Jamo S 81 CEN is a 2-way Passive Bass Reflex Center Channel speaker by Jamo. It was released in 2017. Center channel speaker is an important component of a home theater system set-up as it delivers the listener significant part of the on-screen dialogue from your television. It features a 1" soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter and 2 x 4" polyfiber Woofer. The speaker has a frequency range of 71-26k Hz and a sensitivity of 86 dB. Jamo S 81 CEN has an MSRP of 174$ but can often be found around 99$ per pair.
Room Size Suitability
The size of the room where you plan to use the Jamo S 81 CEN is a crucial factor in your decision. We have assessed its suitability for various room sizes based on its dimensions and maximum power output:
| Listening Environment* |
Suitability |
| Near-field | Good |
| Small Room | Good |
| Mid-size Room | Average |
| Large Room | Poor |
| Very Large Room | 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.)
Jamo S 81 CEN Lifestyle
Jamo's Studio 8 Series of Loudspeakers
S 81 CEN is a member of Jamo's Studio 8 series of Passive speakers. The Studio 8 Series are Jamo's affordable home-theatre speakers. Below you can see the main specs of these speakers.
See all 4 Jamo Studio 8 models compared »
Jamo Studio 8 Series Speakers
Jamo Studio 8 Series Speakers
Frequency Response of the Jamo S 81 CEN Speaker
Jamo S 81 CEN has a Frequency response range of 71-26k Hz and Power Range of up to 60 watts.
Here we have a comparison of how S 81 CEN's Low frequency value compares with the average, max and min Low frequency values in its class.
Low Frequency
Center Channel Speakers
Jamo S 81 CEN's soft dome with an integrated waveguide Tweeter
Crossover frequency of the Jamo S 81 CEN?
The crossover frequency of the S 81 CEN is set to 2000Hz. This is the threshold frequency where the higher frequency signals over this level are sent to the tweeter and the lower-frequency signals are sent to the woofer by the crossover component.
Impedance and Sensitivity
Jamo S 81 CEN's nominal impedance level is
8 ohms and has a sensitivity of
86 dB.
Sensitivity
Center Channel Speakers
8 Ohms is pretty much the standard nominal impedance amongst stereo speakers and amplifiers so Jamo S 81 CEN is not considered a difficult to drive speaker from nominal Impedance perspective.
Sensitivity
With a sensitivity level of only 86 dB, Jamo S 81 CEN is a difficult to drive speaker from Sensitivity perspective, make sure to choose an amplifier with a high output if you like listening to your music at high volume levels. You may especially have a hard time using Tube amplifiers which are traditionally very low power compared to Class A/B or Class D amps. Work out how loud the Jamo S 81 CEN plays in your room →
What amplifier does the Jamo S 81 CEN need?
At normal listening levels in a medium room, about
19–60 W
per channel into 8 ohms.
Set your own conditions and we will rank every amplifier we cover.
Prefer to browse? Integrated amplifiers under $300, or every amplifier we cover.
Input Type
S 81 CEN features Binding post type connectors.
Work out what gauge speaker cable this run needs →
Jamo S 81 CEN Back View
Jamo S 81 CEN External Dimensions and Weight
Jamo S 81 CEN has external dimensions of (Height x Width x Depth) 7-5/16 x 17-1/8 x 8-11/16inch (186.0 x 435.0 x 221.0mm ).
Base Surface Area
Base surface area of a loudspeaker may become a determining factor when the space in your room or desk is limited.
The base area of Jamo S 81 CEN is approximately 961.4cm2 / 149.0inch2.
To get a better perspective on the real life size of Jamo S 81 CEN, let's compare it with a standard size Compact Disc which has a diameter of 4.7inch (120mm).
Jamo S 81 CEN Speaker Size Compared to a Compact Disc
Find speakers that fit your shelf or alcove →
WeightThe Jamo S 81 CEN weighs 5.00kg / 11lbs per piece. Here is a comparison of how S 81 CEN's weight compares with the average, max and min weights in its class.
Weight
All Center Channel Speakers
Weight
Center Channel Speakers under $300
How does the Jamo S 81 CEN compare to the Jamo S 83 CEN?
One of the natural alternative to the Jamo S 81 CEN is the S 83 CEN which is located one step higher in Jamo's Passive Center Channel selection.
Here is a scaled size comparison of these two speakers to give you an idea how their external dimensions compare:
Comparison image of Jamo S 81 CEN and Jamo S 83 CEN Size and External Dimensions
Check the Detailed Comparison of Jamo S 81 CEN vs S 83 CEN for more details.
Cabinet type and Materials
Jamo S 81 CEN has a
Bass Reflex type cabinet. Bass Reflex type loudspeakers (aka Ported, Vented or Reflex Port) have enclosures that uses a port, hole or vent cut into the cabinet. Ported designs are generally more efficient than the Sealed designs.
Speaker Feet
Jamo S 81 CEN comes with built-on which you can use to secure your loudspeaker on the surface that you are putting on.
It is always recommended to use some kind of feet under all types of speakers. Besides limiting the movement of the speakers, it also compensates for non-flat surfaces and limits the contact surface area of the speaker. Rubber based feet also help isolating the vibrations within certain frequency ranges.
Jamo S 81 CEN Feet
Port Position
Jamo S 81 CEN is a rear-firing port speaker so you have to make sure you leave enough space between the back of the speaker and wall or bookshelf so that it has room to breathe.
Available colors
Jamo S 81 CEN is available in Black, White and Walnut.
Does the Jamo S 81 CEN come with a Grille?
S 81 CEN comes with magnetic grilles. The purpose of the grille is to protect the delicate driver elements from external impacts while still allowing the sound to pass as clearly as possible. Since the included grille of the S 81 CEN is magnetic type, it is very easy to put it on and off.
Jamo S 81 CEN with Grille
What's in the Box of Jamo S 81 CEN?
Here are the items that are included inside the box of S 81 CEN:
- Center-channel loudspeaker
- Grille
- User Manual
- Important Safety Instructions
- Warranty Information
Recommended Accessories
Here is a list of accessories that we think you may need for the Jamo S 81 CEN.
User's Manual
For more information about how to setup, use and maintain the Jamo S 81 CEN, use the direct link below to download the official manual document:
Download User Manual for Jamo S 81 CEN
Official Brochure
Here is a link to download the official brochure for the Jamo S 81 CEN speaker:
Official Brochure for Jamo S 81 CEN
Official Product Page
Official manufacturer's product page for the Jamo S 81 CEN speaker can be found below:
Official Product Page for Jamo S 81 CEN
Warranty
5 Years of parts warranty and 5 Years of labor warranty is generally provided by the manufacturer.