I recently was browsing Amazon in search of speakers when I spotted the Jamo Studio Series S 801 Bookshelf Speakers and away I went, let’s see how they perform.
Before I jump into the review, I actually bought the S 801s as part of the “HCS-BLK Home Cinema System” pack of five speakers, since it was only about $100 more than just buying the speakers alone. The kit included the larger and more expensive 803s and a center channel. I ended up selling the center online and keeping the 803s and 801s. It’s an odd way to buy Jamo speakers, but if you’re looking for a deal, these are a great buy for under $200, since the 801s retail for even higher at $219 for a pair, but can be found on Amazon for around $90ish. Hey, now you have an extra set of speakers for another room, right?
Technology:
WaveGuide acoustic technology
Grille:
Seamless magnetic grille
Tweeter:
25mm (1″) soft dome tweeter
Woofer:
102mm (4″) poly-fiber woofer
Frequency Response:
76Hz – 26kHz (+/- 3dB)
Sensitivity:
85dB (2.83V @ 1m)
Power Handling:
60W / 120W
Impedance:
8 Ohms
Dimensions:
285mm x 156mm x 163mm 11.22” x 6.14” x 6.42”
Weight:
6 lbs. each
MSRP:
$219
Website:
Company:
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Audio System:
Arylic a50+
PC:
Custom Desktop Computer
App:
Spotify Premium
One of the reasons I picked up the Jamo S 801s is because they look more expensive than they actually are. The dark wood accents on the base and around the tweeter look stunning. They have some heft to them, so they don’t feel cheap when you take them out of the box. The grills are beautiful as well, not something I would expect from such budget speakers. However, the packaging was quite poor, I can see how these could easily be damaged in shipping.
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This is what really matters, how do the S 801s sound? Even though they’re not billed as near-field monitors, they sound really good on a desktop. Male and female vocals are clear and crisp. Their only serious downfall is a severe lack of bass and lower midrange. While my desk isn’t large enough for the bigger 803s, those will put the punch back in the low end. I really like how clean they sound without being overly bright or tinny. As the volume goes up, the soundstage broadens. While not the best I’ve heard, it’s still there and quite good for a pair of speakers this affordable.
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While a more powerful amp will likely bring out more bass from these speakers, I think for what they are, the bass is acceptable. The upper midrange really shines, and the highs always stay constant. The ability to crank the volume on these speakers and not hear distortion is astounding. If you can ignore or don’t need much bass, the S 801s are fantastic.