Dad's Janszens

[AudioCanberr]

Sometime in 1965 to 1970 my Dad bought a set of speakers from a fellow in Sydney who made them from a Janszen kit. There are a pair of Janszen Electrostatic Tweeters in each. I’m not sure what they cost him, but it must have been a fair bit, as Mum was not very happy! They missed out on their annual holiday! I’m hoping some of you out there might be able to tell me what they could be worth nowadays??

My Dad is no longer with us, and I’ve inherited his speakers some years ago. I had the speakers serviced in Canberra in 2010 by a very experienced fellow with a great reputation. The woofers in each box were replaced due to age and misaligned magnets. He also added porting to the back of each after testing them. All wiring and power was checked. The transformers for the electrostatics was found to be in good condition.

Inside each speaker box there are: two electrostatic tweeters, a 9” woofer, a transformer, and dampening foam etc.

Cosmetically, there are some marks on the top of the brown timber cabinets where ornaments have been placed over the years. These marks are minor. The original cloth on the speaker grills has been replaced by a black grill fabric.

I’ve been running the speakers with a Marantz amp and a retro LinearDesign amp, and using a Rega P3 turntable. They sound great, especially clear and precise with piano and acoustic vocals.

Has anyone seen something similar to these previously? Any ideas what they could be worth? Thanks everyone.

 

[AudioCanberr]

Now with Pictures attached properly

 

[janikphoto]

What a shame he replaced the speakers. I wonder if it was truly necessary, even with the issues you mentioned. Janszen speakers are prized, btw.

 

[AudioCanberr]

Thanks for your comment. You've triggered my memory now, the woofers were not branded as Janszen or with any markings??? I assumed, and I hope not incorrectly, that they were generic - else I wouldn't have changed them - I agree. The cones were paper and were deteriorating along with the other issues…

 

[jameswei]

I recently acquired a pair of Janzsen 300 with legs and sounded very good fully working, but unfortunately the market is only paying around $500.00 for it. The pair you got is a lessor model if fully original could fetch between $300-$500 in the states.

 

[frperdurabo]

I don't think the woofers in those were anything special. (Although the originals might've had alnico magnets, which is cool). IIRC, Janszen made a couple of different models; the larger ones used an array of 4 tweeter panels and a bigger woofer. BTW, Janszen's son is back in the speaker business, making a modern electrostatic/dynamic hybrid with a closed back.

I'd search US and Australian eBay's "completed sales" for Janszens. The fact that these were DIY, and that the woofers aren't original, (And the cabinet design was changed, too) is going to hurt value. But the tweeters are still desirable.

Honestly, if they sound nice to you, and you have room for them, why not just keep them? You're not going to get rich selling them. OTOH, if audio isn't your thing, there's certainly value in knowing they're in the hands of a new person who really appreciates them.

 

[janikphoto]

...Honestly, if they sound nice to you, and you have room for them, why not just keep them? You're not going to get rich selling them. OTOH, if audio isn't your thing, there's certainly value in knowing they're in the hands of a new person who really appreciates them.

This is the truth. They belong in the hands of someone who will love them. Hopefully, it's you, since there's a nice connection to your family through them. However, you don't need to keep stuff like this, if it's just going to be wasted. In that case, making a little money and selling them to an audiophile makes sense.

 

[hatrack71]

I love Janszens. It's gonna take a lot of money to beat the beautiful soundstage and natural presentation these put out. With a decent tube amp, they will blow your mind. They have scary realism. Here are some I'd like to hear and own someday- on my short wishlist...

Also, I agree, the original woofers are nothing extraordinary but they definitely got the job done and quite well.

 

[frommerstop]

Those look to be DIY Z-300s. Factory version was aprox. circa 1958-1964. They were (and still are) a very nice speaker, as long as you have room, I think you'd be hard pressed to do better for what they could bring you in resale. If I were you, I'd keep & enjoy them.

 

[AudioCanberr]

Thanks everyone who read and responded to my query. After hearing your views, I will keep the speakers, and save up for a nice amp.

 

[wavley]

I LOVE my Z-400s, the woofers on mine are alnico and very efficient, I power mine with an 8 watt per side tube amp.