In this review, we will be comparing S 83 CEN and Monitor XT30, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Jamo and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 83 CEN and Polk XT30 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 83 CEN | Polk XT30 |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide | 1" High-res dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 5" polyfiber | 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate paper cone |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-26k Hz | 55-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 89 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 80 watts | 30-200 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 6.80kg / 15lbs | 5.91kg / 13lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 8-1/2" x 19-5/8" x 9-11/16"
216.0 x 499.0 x 247.0mm | 6-1/2" x 19-1/16" x 8-3/16"
166.0 x 485.0 x 208.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo S 83 CEN and Polk XT30 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 83 CEN |
Polk XT30 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Good |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Poor |
(* 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 83 CEN and Monitor XT30 are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 83 CENPolk XT30
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 83 CEN |
Polk XT30 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 5-inch
|
2 x 5.25-inch
|
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. On the other hand, the Monitor XT30 features a 1" Terylene High-res dome Tweeter and 2 x 5.25" bi-laminate paper cone Woofer.
Frequency Response
S 83 CEN has a frequency range of 65-26k Hz whereas Monitor XT30 has a frequency range of 55-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 55Hz, the Monitor XT30 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 83 CEN's min frequency of 65Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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 83 CEN and Monitor XT30 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. S 83 CEN sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the Monitor XT30's is at 89 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Polk XT30 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 83 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. Staying
within that range gives nominal performance; driving the speaker beyond its maximum wattage can damage it.
Monitor XT30 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas S 83 CEN has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 120 watts less than the Monitor XT30.
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 83 CEN features 5-Way post type posts and Monitor XT30 has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 83 CEN's Binding post terminals
Polk XT30's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both S 83 CEN and Monitor XT30 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
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 83 CEN's and Polk XT30's external dimensions. 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) whereas Polk XT30 has external dimensions of 166.0 x 485.0 x 208.0mm (6-1/2 x 19-1/16 x 8-3/16inch).
Jamo S 83 CEN is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 14mm wider, 50mm taller and 39mm deeper than Polk XT30.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 83 CEN and Polk XT30 in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 83 CEN and Polk XT30 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 83 CEN is approximately 1232.5cm2 / 191.0inch2 and base area of the Polk XT30 is approximately 1008.8cm2 / 156.4inch2. The S 83 CEN requires 22% more surface area than the Monitor XT30 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 83 CEN weighs 6.80kg / 15lbs and the Polk XT30 weighs 5.91kg / 13lbs. This makes the S 83 CEN 15% heavier than the Monitor XT30.
Here is a comparison of how S 83 CEN and Monitor XT30'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 83 CEN?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S 83 CEN:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk XT30?
Here are the items that come with the Monitor XT30:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
- Wall-Mount Template
 Max Input Power |
200 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
89 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
55 Hz
vs
65 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
166mm
vs
216mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
1008cm2
vs
1232cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
199USD
vs
229USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Jamo S 83 CEN |
Polk Audio Monitor XT30 |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Center channel speaker |
Center channel speaker |
| Power Range |
up to 80 watts |
30-200 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
89 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
65-26k Hz |
55-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
5.25" |
| Woofer Composition |
polyfiber |
bi-laminate paper cone |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
High-res dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
216.0mm (8.5") |
166.0mm (6.5") |
| Width |
499.0mm (19.6") |
485.0mm (19.1") |
| Depth |
247.0mm (9.7") |
208.0mm (8.2") |
| Weight |
6.80kg (15lbs) |
5.91kg (13lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Available Colors |
Black, White, Walnut |
Black |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk XT30 is the newer design, against a 2017 model. Newer is not automatically better, but the older one is more likely to be discounted or near run-out.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | B | Polk XT30 digs deeper - 55Hz against 65Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | B | Polk XT30 is more sensitive (89dB vs 87dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | B | Polk XT30 takes more power (200W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Polk XT30 is easier to place; Jamo S 83 CEN is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Price | B | Polk XT30 is cheaper - $199 against $229, about 13% less. |
A Jamo S 83 CEN B Polk XT30
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?
Polk XT30 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Jamo S 83 CEN if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 65Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Jamo S 83 CEN the better fit for near-field listening and a small room, and Polk XT30 for a mid-size room and a large room.
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.