In this review, we will be comparing SS-CS8 and C 9 CEN II, two Passive Center Channel speakers from Sony and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Sony SS-CS8 and Jamo C 9 CEN II first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Sony SS-CS8 | Jamo C 9 CEN II |
|---|
| Brand | Sony
Japan · founded 1946 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
|---|
| Woofer | 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) | 2 x 4" HCCC (Hybrid Composition Conical Cone) |
|---|
| Frequency response | 55-25k Hz | 55-24k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 88 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 6 ohms | 6 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | up to 145 watts | 50-140 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 5.00kg / 11lbs | 3.09kg / 6.8lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 5.75" x 16.93" x 8.66"
146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm | 7-3/16" x 18-5/16" x 9-1/16"
183.0 x 466.0 x 231.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Sony SS-CS8 and Jamo C 9 CEN II 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-CS8 |
Jamo C 9 CEN II |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Poor |
| Small Room |
Average |
Average |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Good |
| Large Room |
Average |
Average |
| 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.
Drivers
Both SS-CS8 and C 9 CEN II are 2-way speakers.
Sony SS-CS8Jamo C 9 CEN II
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-CS8 |
Jamo C 9 CEN II |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
2 x 4-inch
|
2 x 4-inch
|
SS-CS8 features a 1" polyester fiber Soft-Dome Tweeter and 2 x 4" Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) Woofer. On the other hand, the C 9 CEN II features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 4" HCCC (Hybrid Composition Conical Cone) Woofer.
Frequency Response
SS-CS8 has a frequency range of 55-25k Hz whereas C 9 CEN II has a frequency range of 55-24k Hz.
The graph below depicts how these two speakers compare with the max, min and average Low Frequency values of other speakers in the Center Channel class in our database.
Low Frequency
Center Channel 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-CS8 and C 9 CEN II have the same Impedance of 6 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. SS-CS8 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the C 9 CEN II's is at 88 dB. This 2 dB difference makes the Jamo C 9 CEN II a more sensitive speaker compared to Sony SS-CS8, hence will play louder with the same amount of watts.
Sensitivity
Center Channel 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-CS8 can handle a max power of 145 watts RMS, whereas C 9 CEN II has a max power handling value of 140 watts RMS, 5 watts less than the SS-CS8.
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-CS8 features 5-Way post type posts and C 9 CEN II has a 5-Way post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Sony SS-CS8's Post terminals
Jamo C 9 CEN II's 5-Way post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Both SS-CS8 and C 9 CEN II 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-CS8's and Jamo C 9 CEN II's external dimensions. Sony SS-CS8 has external dimensions of 146.0 x 430.0 x 220.0mm (5.75 x 16.93 x 8.66inch) whereas Jamo C 9 CEN II has external dimensions of 183.0 x 466.0 x 231.0mm (7-3/16 x 18-5/16 x 9-1/16inch).
Jamo C 9 CEN II is clearly the larger of the two speakers. Its body is 36mm wider, 37mm taller and 11mm deeper than Sony SS-CS8.
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-CS8 is approximately 946.0cm2 / 146.6inch2 and base area of the Jamo C 9 CEN II is approximately 1076.5cm2 / 166.9inch2. The SS-CS8 requires 12% less surface area than the C 9 CEN II which gives it a small advantage 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 Sony SS-CS8 weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs and the Jamo C 9 CEN II weighs 3.09kg / 6.8lbs. This makes the SS-CS8 62% heavier than the C 9 CEN II.
Here is a comparison of how SS-CS8 and C 9 CEN II's weights compare with the average, max and min weights in Passive Center Channel class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
What's in the Box of Jamo C 9 CEN II?
Here are the items that come with the C 9 CEN II:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- 4 Rubber feet (pre-installed)
- 2 Self-adhesive rubber bumpers
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
 Max Input Power |
145 watts
vs
140 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 High Frequency Response |
25k Hz
vs
24k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Height |
146mm
vs
183mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Base Surface Area |
946cm2
vs
1076cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
169USD
vs
344USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
86 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
| General |
Sony SS-CS8 |
Jamo Concert 9 Series C 9 CEN II |
| Brand |
Sony |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Center Channel |
Center channel speaker (Black Ash) |
| Power Range |
up to 145 watts |
50-140 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
88 dB |
| Impedance |
6 ohms |
6 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
55-25k Hz |
55-24k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
2 |
2 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Mica Reinforced Cellular (MRC) |
HCCC (Hybrid Composition Conical Cone) |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Rubber |
n/a |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
soft dome with an integrated waveguide |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
146.0mm (5.7") |
183.0mm (7.2") |
| Width |
430.0mm (16.9") |
466.0mm (18.3") |
| Depth |
220.0mm (8.7") |
231.0mm (9.1") |
| Weight |
5.00kg (11lbs) |
3.09kg (6.8lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-veneer |
n/a |
| Available Colors |
Black |
Black Ash, White Oak,Dark Apple |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
No |
n/a |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
2 years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Jamo C 9 CEN II costs roughly 2x what Sony SS-CS8 does. Expect it to lead on paper; the question is whether the gap is audible enough in your room to be worth it.
| Area | Better | Why |
|---|
| Bass | evenly matched | Much the same reach (55Hz vs 55Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | B | Jamo C 9 CEN II is more sensitive (88dB vs 86dB), so it goes louder on the same amplifier. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (145W vs 140W). |
| Size | depends | Sony SS-CS8 is easier to place; Jamo C 9 CEN II is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | depends | Neither adds bi-amping, a sub output or height drivers. Jamo C 9 CEN II sits in a wider range (7 models), so a matched surround system is easier later. |
| Price | A | Sony SS-CS8 is cheaper - $169 against $344, about 51% less; arguably a different class. |
A Sony SS-CS8 B Jamo C 9 CEN II
depends neither is better in the abstract - it turns on your room, your system 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?
Jamo C 9 CEN II is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 104% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Sony SS-CS8 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Jamo C 9 CEN II appeals to you. In a large or open-plan room, Jamo C 9 CEN II has the cabinet volume to fill it more easily; in a small room, near a wall or at desk distance, Sony SS-CS8 is the easier speaker to get right. If your amplifier is modest, vintage or valve-based, Jamo C 9 CEN II 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.