In this review, we will be comparing Diamond 11.0 and S 801, two Passive Bookshelf speakers from Wharfedale and Jamo.
Let's have a brief look at the main features
of Wharfedale 11.0 and Jamo S 801 first before getting into our more
detailed comparison.
| Key Specs | Wharfedale 11.0 | 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 | 75-20k Hz | 76-26k Hz |
|---|
| Sensitivity | 85 dB | 85 dB |
|---|
| Impedance | 8 ohms | 8 ohms |
|---|
| Power range | 15-75 watts | up to 60 watts |
|---|
| Weight | 3.09kg / 6.8lbs | 2.70kg / 5.9lbs |
|---|
| Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10-1/16" x 6-3/16" x 7-1/8"
256.0 x 158.0 x 181.0mm | 11.2" x 6.1" x 6.4"
285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm |
|---|
What size room are the Wharfedale 11.0 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 11.0 |
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.
Drivers
Both Diamond 11.0 and S 801 are 2-way speakers.
Wharfedale 11.0Jamo 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 11.0 |
Jamo S 801 |
|
Driver Setup
|
2-way
|
2-way
|
|
Tweeter
|
1-inch
|
1-inch
|
|
Midrange
|
- |
- |
|
Woofer
|
1 x 4-inch
|
1 x 4-inch
|
Diamond 11.0 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
Diamond 11.0 has a frequency range of 75-20k Hz whereas S 801 has a frequency range of 76-26k Hz. With a minimum frequency of 75Hz, the Diamond 11.0 can go slightly deeper then 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
Diamond 11.0 and S 801 have the same Impedance of 8 ohms and their sensitivity is also same at 85 dB.
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.
Diamond 11.0 can handle a max power of 75 watts RMS, whereas S 801 has a max power handling value of 60 watts RMS, 15 watts less than the Diamond 11.0.
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
Diamond 11.0 features Post type posts and S 801 has a Post type posts. None of these speakers feature bi-amping/bi-wiring.
Jamo S 801's Post terminals
Cabinet Type and Port Position
Diamond 11.0 has a bottom firing port whereas S 801 has a rear firing ports. Wharfedale 11.0'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 11.0's and Jamo S 801's external dimensions. Wharfedale 11.0 has external dimensions of 256.0 x 158.0 x 181.0mm (10-1/16 x 6-3/16 x 7-1/8inch) whereas Jamo S 801 has external dimensions of 285.0 x 156.0 x 163.0mm (11.2 x 6.1 x 6.4inch).
Jamo S 801 is 2mm narrower and 18mm less deeper than Wharfedale 11.0 but it is also 29mm taller.
Below you can see the front view size comparison of Wharfedale 11.0 and Jamo S 801 in scale.
Comparison image of Wharfedale 11.0 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 11.0 is approximately 286.0cm2 / 44.3inch2 and base area of the Jamo S 801 is approximately 254.3cm2 / 39.4inch2. The Diamond 11.0 requires 12% 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 11.0 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 11.0 weighs 3.09kg / 6.8lbs and the Jamo S 801 weighs 2.70kg / 5.9lbs. This makes the Diamond 11.0 14% heavier than the S 801.
Here is a comparison of how Diamond 11.0 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 11.0?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of Diamond 11.0:
- 2 Bookshelf loudspeakers
- 2 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
 Max Input Power |
75 watts
vs
60 watts
|
Handle more power from your amplifier |
 Low Frequency Response |
75 Hz
vs
76 Hz
|
Generates deeper bass |
 Height |
256mm
vs
285mm
|
Easier to fit in smaller spaces |
 High Frequency Response |
26k Hz
vs
20k Hz
|
Generates higher frequency |
 Base Surface Area |
254cm2
vs
286cm2
|
Takes less floor space |
 Price per pair* |
174USD
vs
279USD
|
costs less (*prices may change depending on the seller, location and time) |
| General |
Wharfedale Diamond 11.0 |
Jamo S 801 |
| Brand |
Wharfedale |
Jamo |
| Speaker Type |
Bookshelf speakers |
Bookshelf speakers |
| Power Range |
15-75 watts |
up to 60 watts |
| Sensitivity |
85 dB |
85 dB |
| Impedance |
8 ohms |
8 ohms |
| Frequency Response |
75-20k Hz |
76-26k Hz |
Drivers |
|
|
| Woofer Quantity |
1 |
1 |
| Woofer Size |
4" |
4" |
| Woofer Composition |
Woven Kevlar |
Aluminized Polyfiber |
| Woofer Surround Material |
Foam |
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 |
256.0mm (10.1") |
285.0mm (11.2") |
| Width |
158.0mm (6.2") |
156.0mm (6.1") |
| Depth |
181.0mm (7.1") |
163.0mm (6.4") |
| Weight |
3.09kg (6.8lbs) |
2.70kg (5.9lbs) |
| Enclosure |
Bass Reflex |
Bass Reflex |
| Finish |
MDF/Wood veneer |
MDF/Vinyl |
| Available Colors |
Rosewood |
Walnut, Black, White |
| Mounting Bracket |
No |
No |
| Recommended Stand Height |
24-28" |
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 |
These sit in different price classes - Wharfedale 11.0 costs roughly 1.6x what Jamo S 801 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 (75Hz vs 76Hz). |
| Amplifier needs | evenly matched | Similar sensitivity (85dB vs 85dB) - both want much the same power. |
| Headroom | A | Wharfedale 11.0 takes more power (75W vs 60W) - more in hand in a big room. |
| Size | depends | Similar cabinet size - neither is easier to fit. |
| 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 $279, about 38% less; arguably a different class. |
A Wharfedale 11.0 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?
Wharfedale 11.0 is ahead, but only on 1 of the measured areas, and it costs about 60% more. That is a lot of money for a narrow margin on paper - Jamo S 801 looks like the sensible buy unless something else about the Wharfedale 11.0 appeals to you. Think about the whole system, not just the speakers: the roughly $105 saved by taking the cheaper pair would buy a subwoofer or a better amplifier, and either usually does more for the sound than the difference between these two.
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.