Ultra Cool Vintage 1950's Hi Fi Stereo Speakers- Jensen Drivers
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One cant help but notice no one is giving any old Jensens away. Some of them are getting crazy priced on EBAY. Those might be a steal.
ANybody got any old Lafayette catalogs?
I think you'd find those in a couple.
I have an early 60's catalog but don't remember those speakers in it.
Look how thin the metal on the woofers even the magnet is tiny "What Magnet" Could be a refrigerator magnet :biggrin2:
Those Jensens look like junk ! Cabinets look nice though...
Alnicos though. They probably are far from Junk.
They likely sound WAY better than new stuff with a zillion times bigger mags. Can't judge a speaker by it's magnet size. When 604's adopted the bigger mag used on EV's due to corporate policy the woofer bandwidth shifted upward. Those are way less desirable than earlier 604's with smaller mags.
As I understand Great plains has gone back to the smaller mag.
Worth noticing, the 'sealed' aspect of the MF/HF drivers. Seemingly a proper 'sealed' AS cab. (if 'acoustic suspension' applies universally)
They're standard stamped steel baskets. Small magnets yes, but Jensen's are quite respected. Some command good money...... not as much as an Altec, but still decent. Guitar guys like them, but that tends to be model specific.....as does high value. I've had, and have, various Jensen drivers. Some I've pulled from consoles and some are in standalone cabinets. Since I'm not a guitar player, I sell them if I can. The ones I've had in cabinets I've been less than impressed with....... too bass shy. Even the "Flex-Air" woofers. I'm not sure if it's the cabinets, the drivers, or my expectations. I've had other vintage speakers that I thought sounded better......... in all fairness, I'm not sure that I'm comparing speakers from like decades. My Jensen's are late 50's, but my Ohms, and Wharfedales were likely late 60's...... not quite sure.Quote:
Originally Posted by Altec Best
I'm rambling........ I guess I like Jensens in part becasue they're an old American company that did well, and produced a lot of good drivers at varying price points. Peter Jensen also designed, or had his hand in, the old Magnavox drivers that I like.
Edit: That basket is known as a Hot Dog basket because of the slots. The blue-ish colored ones usually bring higher $$$'s.
More than one manufacturer had "sealed" mid range cone speakers to prevent the woofer from modulating the mid range driver. Acoustic suspension implies a long throw woofer cone suspension assembly.
I've seen 10" McCauley drivers on Ebay with sealed backs. The only ones I've seen in person have been made by Jensen, Though. I had a pair of P8P's with sealed backs....... I wish they weren't sealed as I beleive they would have sold on ebay for much higher than they did, if they were open backed.Quote:
Originally Posted by gvasale
I wonder if the "flex-air" drivers that Jensen made were intended to be use in acoustic suspension situations. The flex-air drivers don't do well on ebay. The same frames/motors with a conventional cone/suspension sell great, Though.
IRC, another sealed midrange was the University CM 8. A long time ago I had a homemade 3 way system using Lafayette 12" woofers, that previously mentioned midrange and a horn tweeter which also came from Lafayette. Forgot its dimensions. Moved from them to my present 416a 511b 802d/ 80* used today. But even before that had some cobbled out of old radio consoles of a wide variety, then to "Mustang" full range made by Utah if I've got that right as well. Even had one Jensen 12" field coil that came from an ole juke box. Played louder than stimk with a 10 watt Bell amplifier. Then one day, the powwer supply failed when the sealing wax or tar melted out of the transformer staining the hardwood floor in the bedroom and filling the same with smoke.
Not in my book.I never liked Jensen ever.One thing about Jensen which seemed to me that they distorted very easy . I have been around Altec for most of my life so I guess I have been spoiled with the Best. :smile2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill
We are arguing apples and oranges. You won't get a decent set of Altecs for $125 either. Those are totally adequate for , say, rear channels.
I don't think anybody said Jensen was as good as Altec. Men like different things in women too. Otherwise there would be tons more lonely folks.
Arguing for the sake of arguing gets silly after a while.
Mmmm. ...and the EV VMR, and the ~4" (phillips?) hexagonal frame ones found in Heathkit as-1348's, some acousti-phase, and some infinity's (the 'xb' maybe, I forget)...Quote:
Originally Posted by gvasale
Hell, I barely get a tank full of gas for that. :biggrin2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
Who is arguing ? WHO IS ARGUING OG ? I just stated my opinion about a brand of speaker. Good Enough ? I think most of us want the best,if we have to save a little more to get it, so be it.I made a comment about that silly looking basket and right away it morphed into folks getting defensive. :frown2:Quote:
Originally Posted by Old Guy
I thought this was a discussion board ?
I also think people are forgetting this is an ALTEC BOARD.... Am I pro Altec ? YUP ! :tongue2:
Back on topic please...
Not at all....... many of us also appreciate, or at least respect other old-timey brands, Though. Especially those of us that have limited funds for spending on high priced Altec gear.Quote:
Originally Posted by Altec Best
Good Point ABG . :Thumbs up:Quote:
Originally Posted by Audio_by_Goodwill
All's well that ends well.
Yes it is.. Thank You ! :smile2: