In this review, we will be comparing Denton 85 and S 803, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale Denton 85 and Jamo S 803 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale Denton 85 | Jamo S 803 |
|---|
| Brand | Wharfedale
United Kingdom · founded 1932 | Jamo
Denmark · founded 1966 |
|---|
| Design | 2-way | 2-way |
|---|
| Tweeter | 1" Soft-Dome | 1" Soft-Dome |
|---|
| Woofer | 6.5" Woven Kevlar | 5" Aluminized Polyfiber |
|---|
| Frequency response | 45-20k Hz | 57-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 88 dB | 87 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 4 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 20-120 watts | up to 80 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 9.00kg / 19.8lbs | 5.40kg / 11.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 13-7/16" x 9-7/16" x 11-15/16"
342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm | 13.8" x 7.5" x 9.9"
353.0 x 191.0 x 252.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale Denton 85 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* |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
Jamo S 803 |
| Near-field |
Poor |
Average |
| Small Room |
Average |
Good |
| Mid-size Room |
Good |
Average |
| Large Room |
Average |
Poor |
| Very Large Room |
Poor |
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.)
The sections below take each area in turn: drivers, frequency response, physical size and what you get in the box.
Drivers
Both Denton 85 and S 803 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale Denton 85Jamo S 803
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 Denton 85 |
Jamo S 803 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 6.5-inch
|
1 x 5-inch
|
Denton 85 features a 1" woven textile Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 6.5" Woven Kevlar Woofer with a Crossover frequency at 3100Hz. On the other hand, the S 803 features a 1" Soft-Dome Tweeter and 1 x 5" Aluminized Polyfiber Woofer.
Frequency Response
Denton 85 has a frequency range of 45-20k Hz whereas S 803 has a frequency range of 57-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 45Hz, the Denton 85 can go significantly deeper on the low side and provide stronger bass compared to the S 803's min frequency of 57Hz.
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
Denton 85 is a 4 ohms speaker compared to the S 803 which has a nominal impedance of 8 ohms. Lower impedance speakers, especially the ones that are rated at 4 ohms may put more pressure on the amplifier unit especially when played at high volume levels, so make sure the amp you pair with the Denton 85 can provide this impedance level.
These two speakers also have different sensitivity levels. Denton 85 sensitivity is rated at 88 dB and the S 803's is rated at 87 dB. This 1 dB difference makes the Wharfedale Denton 85 a more sensitive speaker compared to Jamo S 803, 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.
Denton 85 can handle a max power of 120 watts RMS, whereas S 803 has a max power handling value of 80 watts RMS, 40 watts less than the Denton 85.
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
Denton 85 features Post posts which make bi-amping or bi-wiring possible. S 803 has a Post which doesn't feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Wharfedale Denton 85's Post terminals allows Bi-amping or bi-wiring
Jamo S 803's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Denton 85 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 Wharfedale Denton 85 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 Denton 85's and Jamo S 803's external dimensions. Wharfedale Denton 85 has external dimensions of 342.0 x 240.0 x 304.0mm (13-7/16 x 9-7/16 x 11-15/16inch) 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 49mm narrower and 52mm less deeper than Wharfedale Denton 85 but it is also 11mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale Denton 85 and Jamo S 803 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale Denton 85 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 Wharfedale Denton 85 is approximately 729.6cm2 / 113.1inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 803 is approximately 481.3cm2 / 74.6inch2. The Denton 85 requires 52% more surface area than the S 803 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 Denton 85 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 Wharfedale Denton 85 weighs 9.00kg / 19.8lbs and the Jamo S 803 weighs 5.40kg / 11.9lbs. This makes the Denton 85 67% heavier than the S 803.
Here is a comparison of how Denton 85 and S 803'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 Denton 85?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Denton 85:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 Grilles
- 4 Jumper-bars (pre-installed)
- 8 Self-adhesive rubber feet
- Pair of white cloth gloves
- User Manual
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
 Max Input Power |
120 watts
vs
80 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Sensitivity |
88 dB
vs
87 dB
|
Play louder with same amount of amplification power |
 Woofer Size |
6.5 inches
vs
5 inches
|
Larger woofer |
|
Low Frequency Response |
45 Hz
vs
57 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Bi-Amping and Bi-Wiring |
Yes
vs
No
|
Allows bi-amping and bi-wiring connections |
 Height |
342mm
vs
353mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 Nominal Impedance |
8 ohms
vs
4 ohms
|
Less selective with amplifiers |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Port Position |
Front
vs
Rear
|
Gives more flexibility placing close to walls |
 Base Surface Area |
481cm2
vs
729cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
229USD
vs
999USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Denton 85 |
Jamo S 803 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
20-120 watts |
up to 80 watts |
| Sensitivity |
88 dB |
87 dB |
| Impedance |
4 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Impedance |
3.8 ohms |
n/a |
| Frequency Response |
45-20k Hz |
57-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
6.5" |
5" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
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 |
| Crossover Frequency |
3100Hz |
n/a |
| Firing Direction |
rear |
front |
Physical Specs |
|
|
| Height |
342.0mm (13.5") |
353.0mm (13.9") |
| Width |
240.0mm (9.4") |
191.0mm (7.5") |
| Depth |
304.0mm (12") |
252.0mm (9.9") |
| Weight |
9.00kg (19.8lbs) |
5.40kg (11.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood Veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Walnut, Mahogany, Black |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
24-28" |
| Grille |
Yes |
Yes |
| Moisture Resistancy |
No |
No |
Connections |
|
|
| Biamp Inputs |
Yes |
No |
Other |
|
|
| Parts Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
| Labor Warranty |
5 Years |
5 Years |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale Denton 85 costs roughly 4.4x what Jamo S 803 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 | A | Wharfedale Denton 85 digs deeper - 45Hz against 57Hz. |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (88dB vs 87dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Amplifier match | B | Jamo S 803 is the easier load at 8 ohms; the other is 4 ohms and wants an amplifier rated for it. |
| Headroom | A | Wharfedale Denton 85 takes more power (120W vs 80W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Jamo S 803 is easier to place; Wharfedale Denton 85 is bigger, which usually goes with fuller bass. Your room decides. |
| Expandability | A | Wharfedale Denton 85: bi-amping. |
| Price | B | Jamo S 803 is cheaper - $229 against $999, about 77% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale Denton 85 B Jamo S 803
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 Denton 85 measures better, Jamo S 803 costs about about 4.4x the price% 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 57Hz anyway, which makes the cheaper Jamo S 803 much easier to justify. Match it to your room: we rate Wharfedale Denton 85 the better fit for a mid-size room and a large room, and Jamo S 803 for near-field listening and a small room.
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.