 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
| General |
Jamo S 81 CEN |
Jamo S 83 CEN |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 60 watts |
up to 80 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
71-26k Hz |
65-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
polyfiber |
polyfiber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
N/A" |
N/A" |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
186.0mm (7.3") |
216.0mm (8.5") |
| Width |
435.0mm (17.1") |
499.0mm (19.6") |
| Depth |
221.0mm (8.7") |
247.0mm (9.7") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black, White, Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |