In this review, we will be comparing Alpha AM3 and S 801 PM, two Powered Bookshelf speakers from PSB and Jamo. Being Powered speakers, they both have built-in amplifiers so you don't need an external power amp or an integrated amp to power them.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of PSB Alpha AM3 and Jamo S 801 PM first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
PSB Alpha AM3 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 70-watt RMS Integrated Amplifier
- 0.75" Hard-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Polypropylene Woofer
- 56-20k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 48 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 5.0 Bluetooth
- Weight:4.50kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 220.7" x 5.1875" x 8.125"( 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm )
Jamo S 801 PM Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 50-watt RMS( 100-watt Peak) Integrated Amplifier
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 4" Polyfiber Woofer
- 76-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 24-bit Max Depth / 96 kHz Max Sample Rate
- Built-in 3.0 Bluetooth
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 285.8" x 6.1875" x 7.8125"( 285.8 x 157.2 x 198.4mm )
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the PSB Alpha AM3 and Jamo S 801 PM compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one of these loudspeakers is the better choice for you.
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Drivers
Both Alpha AM3 and S 801 PM are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
PSB Alpha AM3 |
Jamo S 801 PM |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
0.75-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Alpha AM3 features a 0.75" Aluminum Hard-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polypropylene Woofer . On the other hand, the S 801 PM features a 1" Silk Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Polyfiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
Alpha AM3 has a frequency range of 56-20k Hz whereas S 801 PM has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 56Hz, the Alpha AM3 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 801 PM's min frequency of 76Hz.
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 Bookshelf class in our database.
Low Frequency
Bookshelf Speakers
High Frequency
Bookshelf 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.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both Alpha AM3 and S 801 PM 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 PSB Alpha AM3's and Jamo S 801 PM's external dimensions. PSB Alpha AM3 has external dimensions of 220.7 x 131.8 x 206.4mm ( 8.6875 x 5.1875 x 8.125inch) whereas Jamo S 801 PM has external dimensions of 285.8 x 157.2 x 198.4mm ( 11.25 x 6.1875 x 7.8125inch) .
PSB Alpha AM3 is 25.4mm narrower and 65.1mm shorter than Jamo S 801 PM but it is also 8mm deeper.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of PSB Alpha AM3 and Jamo S 801 PM in scale.
Comparison image of PSB Alpha AM3 and Jamo S 801 PM 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 PSB Alpha AM3 is approximately 272.0cm2 / 42.2inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 PM is approximately 311.9cm2 / 48.3inch2. The Alpha AM3 requires 13% less surface area than the S 801 PM which gives it a small advantage on placement in tight spaces.
Here is an 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 PSB Alpha AM3 and Jamo S 801 PM on a Media Console
What's in the Box of PSB Alpha AM3?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Alpha AM3:
Powered speaker Passive speaker 2 Grilles AC power adapter (attached 45-inch DC cord) 4-feet AC power cord Remote control (PSR-1) 2 AAA batteries 8-feet Speaker cable 58-inch Stereo minijack cable 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet Connection Diagram Warranty Card
What's in the Box of Jamo S 801 PM?
Here are the items that come with the S 801 PM:
Powered speaker (right) Passive speaker (left) 2 Grilles AC power adapter (attached 56-inch DC cord) AC plug insert Remote control 2 AAA batteries 6.5-feet Length of 18AWG speaker wire (bare tinned wire on each end) }6-feet USB-A to USB-B cable Instruction Booklet Important Safety Instructions