[net.audio] JSE-1 Speakers

wjm@whuxl.UUCP (MITCHELL) (08/09/84)

As per Shaun Simkins' request:
I have a pair of JSE-1 speakers that I bought from Harvey Sound in NYC as a
result of my famous "speaker hunt" where I was looking for the "best" (my
subjective judgement) speakers for $2k or less per pair (the JSEs are an
absolute bargain at $899/pair - personally I think they're underpriced).
I listened to many speakers including the KEF 105.4s, the B&W 802s, the Snell Cs
the Symdek system, Accustat 2+2's, before deciding on the JSEs.  Frankly, the
JSEs have the best stereo imaging and detailing I've ever heard in any speaker
selling for under $5,000 a pair.  Everything The $ensible Sound says about them
is true. (disclaimer: Although I now subscribe to T$S, I began my subscription
2 months AFTER I bought the JSEs.)
I had my sales rep (Bob Cutillo) at Harveys set the JSEs and the KEFs up on an
A/B switch driven by a Hafler DH-220 amp (the same amp I have) and the JSEs
blew the KEFs out of the water.  I thought the KEF 105.4 was a very good speaker
UNTIL I A/B'd it with the JSEs.  Source material were some of my Sheffield and
Crystal Clear D to D records (in particular, Amanda McBroom's "West of Oz",
The Fox Touch (Virgil Fox playing the organ at the Garden Grove Community Church
- several Bach toccatas and fugues), and the Solti recording of Holst's
"Planets" on Mobile Fidelity).  I also listened to the JSE-1s big brother, the
JSE-2s (about $2K a pair) and found that while the 2's have a bit more bass,
the 1's have better (flatter) mid-range response and better imaging.
The key to their performance is the "Infinite Slope" (100db/OCTAVE) according
to JSE's literature, crossover.  Admittedly, this EE is a bit skeptical about
such things, since this requires 17 pole pairs (6 db/octave per pole pair) and
very careful spacing to prevent the poles from interfering with each other.
I've been told by Harvey's that the crossover only contains passive components,
but I haven't reverse engineered it yet - I don't want to void the LIFETIME
warranty JSE puts on their speakers.
However, all I can say is - it works.  I've been very pleased with them and
the amount of detail they extract from classical, jazz, vocal, and country
works.
If you want to order a pair (the 1's can be shipped UPS - that's how I got mine)
Harvey's address is 2 West 45th St, New York, New York - 212-575-5000.
They accept AMEX, VISA, and MC (maybe other forms of plastic as well).
If I remember, it costs $18.00 to ship a pair to northern NJ via UPS.
Regards,
Bill Mitchell (whuxl!wjm)

fritz@hpfclk.UUCP (fritz) (08/10/84)

The JSE-1's sound really interesting.  Do any Colorado audiophiles know
if anyone around here carries them?  How do they compare to, for example,
Vandersteens?

Gary Fritz
{ihnp4,hplabs}!hpfcla!fritz