In this review, we will be comparing XT60 and S 809, two Passive Floor-standing speakers from Polk Audio and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk XT60 and Jamo S 809 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Polk XT60 | Jamo S 809 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" dome | 1" |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Bi-laminate paper | 3 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 38-40k Hz | 37-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 90 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 25-200 watts | 120 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.09kg / 20lbs | 13.60kg / 29.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 36-9/16" x 9-1/16" x 9-15/16"
929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm | 41.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"
1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Polk XT60 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* |
Polk XT60 |
Jamo S 809 |
| Near-field |
Bad |
Bad |
| Small Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Good |
Good |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.
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through our links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both XT60 and S 809 are 2-way speakers.
Polk XT60Jamo 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 |
Polk XT60 |
Jamo S 809 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
3 x 5-inch
|
XT60 features a 1" Terylene dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Bi-laminate paper Woofer. 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
XT60 has a frequency range of 38-40k Hz whereas S 809 has a frequency range of 37-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 37Hz, the S 809 can go slightly deeper then the XT60's min frequency of 38Hz.
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
XT60 and S 809 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. XT60 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S 809's is at 90 dB. This 4 dB difference makes the Jamo S 809 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk XT60, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
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.
XT60 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS, whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the XT60.
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
XT60 features Post type posts and S 809 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers 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 Polk XT60's and Jamo S 809's external dimensions. Polk XT60 has external dimensions of 929.0 x 231.0 x 253.0mm (36-9/16 x 9-1/16 x 9-15/16inch) 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 40mm narrower and 1mm less deeper than Polk XT60 but it is also 113mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk XT60 and Jamo S 809 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk XT60 and Jamo S 809 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 Polk XT60 is approximately 584.4cm2 / 90.6inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The XT60 requires 21% 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 Polk XT60 weighs 9.09kg / 20lbs and the Jamo S 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs. This makes the S 809 50% heavier than the XT60.
Here is a comparison of how XT60 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 Polk XT60?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of XT60:
- Floorstanding loudspeaker
- Grille (attached)
- Owners Manual
- Online Product Registration
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 |
200 watts
vs
120 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
 High Frequency Response |
40k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Passive Radiator |
two 6-1/2-inch
vs
None
|
Increases the bass performance |
 Height |
929mm
vs
1042mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Price per pair* |
498USD
vs
634USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
|
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
1
|
More woofers |
|
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
38 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
584cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Polk Audio Monitor XT60 |
Jamo Studio S 809 |
| Brand |
Polk Audio |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
| Power Range |
25-200 watts |
120 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
90 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
38-40k Hz |
37-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
3 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Bi-laminate paper |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
dome |
n/a |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Crossover Frequency |
n/a |
2000Hz |
| Firing Direction |
n/a |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
929.0mm (36.6") |
1042.0mm (41") |
| Width |
231.0mm (9.1") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
253.0mm (10") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
9.09kg (20lbs) |
13.60kg (29.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Passive Radiator |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF, Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
A generation apart: Polk XT60 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 |
evenly matched |
Much the same reach (38Hz vs 37Hz). |
| Amplifier needs |
B |
Jamo S 809 is more sensitive (90dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom |
A |
Polk XT60 takes more power (200W vs 120W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| Cabinet |
depends |
Passive Radiator vs Ported. |
| Expandability |
depends |
Polk XT60: Atmos drivers; Jamo S 809: Atmos drivers. Polk XT60 sits in a wider range (9 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price |
A |
Polk XT60 is cheaper - $498 against $634, about 21% less. |
A Polk XT60
B Jamo S 809
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, placement 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 your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Jamo S 809 is the safer partner - the other will want more current or more watts to sound its best.
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.