In this review, we will be comparing S 809 and S60, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Jamo and Polk Audio.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Jamo S 809 and Polk S60 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Jamo S 809 | Polk S60 |
|---|
| Brand | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 | Polk Audio
United States · founded 1972 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" | 1" Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber | 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
|---|
| Frequency response | 37-26k Hz | 26-40k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 120 watts | 20-300 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 13.60kg / 29.9lbs | 23.60kg / 51.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 41.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"
1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm | 44-1/2" x 11-3/4" x 15-3/4"
1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Jamo S 809 and Polk S60 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 809 |
Polk S60 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
Average |
(* 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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both S 809 and S60 are 2-way speakers.
Jamo S 809Polk S60
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 809 |
Polk S60 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
3 x 5-inch
|
3 x 6.5-inch
|
S 809 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz. On the other hand, the S60 features a 1" Terylene Dome Tweeter and 3 x 6.5" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz.
Frequency Response
S 809 has a frequency range of 37-26k Hz whereas S60 has a frequency range of 26-40k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 26Hz, the S60 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 809's min frequency of 37Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing 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 809 and S60 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 90 dB.
Sensitivity
Floor-standing 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.
S60 can handle a max power of 300 watts RMS, whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 180 watts less than the S60.
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
S60 features 5-way post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 809 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 809's Post terminals
Polk S60's 5-way post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Cabinet Type and Port Position
S 809 has a front firing port whereas S60 has a bottom firing ports. Jamo S 809's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk S60 with its rear-firing port.
Jamo S 809 Port
Polk S60 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 809's and Polk S60's external dimensions. Jamo S 809 has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm (41.0 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) whereas Polk S60 has external dimensions of 1131.0 x 299.0 x 401.0mm (44-1/2 x 11-3/4 x 15-3/4inch).
Polk S60 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 108mm wider, 89mm taller and 149mm deeper than Jamo S 809.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Jamo S 809 and Polk S60 in scale.
Comparison image of Jamo S 809 and Polk S60 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 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2 and base area of the Polk S60 is approximately 1199.0cm2 / 185.8inch2. The S 809 requires 60% less surface area than the S60 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 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs and the Polk S60 weighs 23.60kg / 51.9lbs. This makes the S60 74% heavier than the S 809.
Here is a comparison of how S 809 and S60's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Floor-standing class.
Weight
All Floor-standing Speakers
What's in the Box of Jamo S 809?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S 809:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Mounting feet
- 16 Screws
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
What's in the Box of Polk S60?
Here are the items that come with the S60:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- 4 Feet (pre-installed)
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional Jamo S 8 ATM Dolby Atmos upward-firing speakers
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Height |
1042mm
vs
1131mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
1199cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
634USD
vs
898USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Max Input Power |
300 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
26 Hz
vs
37 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
| General |
Jamo Studio S 809 |
Polk Audio Signature S60 |
| Brand |
Jamo |
Polk Audio |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
120 watts |
20-300 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
37-26k Hz |
26-40k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
3 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
5" |
6.5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
Mica-reinforced polypropylene |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Butyl rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
n/a |
Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2000Hz |
2500Hz |
| Firing Direction |
front |
bottom |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
1042.0mm (41") |
1131.0mm (44.5") |
| Width |
191.0mm (7.5") |
299.0mm (11.8") |
| Depth |
252.0mm (9.9") |
401.0mm (15.8") |
| Weight |
13.60kg (29.9lbs) |
23.60kg (51.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
Meddite MDF |
| Available Colors |
Walnut |
Black |
| 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 | B | Polk S60 digs deeper - 26Hz against 37Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | B | Polk S60 takes more power (300W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 809 is easier to place; Polk S60 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Jamo S 809: Atmos drivers; Polk S60: bi-amping. Polk S60 sits in a wider range (6 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Jamo S 809 is cheaper - $634 against $898, about 29% less. |
A Jamo S 809 B Polk S60
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?
The usual trade-off: Polk S60 measures better, Jamo S 809 costs about about 42% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 37Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 809 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Jamo S 809 the better fit for a mid-size room, and Polk S60 for a very 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.