In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS5 and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Sony and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS5 and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sony SS-CS5 | Jamo S 801 |
|---|
| Design | 3-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Super tweeter | 0.75" super tweeter | — |
|---|
| Woofer | 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) | 4" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 53-50k Hz | 76-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 87 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 100 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.50kg / 9.9lbs | 2.70kg / 5.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13.1" x 7.0" x 8.6"
335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm | 11.2" x 6.1" x 6.4"
285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sony SS-CS5 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* |
Sony SS-CS5 |
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.
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Drivers
One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SS-CS5 is a 3-way design whereas the S 801 is a 2-way speaker. 3-way designs utilize a midrange driver in addition to the tweeter and woofer on 2-way designs. Designing a crossover for a 3-way speaker is a complicated process and generally increases the overall cost of the speaker.
Sony SS-CS5Jamo 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 |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
3-way
|
2-way
|
|
Super Tweeter
|
0.75-inch |
- |
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 5.25-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
SS-CS5 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter, a 0.75" Supertweeter and 1 x 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer. On the other hand, the S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the SS-CS5 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
SS-CS5 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 801 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. SS-CS5 sensitivity is rated at 87 dB and the S 801's is rated at 85 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Sony SS-CS5 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.
SS-CS5 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 SS-CS5.
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
SS-CS5 features Post type posts and S 801 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sony SS-CS5's Post terminals
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SS-CS5 and S 801 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
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 Sony SS-CS5's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS5 has external dimensions of 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm (13.1 x 7.0 x 8.6inch) whereas Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm (11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch).
Sony SS-CS5 is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 22mm wider, 50mm taller and 57mm deeper than Jamo S 801.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SS-CS5 and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The SS-CS5 requires 54% 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 Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 weighs 4.50kg / 9.9lbs and the Jamo S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs. This makes the SS-CS5 67% heavier than the S 801.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS5 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 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 |
 Driver Setup |
3-way
vs
2-way
|
Have a dedicated mid-range driver |
 Sensitivity |
87 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 |
53 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 High Frequency Response |
50k Hz
vs
26k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Price per pair* |
148USD
vs
174USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
6 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 Height |
285mm
vs
335mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
254cm2
vs
391cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
| General |
Sony SS-CS5 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Brand |
Sony |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
up to 100 watts |
up to 60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
87 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
53-50k Hz |
76-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
5.25" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
335.0mm (13.2") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
178.0mm (7") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
163.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
4.50kg (9.9lbs) |
2.70kg (5.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
n/a |
28-31" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 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 |
Sony SS-CS5 digs deeper - 53Hz against 76Hz. |
| Amplifier needs |
A |
Sony SS-CS5 is more sensitive (87dB vs 85dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Amplifier match |
B |
Jamo S 801 is the easier load at 8 ohms. |
| Headroom |
A |
Sony SS-CS5 takes more power (100W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size |
depends |
Jamo S 801 is easier to place; Sony SS-CS5 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. |
| Price |
A |
Sony SS-CS5 is cheaper - $148 against $174, about 15% less. |
A Sony SS-CS5
B Jamo S 801
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?
Sony SS-CS5 is the easier recommendation: it leads on most of the measured areas and costs less. Take Jamo S 801 if its size, looks or fit in your room suit you better. 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.