In this review, we will be comparing LX-5 MKII and S 809, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Mission and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Mission LX-5 MKII and Jamo S 809 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Mission LX-5 MKII | Jamo S 809 |
|---|
| Brand | Mission
United Kingdom · founded 1977 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 6.5" Composite fibre | 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 42-20k Hz | 37-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 30-150 watts | 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 19.10kg / 42lbs | 13.60kg / 29.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 39-3/16" x 8-7/8" x 12-1/8"
995.0 x 226.0 x 308.0mm | 41.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"
1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Mission LX-5 MKII and Jamo S 809 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* |
Mission LX-5 MKII |
Jamo S 809 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Average |
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 LX-5 MKII and S 809 are 2-way speakers.
Mission LX-5 MKIIJamo S 809
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
Mission LX-5 MKII |
Jamo S 809 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 5-inch
|
LX-5 MKII features a 1" Microfibre Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Composite fibre Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2.3kHz. On the other hand, the S 809 features a 1" Tweeter and 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2000Hz.
Frequency Response
LX-5 MKII has a frequency range of 42-20k Hz whereas S 809 has a frequency range of 37-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the S 809 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the LX-5 MKII's min frequency of 42Hz.
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
LX-5 MKII and S 809 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.
LX-5 MKII can handle a max power of 150 watts RMS, whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 30 watts less than the LX-5 MKII.
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
LX-5 MKII features Binding 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
Jamo S 809 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 Mission LX-5 MKII's and Jamo S 809's external dimensions. Mission LX-5 MKII has external dimensions of 995.0 x 226.0 x 308.0mm (39-3/16 x 8-7/8 x 12-1/8inch) whereas Jamo S 809 has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm (41.0 x 7.5 x 9.9inch).
Jamo S 809 is 35mm narrower and 56mm less deeper than Mission LX-5 MKII but it is also 47mm taller.
Size, drawn to scale
Both speakers and both views share one scale, so everything here is directly comparable. Hover a box for its dimensions.
One scale for both, standing on the same surface and pushed back to the same wall, so the deeper one visibly sticks out further.
Mission LX-5 MKII needs about 45% more floor or shelf area. Mission LX-5 MKII is 56mm deeper, so it stands that much further out from the wall. Jamo S 809 is 47mm taller.
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 Mission LX-5 MKII is approximately 696.1cm2 / 107.9inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The LX-5 MKII requires 45% more surface area than the S 809 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 Mission LX-5 MKII weighs 19.10kg / 42lbs and the Jamo S 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs. This makes the LX-5 MKII 40% heavier than the S 809.
Here is a comparison of how LX-5 MKII and S 809'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 come with the S 809:
- 2 Floorstanding loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 8 Mounting feet
- 16 Screws
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
150 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
995mm
vs
1042mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
42 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional Jamo S 8 ATM Dolby Atmos upward-firing speakers
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
696cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
634USD
vs
740USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Mission LX-5 MKII |
Jamo Studio S 809 |
| Brand |
Mission |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
30-150 watts |
120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
4.2 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
42-20k Hz |
37-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Composite fibre |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
2.3kHz |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
995.0mm (39.2") |
1042.0mm (41") |
| Width |
226.0mm (8.9") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
308.0mm (12.1") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
19.10kg (42lbs) |
13.60kg (29.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
n/a |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
|
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
|
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 | Jamo S 809 digs deeper - 37Hz against 42Hz. A subwoofer would even that out. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (90dB vs 90dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Mission LX-5 MKII takes more power (150W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 809 is easier to place; Mission LX-5 MKII is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Mission LX-5 MKII: bi-amping; Jamo S 809: Atmos drivers. Mission LX-5 MKII sits in a wider range (10 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | B | Jamo S 809 is cheaper - $634 against $740, about 14% less. |
A Mission LX-5 MKII B Jamo S 809
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?
Neither runs away with it - they trade advantages. Let the "depends" rows and your own room settle it. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 42Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Mission LX-5 MKII the better fit for a very large room, and Jamo S 809 for a mid-size 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.