Jensen Spectrum 530 Speakers

[NicholasG]

Hey there, Just picked up a pair of Jensen Spectrum 530 speakers in excellent condition. Near mint. My first Spectrum pair of Jensen speakers and again am super impressed with the robust sound these Jensen's have. Full deep sound, all the drivers seem to work really well together in these speakers. Very similar looking speakers to the Jensen OPC speakers. However, There is like no information about these speakers anywhere out there like what the wattage rating is and frequency range etc. I'm hoping someone has a flyer or something about these speakers. They are a 3 way acoustic speaker with front mounted controls. Very happy with the speakers.

 

[Stan man]

Nice speaker. Beautiful cabinets. The 520s were my very first pair of hi-fi speaker. Circa 1979. The tweeters are especially good. How did you happen on such a minty pair?
I have a mint pair of the 540s that I'll never sell cause of nostalgic reasons.

 

[NicholasG]

Thanks Stan man. Yes I cant believe how good of shape they are in. They were cared for. Someone was selling them off ebay locally. I used buy it now. 14 others were watching it as well. I didn't want to miss as Jensen speakers don't come around too often. At least ones I'm interested in. These tweeters are excellent reproducers. Seem to have a wider range of sound than typical tweeters. These speakers are now my third pair of Jensens with those tweeters in them. I almost got my hands on a pair of 540s but the next time I went on CL they were off. Bummer. Don't blame you for hanging on to them. Sound is amazing. I too have Jensen speakers I wont sell for nostalgic reasons. They are my OPC Jensens.

 

[gdmoore28]

Beautiful cabinets!

GeeDeeEmm

 

[NicholasG]

Thank you GeeDeeEmm. I found a webpage for these speakers by searching for Jensen Pemcor. It just describes the speakers but still no specs. Just states the watts for the 540 model being at 75 watts max, which is the same rating for the OPC 24's.

 

[jlovda]

I worked a Jensen a couple of years after these were discontinued. 1977 - 1980. Beautiful cabinets. I built a two way system out of spare cabinets (one model down on the list; 10", 2 way). One thing I found was that the high frequency response was quite jagged. I believe the problem was the two vertical walnut trim pieces that stick out causing the sound to reflect off of them. If you want to experiment, try putting foam rings (like the JBL L100's) around the mid and tweeter. I may smooth things out. I personally never got to try this because I gave the speakers to a nephew and he dropped them off the back of a trailer.

Also, I believe this series was the last to use small Mallory pots for the level controls. We switched to Alps large 8 ohm L-pads for the following models. The new L-pads were the same type that Parts Express now sells.

 

[NicholasG]

Thank you jlovda. Man how cool would it have been working there. I'd have so many speakers lol. Did you acquire a lot working there lol.... I read somewhere that those wood trim pieces do alter the sound stage. I'm not sure I know what to be listening for when it comes to tweeter jaggedness. So far I am pleased with its sound and I believe there is already foam around the tweeter. Looks like its factory as it appears old. Not crumbly though which surprises me. Speaking of the level controls, I will say these speakers have the most noticeable adjustments with the controls for midrange and treble of all the speakers I own. Very happy with the sound of these. Still unable to find specs on them but, very happy overall.

 

[jlovda]

Thank you jlovda. Man how cool would it have been working there. I'd have so many speakers lol. Did you acquire a lot working there lol.... I read somewhere that those wood trim pieces do alter the sound stage. I'm not sure I know what to be listening for when it comes to tweeter jaggedness. So far I am pleased with its sound and I believe there is already foam around the tweeter. Looks like its factory as it appears old. Not crumbly though which surprises me. Speaking of the level controls, I will say these speakers have the most noticeable adjustments with the controls for midrange and treble of all the speakers I own. Very happy with the sound of these. Still unable to find specs on them but, very happy overall.

Oddly enough my best "souvenir" from working there were three McIntosh MC60 tube power amps that were originally used a the end of some car speaker assembly lines for a final sweep test before packaging. The storage room had to be cleaned out for other uses. I refurbished them but sold them quite fast since they heated up the living room too much. I did have a pair of "System B" speakers for ten years. It was a great three years as the car audio business was at its peak and it was fun. Some new bosses came in and created hell for me and my dept. Got my MBA and left the audio world professionally.

 

[NicholasG]

I refurbished them but sold them quite fast since they heated up the living room too much

That's crazy that puts that much heat out. Must have had a lot of watts...I have not yet tried tube equipment but would love to. Heard lots of great feedback about tube audio. Read the system B speakers were one of the best ported speaker Jensen made, haven't heard and I saw there are some for sale near me but asking like 300 or something for them. The Jensen triax 6x9 speaker was really cool. Had a few pairs as a kid, wish I had kept them now. Sux about your bosses man, sometimes they can be little twerps lol.

 

[jlovda]

The Jensen triax 6x9 speaker was really cool. Had a few pairs as a kid, wish I had kept them now.

I found one Tri-Axial in a box in my garage a few months ago. The blue foam surround was completely rotted. It's almost impossible to find 6x9 foam for a refurb plus the tweeter bracket on top is riveted in so you can't work on them anyhow.

 

[NicholasG]

I found one Tri-Axial in a box in my garage a few months ago.

How cool a blast from the past. Does it still work?? Funny you say about 6x9 speaker foams. I repaired a pair of speakers from a 96 stratus with bad foams. The electronics store in Kenosha here sells 6x9 speaker foams. Repaired both with ease. I have a thing for speakers, I cant get rid of speakers. I try to fix them all. Id figure out a way past those rivets somehow.