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From: wjm@lcuxc.UUCP (B. Mitchell)
Newsgroups: net.audio
Subject: RE:speakers
Message-ID: <243@lcuxc.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Feb-85 23:01:14 EST
Article-I.D.: lcuxc.243
Posted: Wed Feb 13 23:01:14 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 15-Feb-85 03:51:58 EST
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Inc.
Lines: 31

As far as speakers in the $1000 to $2000 price range go, I think the JSE-1s
compare favorably to ANYTHING selling for under $3K (except that their big
brothers, the JSE-2s have a bit more bass).  The imaging on the 1s must
be heard to be believed - everyone who has heard my pair is quite impressed.
They also have execellent frequency response.  All this for $920 a pair.
As I've mentioned before, The $ensible Sound has a glowing review of them,
which they now consider to be  their "reference" speaker - they used to
like Vandersteen 2Cs before the JSEs came out.
Some observations based on last year's speaker search that lead to my
purchase of the JSEs.  Keep in mind that these are strictly my personal
opinions, not those of my employer or anyone else, and you should by all
means listen to the speakers with the kind of music you like - bring
records with you.  If the dealer allows you a trial in your listening room
at home, by all means take it - you want to minimize the number of variables
that affect a speaker's performance.
Personally, the 'steen's have too much "presence" in the 2-5 KHz range
(like many speakers made on the West Coast, they tend to emphasize that
frequency band to bring female vocalists out in front of a rock group)
for my tastes.
I also did not care for the B&W 802 or KEF 105.xs - they did not have the well defined
imaging of the JSEs
The problem with Quad ESL-63s is a) they cost $3K a pair (unless you can
get a good buy on a used pair), b) they can be a problem to drive with
some amps - true of electrostatics in general, and c) they are not really
full range speakers - you need a sub-woofer with them.  However, they have
superb imaging, definition, and frequency response.
As for the Polk SDA concept - I'm not convinced that it buys anything, and
the Carver Sonic Hologram box has the advantage that it can be switched out
if you don't feel it adds anything to a particular piece of music.
Regards,
Bill Mitchell (ihnp4!lcuxc!wjm)