Like a nightclub bouncer in a tailor-made match, the Jamo C103s Stereo Speaker are really crammed in there. Each cupboard is big and beefy, with a power-bulge across the 18cm mid/bass driver and plenty of overall presence – if ever a speaker resembled it wasn’t to be trifled with, the Jamo C103 is it. You will find three finishes: gloss black colored, gloss white and the walnut veneer of our testimonial set, and they are all smooth and high-quality, however they provide the perception of hardly consisting of the latent threat inside.
Over the mid/bass driver is a 25mm silk dome tweeter, decoupled and wave overview equipped. Across the back there are hefty biwire cable terminals and a gaping reflex slot big enough for any other, more modestly sized, speakers to hide in. In between, the walnut veneer is skillfully applied across the slightly pear-shaped cabinet exterior. Chrome-effect tones around each driver add a bit more aesthetic flair. Integrated straight into our reference system, the Jamo C103s audio diffused (a little) and difficult (a lot). All speakers benefit from an extended running-in duration, though, and immediately after 72 hours of continuous playing, the Jamo C103s are singing to their genuine sound.
Initial perceptions are of a large, open audio. Offered a WAV file for the Flaming Lips’ Waitin’ For A Superman to cope with, the Jamos reproduction is wide and tall, with an even-handed approach to the frequency range all the way through. The most notable end is totally since assertive as it wishes to be (and now we believe sensible careful system-matching is needed to make certain the Jamo C103s do not overdo their hand where treble sounds are involved), the midrange is decently specificed, although possibly doing not have only a little substance, and the low frequencies are fast and tonally diverse. Nevertheless, they’re not as out-and out punchy as the look of this Jamos initially leads us to anticipate. If they are indeed a nightclub bouncer, the Jamo C103s are entirely politer and more modest than is perhaps usual.
Timing is decent, dynamic array is a lot more than appropriate, and overall the Jamos are an organized, if somewhat reserved, listen. We back the Jamo C103s closer to your back wall surface of our paying attention room and switch to another WAV file, this time Mos Def’s Hip Hop, and while there’s a noticeable increase in bottom-end muscle, it’s not disproportionate.
A bigger improvement is realised by biwiring them. Numerous biwireable speakers exhibit quite delicate changes when biwired, nevertheless the Jamos boost emphatically. There is greater compound to low frequencies, more positivity concerning the midrange, and an altogether well informed character arises. There isn’t any basic modification to your Jamos’ tonal balance – it stays in the slim side of neutral – but the Jamo C103s are a better, a lot more persuading listen this way. You can find currently a couple of extremely solid stand mounting competitors only at that kind of rate, but obviously the C103s are a diverting option. They’ve the looks and finish to justify their price tag, they’re unfussy about room placement (even though truth they’re pretty huge boys to start with restrictions your alternatives a little) and are also a detailed, energetic and pleasingly subtle listen. With a little more general substance to their noise and a tweeter on much less of a knife’s-edge, they are able to get locations.