The Jamo HYG 5 lets users wake the speaker and resume the last source with a wave of the palm. It is the most visible usability detail of the new WiFi home model, introduced on October 20: it brings network playback, amplification and active speakers together in one enclosure without giving up an RCA line input.
Jamo HYG 5 brings together several ways to listen
The official announcement includes Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz Connect, TuneIn and QPlay II. AirPlay 2 and Google Cast add multiroom playback within their respective ecosystems. That list should not be interpreted as a single universal network where any device and protocol can be grouped together indiscriminately.
The Jamo Play app handles setup, playback control, presets and personalized equalization. It also adjusts ambient lighting. The hand gesture does not replace all these functions: its stated purpose is to wake the device and restore the previous source.
The RCA connection is line input, not a phono preamp
Jamo adds Bluetooth 5.0 and stereo RCA input for other sources. The RCA connection is not advertised as a phono input. A turntable needs to deliver a line-level signal, through a built-in or external preamp, rather than assuming the speaker includes that stage because it uses the same connectors.
This distinction also helps when comparing active systems such as the PSB iQ2 and its connections for different sources. Sharing a connector shape does not guarantee the same electrical function.
Three drivers do not replace a listening test
The announced architecture combines two 2.5-inch full-range units angled upward and outward with a down-firing 4-inch woofer. Jamo’s goal is to widen the stereo presentation from a single enclosure, but that design intention does not establish how it will sound in every room.
The planned finishes are Dark Grey, Light Grey and Amber Dune, with a fabric covering and an interface that dims in standby. The concept suits someone wanting access to several services and a wired source without assembling separate components. Assessing dispersion, bass or tonal balance still requires measurements or listening: this is a report on the announcement, not a speaker review.
Image: Jamo.
