In this review, we will be comparing R600 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 R600 and Jamo S 809 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
What size room are the Polk R600 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:
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk R600 and Jamo S 809 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 R600 and S 809 are 2-way speakers.
Driver |
Polk R600 |
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
|
R600 features a 1" Pinnacle Ring Radiator Tweeter and 2 x 6.5" Polypropylene Turbine Cone Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2700Hz. 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
R600 has a frequency range of 43-38k 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 R600's min frequency of 43Hz.
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 Floor-standing class in our database.
Low Frequency
Floor-standing Speakers
High Frequency
Floor-standing 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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
R600 and S 809 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. R600 sensitivity is rated at 87.5 dB and the S 809's is at 90 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Jamo S 809 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk R600, 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. While using an amplifier within this range ensures the nominal performance , inputting a power that is higher than the max wattage can result in a damaged speaker.
R600 can handle a max power of 200 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 809 has a max power handling value of 120 watts RMS, 80 watts less than the R600.
Keep in mind that a higher max power handling value doesn't necessarily make that a louder speaker
compared to a lower max handling speaker. Loudness or the sound level is also impacted by parameters
such as Impedance, sensitivity and system efficiencies.
Input Type and Bi-Amping / Bi-Wiring
R600 features Post type posts and S 809 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Cabinet Type and Port Position
R600 has a bottom firing port whereas S 809 has a front firing ports. Jamo S 809's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk R600 with its rear-firing port.
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 Polk R600's and Jamo S 809's external dimensions. Polk R600 has external dimensions of 1063.8 x 280.7 x 381.6mm ( 41.9 x 11 x 15inch) whereas Jamo S 809 has external dimensions of 1042.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm ( 41.0 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) .
Polk R600 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 89.7mm wider, 21.8mm taller and 129.6mm deeper than Jamo S 809.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk R600 and Jamo S 809 in scale.
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 R600 is approximately 1071.2cm2 / 166.0inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 809 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The R600 requires 123% 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 R600 weighs 21.50kg / 47.3lbs and the Jamo S 809 weighs 13.60kg / 29.9lbs. This makes the R600 58% heavier than the S 809.
Here is a comparison of how R600 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 R600?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of R600:
Floorstanding loudspeaker
4 Outrigger feet (pre-installed)
4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
4 Spike feet (pre-installed)
Grille
Hex-key
Owner's Manual
Online Registration
What's in the Box of Jamo S 809?
Here are the items that come with the S 809:
2 Floorstanding loudspeakers2 Grilles8 Mounting feet16 ScrewsUser ManualImportant Safety InstructionsWarranty 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 |
38k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
Sensitivity |
90 dB
vs
88 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
Number of Woofers |
3
vs
2
|
More woofers |
Low Frequency Response |
37 Hz
vs
43 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
Dolby Atmos Drivers |
Optional Jamo S 8 ATM Dolby Atmos upward-firing speakers
vs
No
|
Dolby Atmos Compatibility |
Height |
1042mm
vs
1063mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
Base Surface Area |
481cm2 (191x252mm)
vs
1071cm2 (280x381mm)
|
Takes less floor space |
Price per pair* |
634USD
vs
1698USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
General |
Polk Audio Reserve R600 |
Jamo Studio S 809 |
Brand |
Polk Audio |
Jamo |
Speaker Type |
Floor-standing speaker |
Floor-standing speaker |
Power Range |
25-200 watts |
120 watts |
Sensitivity |
87.5 dB |
90 dB |
Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
Impedance |
4 ohms |
n/a |
Frequency Response |
43-38k Hz |
37-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
Woofer Quantity |
2 |
3 |
Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
Woofer Composition |
Polypropylene Turbine Cone |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
Tweeter Type |
Pinnacle Ring Radiator |
n/a |
Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
Crossover Frequency |
2700Hz |
2000Hz |
Firing Direction |
bottom |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
Height |
1063.8mm (41.9") |
1042.0mm (41") |
Width |
280.7mm (11.1") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
Depth |
381.6mm (15") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
Weight |
21.50kg (47.3lbs) |
13.60kg (29.9lbs) |
Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
Finish |
MDF/Vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
Available Colors |
Black, Walnut, White |
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 |