lacasse@randvax.UUCP (Mark LaCasse) (03/20/85)
I would like to buy some speakers that are fairly inexpensive (under $350/pr)
and that sound as nearly as possible like the Acoustat 2 or the Quad ESL.
These two are full range electrostatic speakers that to me have very
good imaging with solo vocalists, and have a 'bright, precise' sound.
They have very low measured distortion, particularly over 1000 Hz.
I have heard some 10 year old Janzen Z-410 's that I liked quite well
(ever see any available used?). These have 4 5" electrostatic panels
and a 12" conventional woofer. They are "large bookshelf". I believe
Janzen was later renamed Soundcraftsman. (Unrelated to the speaker
company: Jensen).
Does anyone know of anything available, new or used, like this?
Mark LaCasse qantel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!randvax!lacasse
c/o The Rand Corporation cbosgd!ihnp4!sdcrdcf!randvax!lacasse
1700 Main Street lacasse@Rand-Unix
Santa Monica, CA 90406
213/393-0411 ext. 7420pmr@drutx.UUCP (Rastocny) (03/23/85)
[] "(good electrostatic loudspeaker) < $350/pair" is a contradiction in terms :-) The Janzens you spoke of were fine loudspeakers for their time. But today's electrostats are far more sophisticated and far more costly than the Janzens of old. (I have one friend who still clings faithfully to his Janzens and his Altec woofers.) There are a new generation of pseudo-electrostats termed planar radiators and pulse diaphragms, and assorted principle termed leaf drivers. One manufacturer comes to mind, B.E.S. These speakers are probably what you're looking for. The price may be more than you want to pay. BES's models retail for $460/pair, $700/pair, $760/pair, $950/pair, $1,100/pair, and $1,500/pair. BES speakers aren't as fast as good electrostats, but they're cheap and they sound reasonably close to electrostats. They don't sound as good as the old Janzens. Yours for higher fidelity, Phil Rastocny AT&T-ISL ihnp4!drutx!pmr
ssp@sun.uucp (Stephen Page) (03/23/85)
Listen to the Magneplanar SMGb's (I think that's the current rev.) for
$500. They have good imaging and detail. I ended up with the MG Is
which sounded better but cost 2x.
Note these aren't actually electrostatic; someone on the net can
explain how they work better than I can.
=Stephen Page {ihnp4, decwrl, ucbvax}!sun!spage
(not my opinions, not my employer's)
------------- original text (why doesn't everyone do this? -------------
> I would like to buy some speakers that are fairly inexpensive (under $350/pr)
> and that sound as nearly as possible like the Acoustat 2 or the Quad ESL.
> These two are full range electrostatic speakers that to me have very
> good imaging with solo vocalists, and have a 'bright, precise' sound.
> They have very low measured distortion, particularly over 1000 Hz.
>
> I have heard some 10 year old Janzen Z-410 's that I liked quite well
> (ever see any available used?). These have 4 5" electrostatic panels
> and a 12" conventional woofer. They are "large bookshelf". I believe
> Janzen was later renamed Soundcraftsman. (Unrelated to the speaker
> company: Jensen).
>
> Does anyone know of anything available, new or used, like this?
>
> Mark LaCasse qantel!hplabs!sdcrdcf!randvax!lacasse
> c/o The Rand Corporation cbosgd!ihnp4!sdcrdcf!randvax!lacasse
> 1700 Main Street lacasse@Rand-Unix
> Santa Monica, CA 90406
> 213/393-0411 ext. 7420
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***rfg@hound.UUCP (R.GRANTGES) (03/25/85)
[] I just happen to have come into possession of a pair of JansZen Model 65's which are probably in need of repair. I would be willing to consider any reasonable offer from anyone looking for electrostatics. -- "It's the thought, if any, that counts!" Dick Grantges hound!rfg
manheimer@nbs-amrf.UUCP (Ken Manheimer) (03/26/85)
I second the suggestion to look into the SMG's, with qualifications. While I think the larger Magnepans (MG I improved, MG IIb, MG III) are phenomenal, I'm not certain that the trade-offs in the smaller (SMG) don't sacrifice some of the clarity (the MG's essential strength). I don't know, it's certainly worth looking into, tho, and I'd be interested to hear what you (or any-interested-body) find. Ken Manheimer ...!seismo!nbs-amrf!manheimer (everything leaks) (not necessarily my employer's opinion, once was mine)
keith@telesoft.UUCP (Keith Shillington @jovial) (04/02/85)
I love my Magnepan MG-Is. Depending on WHY you want electrostats, then Magneplanar technology may indeed be the perfect match for you. They produce a crisp, clear, full, definite image, and require very little space. A drawback is to produce the best of all possible images, they need to be placed four feet from the wall, however, they are lightweight, and the manufacturer recommends using them as backdrop to plants until you want to REALLY listen to them, then you can move them out. I also recommend using the good Monster Cable to drive them. ...!sdcsvax!telesoft!keith (Keith Shillington from UCSD Pascal)