Jamo Concert C109 Review

Audiophiles should be familiar with the Danish brand Jamo. Once in the 1990s, there were not many audio brand choices, so products with high enough quality but not expensive can quickly become best-selling products. The Concert series launched by Jamo in 1997 is just such a product line. With excellent design, manufacturing technology, and superior sound performance, it is not accidental that the Concert series can become a star product on the market.

As another masterpiece of Jamo, the New Concert series, Comprised of the high-end, premium C 10 line and the high-performance C 9 line, the new Jamo Concert Series includes three floor-standing towers (C 109, C 97, and C 95), three bookshelf models (C 103, C 93 and C 91), two center channels (C 10 CEN and C 9 CEN), and two surrounds (C 10 SUR and C 9 SUR).

A Brief History of Jamo

Jamo was founded in 1968 by Mr. P. Jacobsen and J. Mortensen and had more than half a century. Jamo continues to innovate and enterprising, making it one of the world’s most technologically advanced and largest speaker manufacturers. To ensure the design style and quality control of its products, Jamo insists that all products are designed and produced at the factory’s headquarters in Denmark and not processed anywhere else in the world. Therefore, Jamo purchases a large number of advanced production and test equipment and has a large number of self-designed advanced automated machinery to produce speakers that meet the needs of various consumers with high speed, high quality, high production, and high flexibility. To control costs and improve production efficiency, Jamo starts from the supply of materials, and all materials and finished products are stored and transported by automated equipment. In the field of Hi-Fi brands, this is already a very advanced manufacturing model.

In addition to the flagship Oriel, the Concert series released in the 1990s is Jamo’s highest-level product. After nearly 20 years, Jamo has launched a brand new Concert series under the international design team’s cooperation, which may herald the return of the Jamo dynasty. The return is, of course, audiophiles are willing to pay attention to. Still, now that market competition is more different than in the past, the prerequisite for success depends on whether the new Concert’s quality is high enough, sound quality, and price positioning can continue the past. Competitiveness, we verify one by one through product analysis and actual audition.

Danish Style Design

Jamo C109 is the flagship product of the new Concert series. It is the largest speaker with the most complicated design. Compared with the old model, the design style of C109 subverts the old design. From the front, the speaker adopts an “olive” shape that is narrowed up and down and slightly wider in the middle. This design was completed by Kieron Dunk, a world-renowned industrial designer, who took nearly a year to complete. He chose a stylish appearance with a unique shape and a Nordic style to better cater to the modern home design concept.

Everyone knows that the Nordic countries advocate design, and Sweden and Denmark are even known as design kingdoms. Denmark is located in the Scandinavian region of Northern Europe. The geography and climate are harsh, and the dark winter lasts for nine months. That gives birth to a profound concept: to create a warm and comfortable environment for the home. On the other hand, Denmark has more forests. “Denmark” means “beach, forest” in the old saying. The Danes have an intimate understanding of nature since ancient times, so they pay attention to natural materials’ essential beauty in their designs. This gradually formed Denmark’s natural, unpretentious design aesthetics.

At the same time, Denmark is relatively late to industrialization compared to the rest of Western Europe and the United States, and the hand-made tradition is well preserved in Denmark. After combining handicrafts and applying modern design principles, Danish designers can design high-quality products that are very suitable for current industrial production. Danish craftsmanship and design have always pursued quality and don’t like mediocrity. Whether a chair, a vase, a coffee pot, or a modern audio system, whether made by hand or machine, there is always an emotional comfort. In Denmark, any design is regarded as a way to enrich life, not as a status symbol. Danish designers have long understood the essence of industrial aesthetics. Therefore, the design is always people-oriented, reflecting the Danish design style-warm and comfortable, making everyone feel joy and happiness. Thus, the Danish Jamo design also advocates the same originality, which can be seen from the new Concert series’s elegant and fashionable style.

Acoustic Design

Of course, this gorgeous and coordinated design is not just for viewing. Even from an acoustic point of view, it is excellent. Using the principle that the arc surface is stronger than the vertical plane, the 3D structure is adopted to achieve a more stable purpose. At the same time, the two large-area curved side panels eliminate the condition of standing waves in the box, making the low-frequency cleaner. Moreover, the front baffle’s tweeter is as narrow as possible to reduce the diffraction of sound waves, making the diffusion better, and the sound field more open. The simple metal base can also be equipped with metal foot cones or rubber feet to provide stable support.

Newly Developed Acoustic Technology

Of course, good sound requires a perfect appearance, and the acoustic design of the internal structure is very important. Jamo reforms and innovates based on its core technology and develops four new technologies, which are the foundation of breakthrough sound quality, including Hybrid Composition Conical Cones (HCCC), Long Displacement Surround (LDS), Anti-Diffraction WaveGuide (ADW), Tweeter Distortion Reduction (TDR).

• Evolved Hybrid Composition Conical Cones (HCCC) provide the stiffness and strength of aluminum or titanium with the transient response and smoothness of wood fiber that self-damps resonance at high frequencies for smooth midrange performance.
• All-new Long Displacement Surround (LDS) design for woofers and midrange drivers that deliver improved low-frequency response that leads to a more natural, open sound
• Improved Anti-Diffraction WaveGuide (ADW) technology produces more immersive and impactful listening outside of the sweet spot.
• Tweeter Distortion Reduction (TDR): Provides lower distortion, more significant high-frequency extension, and smoother high end.

Sound Performance

The Jamo C109 with a 3-way 4-unit design has a medium sensitivity of 89dB. The actual matching power amplifier does not require high-power and high-current varieties. On the contrary, the power supply design is reasonable. The power amplifier with high analytical power and high response speed can better play the characteristics of C109.

The C109 sound test is matched with Fantasy pre and power amplifier from Legend Sound in Canada. The design of this power amplifier is exceptionally luxurious. The pre-stage uses a current-type volume control circuit. Each channel uses 24 relays to switch 46 high-precision low-noise resistors to form the volume control circuit. The power stage is powered by a customized Noratel EI transformer and 6 Toshiba power tubes with an output of 200W. This set of power amplifier combination with Jamo Concert C109 can control any type of music. The texture of chamber music is fascinating and exquisite. The colossal scene of orchestral music is even more exciting, and the delicate female voice’s replay can also be sweet.

Driven by the Fantasy power amplifier, the C109’s mid-low frequency is full and full, and the density is very high. The transient response and dynamics of the music are fascinating. Not only is it crisp and powerful, but it is also full of energy, which sounds very enjoyable. Mid-frequency and high-frequency performance can be described as clear and vivid. Straightforward and easy to understand, it means rich details and transparent layers. The small details of the electric guitar plucked strings can be unambiguously highlighted at high volume. The singer’s vocalization and breathing are very clear as if standing in front of the listener singing.

As for the vivid sound, you can understand it as brisk. The details are related to the sound, airy, three-dimensional sound field, and timbre elements. Only when these aspects perform well can it sound vivid. Jamo Concert C109 standing speaker has good performance in these aspects. The sound of C109 belongs to the brighter and more sunny type, so it is easy to produce a light and vivid feeling.

Another feature of C109 is that the full frequency analysis is very high. It can accurately restore the fine details of the music. The amount of replay information is very rich, and the stereoscopic sound field and sound image are also enriched. Listen to the Mozart concerto and use the brass to test the mid-range and high-frequency capabilities of the C109. The musical instrument carries a unique tension, which is loud but not broken, bright but not thorny, and the gorgeous metal texture is just right. Moreover, the form is condensed and not scattered, and the entire sound field can still maintain a good sense of depth.

Conclusion

The more records I have listened to, the more I feel that the Jamo Concert C109 sound is beyond its worth. Especially in the wide range of low frequency to ultra-high frequency, the performance of C109 is very balanced, and the clarity and transparency have reached a very high level. The tone and texture are precise and flawless, but it is not dry or stiff. This is also a Jamo product. The temperament that I have always had.

Jamo has always regarded the production of distinctive audio products as its mission, continuously combining innovative acoustic technology with famous Danish design and bringing the most memorable sound experience to every user with its unique design style, showing us the dual charm of sight and hearing. And the Jamo New Concert C109 floor-standing speaker is undoubtedly the most outstanding representative!

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Jamo Concert C109 Floor-standing Speaker Specs

• System Type: 3-Way Bass Reflex
• Impedance: 6 Ohm
• Weight (Kg/lb): 36.3 / 80
• Tweeter (mm/in): 25 / 1
• Woofer (mm/in): Two: 177.8 / 7
• Product dimensions (mm/in, HxWxD): 1132 x 234.5 x 417 / 44.6 x 9.2 x 16.4
• Frequency Response (Hz, +/-3dB): 30Hz – 27kHz
• Power Handling (Watts Long/Short Term): 200W / 400W
• Sensitivity (dB, 2.8V/1m): 89dB
• Midrange (mm/in): 177.8 / 7
• Finish: Black, White, Walnut
• Minimum Amp Recommended: 75W