Jamo C809

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Thread: Jamo C809

NMyTree

Silver Member

Username: Nmytree

Post Number: 302
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Monday, October 05, 2009 - 11:11 am:

Guys, I'm prepping-up a review of the Jamo C809 floorstanders.

I've had them for roughy four months now and I've had the opportunity to mate them with some nice, high quality amps and other components; then live with them for a while.

The most glorious and beautiful macthup being the McIntosh C220 Preamp, mc252 (and the mc352, too); with the Rega Saturn delivering the music.

Also had the Integra DSP 10.5 Universal Player (with DVD-Audio, SACD).

Also some DVD movies and concerts (Roger Waters- In The Flesh Live, Dixie Chicks, The Eagles and Sara Mclaughlin); through my Integra PrePro, with the Jamo C803 as the Center Channel and a pair of C803 as the rears.

Stunning. Simply stunning.

Coming.......soooooooooon.....

Nuck

Platinum Member

Username: Nuck

Post Number: 13650
Registered: Dec-04

Posted on Monday, October 05, 2009 - 09:33 pm:

That will be a good read, I bet!

NMyTree

Silver Member

Username: Nmytree

Post Number: 348
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 05:02 pm:

If I could only say one thing about these speakers, it would have to be…..Exceptionally Musical Speakers!!!!

Fortunately, I can say more than that.

The C809 is a Three Way design.

Woofer: 2 x 7 inch
Midrange: 1 x 7 inch
Tweeter: 1inch Silk Dome DTT
Power: (W, long/short term) 200 / 400
Sensitivity: (dB, 2.8V/1m) 89
Frequency Range: (Hz) 30 - 24,000
Impedence: (Ohm) 6

H: 45.6" x W: 9.9" x D: 16.9"

These are Big…..I mean….BIG speakers. And I’m not talking just physical specifications and stature.

They are BIG in physical size, but they have a very full, room engulfing sound.

The C809 thrive on amps with high quality power. As do all of the Jamo speakers in the Jamo C80 and Jamo C60 Series.

The better quality power you feed them, the better they reward your ears. Don’t get me wrong, that doesn’t mean they need a Gazillion Watts to make them sing.

They seem to perform best with at least 100 high quality watts per channel. But High Quality Power is the key, here.

They performed very well with 35 watts per channel from a ST-70 (Dynaco) Rebuild tube amp (by Will Vincent) (four 6L6, two 7199 and a rectifier tube...I think a GZ34 ).

Very musical, very pleasant and involving. Alhough, I did not push the amp too hard and only played them at moderate listening levels. Nothing ear shattering, but loud enhjough to please most people who aren't suffering from hearing loss..

The C809 are smooth, sweet, wonderfully detailed and wade casually into the slightly warm side of the pool.

As with all these Jamo C60 and C80 Series speakers, there’s a wonderful timbre and tone to instruments. The bass is strong and gets you in the mood to boogie.

These speakers really do great bass. And in smaller rooms the bass will over-power the room. Not loose, flabby bass. Big, tight over-whelming bass. So these C809 are better suited for the larger mid-sized rooms at least in the 14' to 15' range or large rooms, period.

You can make them work in those mid-sized rooms. Carpets, several bookshelves, some couches or loveseats...etc.....are required.

Smaller rooms in the 10' .....11' ....12' range, will have a major tidal wave of bass; if you try to turn these babies up and crank that volume. although low volume levels work just fine.

But you can tell they are biting the bit to let it loose and breathe.

At least 15 inches to 24 inches from the back wall will deliver the best tight, musical, palpable bass. Depending on an individual's room and set up.

Cellos are stunning! I thought the C807 did cellos in an amazing manner.

The C809 takes it just a wee-bit further. Absolutely mesmerizing and three dimensional.

Well recorded piano makes you wonder who dragged the Steinway into the room.

As I said previously with the C807, thye C809 just a little better; pianos simply sound so life-like. The hammer on the strings......that sustained key note.......friggin' unbelievable!

No real wood venners, here. And I couldn’t care less. These speakers (as well as the C807 and C803 of this Series) far exceed the modest, well-done, black laminate finish confines of their cabinets. I’ve auditioned and lived with several much higher-priced….real wood veenered speakers; that the C809 put to shame. Embarrassed, really.

Dynamics are very, very nice. They can be punchy, but not too in-your-face-……kick in the gut punchy. They do lean to a polite….I guess softer presentation. But they are in no way dull and uninvolving.

If you want the ultimate slam and liver-rattling punch; look elsewhere. These are not the speakers for you.

If you want the ultimate in so-called ” transparency” ………look elsewhere. These are not for you.

If you want a hyper-detailed presentation and sterile, analytical presentation. Move right along and go find yourself another speaker; after you dissect your frog.

You want wonderfully tuneful and sweet melodies?

Want to whistle and sing your lungs out to the music, because you simply can’t help from being dragged into the melody of a song?

Want to get up off your bbooty and boogie around the room, because the music pushes, moves you and inspires you?

Want to lay back and enjoy the melody of a blues guitar, or the beautiful wave of cello washing over you?

Want to get chills and goosebumps from acoustic instruments and vocal harmonies?

Then audition the Jamo C809.

I matched them up with some McIntosh gear (C220, mc252 and mc352) and my Rega Saturn. Also tried them out with several other pieces/brands of gear.

The Mac and Jamo combo is musical heaven!!!!

My buddy from Washington State, recently asked what it was about these Jamo speakers that I love so much.

Well, all of my Jamo speakers have that wonderful musical wholeness to them. It's hard to describe. They just sound so right. So musical...so melodic.

These Jamo speakers (the C60 and C80 Series ) don't really do anything that can be considered the best. You know what I mean? Dynamics, bass, detail, imaging ...etc.

Don't get me wrong, they do all that very well. But they don't do any one frequency or have an attribute in any manner that can be considered "the ultimate".

Except one thing.....they play beautiful, melodic, tuneful music. They just deliver the music so well.....as a whole package. Beautifully balanced and musical.

I don't care what anyone says about these Jamo speakers. They are very musical and very addictive to listen to.

They may not be the most expensive speakers, using the best/most expensive drivers on the planet or whatever.

But they do music....they do heart and soul emotion and melody. And as I have stated many times before, that's what matters the most to me.

M.R.

Gold Member

Username: My_rantz

Gold Coast
Australia

Post Number: 2606
Registered: Nov-05

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 05:32 pm:

NMT,

Reading between the lines here I'd say you like these Jamo speakers. LOL!

Now, do you pronounce them as Jamo (as in jam) or Yamo (with a 'y' sound)?

NMyTree

Silver Member

Username: Nmytree

Post Number: 350
Registered: Aug-04

Posted on Wednesday, November 04, 2009 - 05:42 pm:

It's pronounced.... " Yamo"

And yes, I am quite fond of them