In this review, we will be comparing ES15 and S 803, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Polk Audio and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Polk ES15 and Jamo S 803 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
Polk ES15 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer
- 44-40k Hz Frequency Response
- 85 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:20-100watts
- Weight:5.91kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 307.0" x 7-9/16" x 10-3/16"( 307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm )
Jamo S 803 Key Specs
- 2-way Design
- 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
- 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer
- 57-26k Hz Frequency Response
- 87 dB Sensitivity
- Impedance: 8ohms
- Power Range:up to 80watts
- Weight:5.40kg
- Dimensions (H x W x D): 353.0" x 7.5" x 9.9"( 353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm )
What size room are the Polk ES15 and Jamo S 803 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 ES15 |
Jamo S 803 |
| Near-field |
Average |
Average |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Bad |
Bad |
(* 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.)
In the following sections, we will get into more detail in order to better understand how the Polk ES15 and Jamo S 803 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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through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Drivers
Both ES15 and S 803 are 2-way speakers.
| Driver |
Polk ES15 |
Jamo S 803 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
ES15 features a 1" Terylene Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica-reinforced polypropylene Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 2500Hz. On the other hand, the S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer .
Frequency Response
ES15 has a frequency range of 44-40k Hz whereas S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 44Hz, the ES15 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 803's min frequency of 57Hz.
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.
Impedance and Sensitivity
ES15 and S 803 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. ES15 sensitivity is rated at 85 dB and the S 803's is at 87 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Jamo S 803 a more sensitive speaker compared to Polk ES15, 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. 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.
ES15 can handle a max power of 100 watts RMS from the amp the whereas S 803 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 20 watts less than the ES15.
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
ES15 features Post type posts and S 803 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Polk ES15's 5-Way post terminals
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
ES15 has a rear firing port whereas S 803 has a front firing ports. Jamo S 803's front-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Polk ES15 with its rear-firing port.
Polk ES15 Power Port 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 ES15's and Jamo S 803's external dimensions. Polk ES15 has external dimensions of 307.0 x 193.0 x 259.0mm ( 12-1/16 x 7-9/16 x 10-3/16inch) whereas Jamo S 803 has external dimensions of 353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm ( 13.8 x 7.5 x 9.9inch) .
Jamo S 803 is 2mm narrower and 7mm less deeper than Polk ES15 but it is also 46mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Polk ES15 and Jamo S 803 in scale.
Comparison image of Polk ES15 and Jamo S 803 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 ES15 is approximately 499.9cm2 / 77.5inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 803 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The ES15 requires 4% more surface area than the S 803 which gives it a small disadvantage 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 Polk ES15 and Jamo S 803 on a Media Console