In this review, we will be comparing D310 and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale D310 and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale D310 | Jamo S 801 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 4" Woven Kevlar | 4" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 65-20k Hz | 76-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 86 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-60 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 4.00kg / 8.8lbs | 2.70kg / 5.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-7/16" x 6-1/8" x 8-13/16"
266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm | 11.2" x 6.1" x 6.4"
285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale D310 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* |
Wharfedale D310 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Near-field |
Good |
Good |
| Small Room |
Good |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Average |
Average |
| Large Room |
Poor |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
No way |
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
Both D310 and S 801 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale D310Jamo 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 |
Wharfedale D310 |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
D310 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Woven Kevlar Woofer. On the other hand, the S 801 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 4" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
D310 has a frequency range of 65-20k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 65Hz, the D310 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
D310 and S 801 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms but where they differ is the sensitivity levels. D310 sensitivity is rated at 86 dB and the S 801's is at 85 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale D310 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.
Both handle the same maximum of 60 watts RMS, though D310 is rated 20-60 watts and S 801 up to 60 watts.
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
D310 features Post type posts and S 801 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale D310's Post terminals
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
D310 has a bottom firing port whereas S 801 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale D310's bottom-firing port gives more flexibility in placement in regards to proximity to walls compared to Jamo S 801 with its rear-firing port.
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 Wharfedale D310's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. Wharfedale D310 has external dimensions of 266.0 x 156.0 x 224.0mm (10-7/16 x 6-1/8 x 8-13/16inch) whereas Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm (11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch).
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale D310 and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale D310 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 Wharfedale D310 is approximately 349.4cm2 / 54.2inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The D310 requires 37% 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 Wharfedale D310 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 Wharfedale D310 weighs 4.00kg / 8.8lbs and the Jamo S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs. This makes the D310 48% heavier than the S 801.
Here is a comparison of how D310 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 Wharfedale D310?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of D310:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Tweeter grilles (pre-installed)
- 2 Woofer grilles (pre-installed)
- User-feets Manual
- Installation Guide
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
 Sensitivity |
86 dB
vs
85 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Low Frequency Response |
65 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
266mm
vs
285mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
254cm2
vs
349cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
174USD
vs
199USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale D310 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Compact bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-60 watts |
up to 60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
86 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.6 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
65-20k Hz |
76-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foamed Polyether |
Rubber |
| Tweeter Size |
1" |
1" |
| Tweeter Type |
Soft-Dome |
Soft-Dome |
| Aimable Tweeter |
No |
No |
| Midrange Driver |
No |
No |
| Firing Direction |
bottom |
rear |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
266.0mm (10.5") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
156.0mm (6.1") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
224.0mm (8.8") |
163.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
4.00kg (8.8lbs) |
2.70kg (5.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood-grain vinyl |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood, Black, White, Walnut |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
22-26" |
28-31" |
| 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 |
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 | Wharfedale D310 digs deeper - 65Hz against 76Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (86dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | evenly matched | Similar power handling (60W vs 60W). |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 801 is easier to place; Wharfedale D310 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 | B | Jamo S 801 is cheaper - $174 against $199, about 13% less. |
A Wharfedale D310 B Jamo S 801
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?
The usual trade-off: Wharfedale D310 measures better, Jamo S 801 costs about about 14% more% less. Whether that gap is worth the money is the call only you can make - and in a normal room it is often smaller than the numbers suggest. If a subwoofer is in your plans, the bass gap largely stops mattering - you would be crossing over above 76Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 801 much easier to justify.
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.