Jamo C 97 II Floorstanding Speaker Test
Three-way speakers have become the older model in the updated Jamo Concert 9 Series II. This time, the Danes have taken care of the unity of form and content, adding a spectacular and laconic Scandinavian design to the high-quality sound.
It is believed that for the first time the term WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor - “wife approves”) appeared in 1983 in the American magazine Stereophile. And this notorious factor still interferes with the plans of a whole army of music lovers, forcing them to convince the family half that the appearance of audio components will not affect home comfort.
The second generation of the Concert series, according to the manufacturer, is able to reconcile the aesthetic feelings of the family (it has a stylish appearance) with the musical expectations of the main music lover (sounds good). The slightly rounded shape of the front panel made of MDF gives the graceful contours of the speakers a bit of solidity against the background of "thin" counterparts. The cabinet is available in two colors: black ash and white oak.
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| Designers suggest that the stylish and moderately neutral appearance of the speakers is able to fit into most modern interiors. |
On the rear wall there is a large phase inverter bell, the material and design of which are designed to minimize the effect of vibrations on the case. Below are the terminals for bi-amping/bi-wiring connection. The columns rest on cross-shaped "studded" legs.
The front panel is covered by a coarse tweed grille, but if you don't have curious kids and nasty pets, then I recommend leaving the speakers for everyone to see, since they account for a fair share of the effect of the design intent. The metal surround of the inch tweeter and three 152.4mm drivers (midrange x 1 and bass x 2) is in harmony with blunt-nosed aluminum bullets, which simultaneously level out phase distortion and remove heat from the coils.
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| To protect the tweeter from vibrations caused by large speakers, it was separated from the body by an elastic gasket. |
The developers placed the silk tweeters in a proprietary ADW anti-diffraction waveguide, and the TDR (Tweeter Distortion Reduction) damping element protects the tweeters from unwanted external vibrations.
The midrange and woofer cones are made of HCCC (Hard Composition Conical Cone) composite material, which includes a supporting cellular structure that allows you to combine lightness and low inertia of the material with high rigidity. And finally, another proprietary abbreviation: LDS (Long Displacement Surround) - that is, elastic suspensions that give special mobility to diffusers.
The Jamo C 97 II speaker set is capable of working as part of a home theater - fortunately, Concert 9 Series II includes rear and center speakers, and the company's lineup has suitable subwoofers - but still its main role is seen in working with stereo components.
Warm and cold
The speakers were entrusted with a Magnat RV4 hybrid integrated amplifier with a tube preamplifier stage, and both E88CC tubes are Russian-made here. For the “warm tube” analog sound, the Magnat MTT 990 turntable with a Sumiko Rainer pickup head and an external Music Hall pa1.2 phono stage is responsible.
The organizers entrusted the digital part to a compatriot from Denmark, the Lyngdorf CD-2 CD player, which worked on the test with its own Wolfson WM8740 DAC, although the built-in Burr-Brown "integrator" could be used if desired. Also, the setup used cables from David Salz: interconnects Wireworld Luna 8 and acoustic Wireworld Solstice 8.
direct conversation
The stylish Scandinavian design of the speakers makes it necessary to start listening with some conceptual Norwegian jazz, but I will not be original and first I will find out the attitude of Jamo C 97 II to rock classics.
First of all, I listened to the song “Thunderstruck” by AC / DC, which was found on the vinyl album “Iron Man 2”, compiled from the soundtracks for the film of the same name. And this sound turned out to be a medicine for the ears and a balm for the soul. The same "good old" rock, under which you want to shake the remnants of your hair and torment an imaginary guitar.
Low frequencies softly filled the whole room, instruments and vocals sound clear, balanced and detailed, with a slight vintage flair. In my purely personal opinion, this is one of the best home setups where the Aussies appear to be the most advantageous. And the speakers worked honestly and dispassionately - they say that they ordered, they got it ...
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| For greater rigidity, the composite diffuser is reinforced with large-mesh elements |
However, let's give the "digital" the opportunity to prove itself with high-quality recording and take a two-layer SACD / CD-audio disc "JS Bach. Oboenwerke. Alexey Utkin. Hermitage Chamber Orchestra", which is known as the 100th anniversary supplement to the magazine "Stereo & Video" . Baroque classics usually become a difficult test for acoustics, but now the Jamo C 97 II set has worked without any complaints. The instruments sounded extremely natural, and not like a “retelling from the speakers”. I was pleasantly pleased with the construction of an imaginary scene, when the speakers managed to voluminously and believably convey the location of the musicians.
I listened to this disc on "other good acoustics" and then I could not get rid of the feeling that the performers were locked in a space limited by a stereo base. True, now the sound might seem a little saturated and embellished, but in this case I am inclined to attribute this to the handwriting of the CD player itself. I will only add that with a rather neutral attitude towards the work of the titan of baroque polyphony, it was difficult for me to force myself to tear myself away from the recording and return to further testing. I am sure that aesthetes will definitely be impressed by this sound.
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| The polymer material of the phase inverter is insensitive to vibrations and, in addition, is separated from the body by a shock-absorbing material |
The Thomas Siffling Trio's instrumental "Hallelujah" on vinyl sounded soft and natural. Lyrical and delicate, Thomas's trumpet part is accompanied by a distinct throbbing bass guitar and a well-drawn drum kit in the background. By comparison, Randy Brecker's trumpet from Rock Candy Funk Party's "Groove Is King" was bright and poignant, while the well-defined bass guitar was complemented by round, well-articulated drums. In other words, this vinyl setup and, most importantly, the Jamo C 97 II speakers allow you to distinguish the whole spectrum of subtle nuances both in the manner of the performers themselves and in the quality of the recordings.
Conclusion
In various genres - be it classical, jazz or rock - the speakers give the sound beautifully and at the same time not at the expense of naturalness and naturalness. They are on that segment of the commercial (in a good way) middle Hi-Fi segment, when versatility does not turn into omnivorous. On the contrary, Jamo C 97 II are able to reveal the characteristics of the sound of both stereo components and sound carriers. But keep in mind that this conversation will be honest, and the speakers will immediately expose boring interlocutors, so special attention should be paid to choosing a setup for your hearing.
Pros
Detailed rich musical sound, the ability to reveal various genres, spectacular and moderately restrained design.
Cons
Require careful selection of components and records.
OFFICIAL SITE
Specs
Type: floor standing
Number of bands: 3
Acoustic design: phase inverter
Speakers: Silk tweeter - 25 mm, MF x 1 / LF x 2 - 152.4 mm, HCCC
Recommended power: 180W
Maximum power: 360W
Frequency response: 32-24,000 Hz (+3/-3dB)
Impedance: 6 ohm
Sensitivity: 89 dB
Input Connectors: Chrome plated bi-wiring screw terminals
Dimensions: 1072x215x342 mm
Weight: 24.5 kg
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