In this review, we will be comparing Nero MB5 and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from OSD and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of OSD Nero MB5 and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | OSD Nero MB5 | Jamo S 801 |
|---|
| Brand | OSD
United States · founded 2003 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Fiberglass | 4" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 50-30k Hz | 76-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 90 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 100 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.45kg / 12lbs | 2.70kg / 5.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 11-15/16" x 7-5/16" x 9-5/8"
304.0 x 177.8 x 245.0mm | 11.2" x 6.1" x 6.4"
285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the OSD Nero MB5 and Jamo S 801 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* |
OSD Nero MB5 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
No way |
(* 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 Nero MB5 and S 801 are 2-way speakers.
OSD Nero MB5Jamo S 801
TweeterWoofer
Front view, drawn to scale - cabinets and drivers share one scale, so sizes are directly comparable. Hover a driver for its size.
| Driver |
OSD Nero MB5 |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Nero MB5 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Fiberglass Woofer. On the other hand, the S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Nero MB5 has a frequency range of 50-30k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 50Hz, the Nero MB5 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 801's min frequency of 76Hz.
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
Nero MB5 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the S 801 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Nero MB5 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Nero MB5 sensitivity is rated at 90 dB and the S 801's is rated at 85 dB. This 5 dB difference makes the OSD Nero MB5 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 801, 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.
Nero MB5 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS, whereas S 801 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Nero MB5.
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.
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 OSD Nero MB5's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. OSD Nero MB5 has external dimensions of 304.0 x 177.8 x 245.0mm (11-15/16inch x 7-5/16inch x 9-5/8inch) whereas Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm (11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch).
OSD Nero MB5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 21.8mm wider, 19mm taller and 82mm deeper than Jamo S 801.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of OSD Nero MB5 and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of OSD Nero MB5 and Jamo S 801 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 OSD Nero MB5 is approximately 435.6cm2 / 67.5inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The Nero MB5 requires 71% more surface area than the S 801 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 OSD Nero MB5 and Jamo S 801 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 OSD Nero MB5 weighs 5.45kg / 12lbs and the Jamo S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs. This makes the Nero MB5 102% heavier than the S 801.
Here is a comparison of how Nero MB5 and S 801's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.
Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
What's in the Box of OSD Nero MB5?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Nero MB5:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
What's in the Box of Jamo S 801?
Here are the items that come with the S 801:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
100 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
5.25 inches
vs
4 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
50 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
30k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
285mm
vs
304mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
254cm2
vs
435cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
OSD Nero MB5 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Brand |
OSD |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
100 watts |
up to 60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
90 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
50-30k Hz |
76-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Fiberglass |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
n/a |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
304.0mm (12") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
177.8mm (7") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
245.0mm (9.6") |
163.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
5.45kg (12lbs) |
2.70kg (5.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
n/a |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
|
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
28-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
n/a |
No |
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 | A | OSD Nero MB5 digs deeper - 50Hz against 76Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | A | OSD Nero MB5 is more sensitive (90dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match | B | Jamo S 801 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | OSD Nero MB5 takes more power (100W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 801 is easier to place; OSD Nero MB5 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Jamo S 801 sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
A OSD Nero MB5 B Jamo S 801
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?
OSD Nero MB5 has the edge on paper, though the margin is not large. The rows marked "depends" may matter more to you than the score does. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 76Hz anyway, so judge these on the other rows instead. Match it to your room: we rate Jamo S 801 the better fit for near-field listening; elsewhere the two are rated the same.
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.