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Sony SS-CS5 vs Jamo S 803 Comparison

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Sony SS-CS5

Passive Bookshelf | 53-50k Hz

Sony SS-CS5
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Jamo S 803

Passive Bookshelf | 57-26k Hz

Jamo S 803
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Sony SS-CS5 Sony SS-CS5
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Jamo S 803 Jamo S 803
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Sony SS-CS5
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Jamo S 803
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Sony SS-CS5 vs Jamo S 803 Speaker Comparison

In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS5 and S 803, 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 803 first before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Sony SS-CS5 Key Specs

  • 3-way Design
  • 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter
  • 0.75" Super Tweeter
  • 5.25" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer
  • 53-50k Hz Frequency Response
  • 87 dB Sensitivity
  • Impedance: 6ohms
  • Power Range:up to 100watts
  • Weight:4.50kg
  • Dimensions (H x W x D): 335.0" x 7.0" x 8.6"( 335.0 x 178.0 x 220.0mm )

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 Sony SS-CS5 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* Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 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.


**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.


Drivers

One of the fundamental differences between these two speakers is that SS-CS5 is a 3-way design whereas the S 803 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.

Driver Sony SS-CS5 Jamo S 803
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 5-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 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer .

Frequency Response

SS-CS5 has a frequency range of 53-50k Hz whereas S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 53Hz, the SS-CS5 can go slightly deeper then 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

SS-CS5
S 803
Min
Average
Max
High Frequency

Bookshelf Speakers

Sony SS-CS5
Jamo S 803
Min
Average
Max

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

SS-CS5 is a 6 ohms speaker compared to the S 803 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms.

On the other hand, they have the same sensitivity of 87 dBdB.

Sensitivity

Bookshelf Speakers

SS-CS5
S 803
Min
Average
Max

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.

SS-CS5 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 SS-CS5.

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

SS-CS5 features Post type posts and S 803 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.

Sony SS-CS5 Terminals
Sony SS-CS5's Post terminals

Jamo S 803Post Terminals
Jamo S 803's Post terminals

Cabinet Type and Port Position

SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5's and Jamo S 803'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 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 clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 13mm wider, 18mm taller and 32mm deeper than Sony SS-CS5.

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Sony SS-CS5 and Jamo S 803 in scale.

Sony SS-CS5 vs Jamo S 803 Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Sony SS-CS5 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 Sony SS-CS5 is approximately 391.6cm2 / 60.7inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 803 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The SS-CS5 requires 19% less surface area than the S 803 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:

Sony SS-CS5 vs Jamo S 803 Size Comparison on a Media Console
Size Comparison image of Sony SS-CS5 and Jamo S 803 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 803 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the S 803 20% heavier than the SS-CS5.

Here is a comparison of how SS-CS5 and S 803's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Bookshelf class.

Weight
All Bookshelf Speakers
Sony SS-CS5
Jamo S 803
Min
Average
Max

What's in the Box of Jamo S 803?

Here are the items that come with the S 803:
  • 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
  • 2 Grilles
  • User Manual
  • Important Safety Instructions
  • Warranty Information

  • Reasons to choose Sony SS-CS5 over Jamo S 803
    Max Input Power 100 watts vs 80 watts Handle more power from your amplifier
    Driver Setup 3-way vs 2-way Have a dedicated mid-range driver
    Woofer Size 5.25 inches vs 5 inches Larger woofer
    Low Frequency Response 53 Hz vs 57 Hz Generates deeper bass
    High Frequency Response 50k Hz vs 26k Hz Generates higher frequency
    Height 335mm vs 353mm Easier to fit in smaller spaces
    Base Surface Area 391cm2 vs 481cm2 Takes less floor space
    Price per pair* 148USD vs 229USD costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time)

    Reasons to choose Jamo S 803 over Sony SS-CS5

    Nominal Impedance 8 ohms vs 6 ohms Less selective with amplifiers
    Port Position Front vs Rear Gives more flexibility placing close to walls
    Sony SS-CS5 vs Jamo S 803 Specs Table
    Detailed comparison of specifications
    General Sony SS-CS5 Jamo S 803
    Brand Sony Jamo
    Speaker Type Bookshelf speakers Bookshelf speakers
    Power Range up to 100 watts up to 80 watts
    Sensitivity 87 dB 87 dB
    Impedance 6 ohms 8 ohms
    Frequency Response 53-50k Hz 57-26k Hz
    Drivers
    Woofer Quantity 1 1
    Woofer Size 5.25" 5"
    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 front
    Physical Specs
    Height 335.0mm (13.2") 353.0mm (13.9")
    Width 178.0mm (7") 191.0mm (7.5")
    Depth 220.0mm (8.7") 252.0mm (9.9")
    Weight 4.50kg (9.9lbs) 5.40kg (11.9lbs)
    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 24-28"
    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

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