JPW mystery speakers.......any ideas ?
- Thread starter Cogsinister
- Start date
madtech
Well-Known Member
The highs are a bit bright for me but other than that I'm enjoying them overall. I would love to find a spec sheet but so far no luck. The poly woofer according to the specs above is rated at 25Hz but once it hits that small cabinet I'm curious where the low end ends up at.
Well, I don't know which model they are or whether the woofers have been replaced, but in 1985, the JP1s, which sure look just like these, with the little badge above the tweeter, a 200 mm (8 inch) woofer and similar looking cosmetics -- real wood veneer etc -- had a pulp woofer. So either the speakers in question are a later variant, or a different model, or have had the woofer replaced.
Given that the speakers are bright, and the general rule that polypro woofers are less efficient than paper ones, the idea that the woofers have replaced does rear its ugly head.
But even in stock for they were lightweight in tonal balance, and uneven in the high end, even, depending on program, sharp and wirey with upper treble prominent-- this all from HI FI CHOICE.
Given that the speakers are bright, and the general rule that polypro woofers are less efficient than paper ones, the idea that the woofers have replaced does rear its ugly head.
But even in stock for they were lightweight in tonal balance, and uneven in the high end, even, depending on program, sharp and wirey with upper treble prominent-- this all from HI FI CHOICE.
madtech
Well-Known Member
According to HiFi Nut (this thread) there were both poly and paper ViFA woofers used in the JPW's. Because of their weight (17lbs each)
I can say that these should be the P1's.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-23289.html
I can say that these should be the P1's.
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-23289.html
Not always. There were plenty of Vifa-built 8" woofers in Mission and Snell cabinets with foam surrounds.
And, I have a pair of Audio Concepts AC7 woofers, which are Vifa C17WG69-08s in disguise... they also have foam surrounds.
Many of the paper-cone Vifa drivers were available with foam surrounds. AFAIK, they NEVER made a poly cone woofer with a foam surround, though.
BTW: ALL the woofer versions shown in all the various JPW model pics in this thread are Vifa woofers. Apparently, they used several models, but all from the same manufacturer...
Regards,
Gordon.
I realize that my later citing of HIFI CHOICE is all the comments about the defects of the speaker, and none of the positive ones which I refered to in my original post, so someone coming in at the end of this thread might assume it was a negative review, which it really wasn't. They recommended the speakers, but with the sorts of reservations that were fully to be expected for a speaker of that price level. And plenty of speakers didn't do as well.
Bazzman
Active Member
Hi Nat just to let you know the speakers shown by the thread starter are AP2. JPW also made models called P1 and P2 these have flush baffles then later came out with the AP2 and AP3 which look similar but used poly drivers and a recessed baffle. Hope that helps with any doubt of different models.
fatglyn
New Member
Hi. Couldn't resist replying to this post as I worked for JPW between 1989 and 1994 and built probably thousands of these damn things!
All JPW's speakers during this period were hand-built, rather than chucked out along a production line, so be assured they were a quality product. JPW was a small company, little known outside the UK, but in the early '90s had a firmly established reputation for turning out good quality and inexpensive loudspeakers.
The speakers pictured are definitely early model (pre-'89) P1s or AP2s. The post '89 models, although using the same Vifa drive units and hard-wired crossover design as the old models, looked less "boxy" and more streamlined, with a smaller rectangular badge replacing the ugly round one, which was re-situated on the bottom left-hand corner.
From the front, P1s and AP2s look identical, but can be easily distinguished when you look at the back, as the AP2s, which were bi-wireable, had twin terminals, whereas the P1s had single. The AP3s used the same drive units and crossovers as the AP2s, but had a bigger cabinet (similar width, but taller and longer).
Nice to see the old workhorses are still around and still being enjoyed!
All JPW's speakers during this period were hand-built, rather than chucked out along a production line, so be assured they were a quality product. JPW was a small company, little known outside the UK, but in the early '90s had a firmly established reputation for turning out good quality and inexpensive loudspeakers.
The speakers pictured are definitely early model (pre-'89) P1s or AP2s. The post '89 models, although using the same Vifa drive units and hard-wired crossover design as the old models, looked less "boxy" and more streamlined, with a smaller rectangular badge replacing the ugly round one, which was re-situated on the bottom left-hand corner.
From the front, P1s and AP2s look identical, but can be easily distinguished when you look at the back, as the AP2s, which were bi-wireable, had twin terminals, whereas the P1s had single. The AP3s used the same drive units and crossovers as the AP2s, but had a bigger cabinet (similar width, but taller and longer).
Nice to see the old workhorses are still around and still being enjoyed!
Last edited:
Cogsinister
Super Member
I like the round badge....
soundman2
OBSESSED WITH 80's MUSIC
Just had to reply to this. In the UK if you need replacement Vifa loudspeakers for your P1's (like I did in 2004), contact a company called Wilmslow Audio and I think they're in the in the North-West of England if I'm not mistaken.
Took me ages to search for them on the net back then (thank god for broadband). In 2009, I found a pair of JPW ML510i speakers at the local tip in a box and in excellent condition - not bad for £2.
Took me ages to search for them on the net back then (thank god for broadband). In 2009, I found a pair of JPW ML510i speakers at the local tip in a box and in excellent condition - not bad for £2.
Cogsinister
Super Member
Just had to reply to this. In the UK if you need replacement Vifa loudspeakers for your P1's (like I did in 2004), contact a company called Wilmslow Audio and I think they're in the in the North-West of England if I'm not mistaken.
Took me ages to search for them on the net back then (thank god for broadband). In 2009, I found a pair of JPW ML510i speakers at the local tip in a box and in excellent condition - not bad for £2.
I remember in the 70's passing Wilmslow Audio, right in the center of Wilmslow .....i think they are based somewhere else now......
Demidemon
Speaker hoarder
Hi madtech.
I bought an old Pioneer stereo system from the local equivalent of Craigs List and the lovely old guy (just moved into a retirement home) asked me if I'd like his old speakers as well. He gave them to me gratis as the surrounds are completely rotted away.
The good thing is he still had all of the 'owners manuals' for his gear. However, for the JPW P1s there is a single sheet. Actually it reads 'PI' on the leaflet rather than P1 but they have the Vifa drivers (M21WG-09 woofer and D19TD-05 tweeter).
The leaflet gives directions on how to wire them correctly and then speaker placement and, at the end, has a small section titled 'Specification':
Frequency Range: 65Hz t0 20kHz +/- 3db at 2m on-axis
Sensitivity 98db at 1m pink noise input of 1 watt
Impedance 8 ohms nominal
Power Rating 70 watts continuous
Drive Units 200mm doped paper cone bass unit with foam surround
19mm soft plastic dome tweeter with ferro-fluid damping
Dimensions 434mm high x 254mm wide x 250mm deep
Weight 7.6kg
I hope that helps (if you're still here).
(Hmmm, just previewed my post and the careful formatting of the specs has all gone.)
bogle111
A Canadian enjoying Wales
As I recall, JPWs had the cabinets made were assembled at Dartmoor Prison. Good VFM. I was selling in competition to them. Seem to remember model numbers beginning AP1, AP3 etc.. Distributed from around Plymouth, UK. All you needed was a good "v" groover on a small production line and a tried and tested speaker design.
Disappeared from market one day cause as I remember, it had to do with cost hikes. Were quite well respected and had well made cabinets.
Disappeared from market one day cause as I remember, it had to do with cost hikes. Were quite well respected and had well made cabinets.
Gang-Twanger
Resident Wharfedaliophool
Boy, have things changed (for me) since this thread had it's initial go-round (What can I say... Had just joined at that point and didn't know tweeter from twitter... STILL don't, really, but I'm getting there).
I really have to respect these AK'ers who only post a handful of times per year, but it's always something totally-informative (2 or 3 AK'ers in particular come to mind). It's like, they come out of nowhere and *BAM*, they leave a post that solves the big mystery, and then, just like that, they're gone...
This place was built with a lot of help from people like that.... Modest, unselfish folks. My hat's off to you. :thmbsp:
I really have to respect these AK'ers who only post a handful of times per year, but it's always something totally-informative (2 or 3 AK'ers in particular come to mind). It's like, they come out of nowhere and *BAM*, they leave a post that solves the big mystery, and then, just like that, they're gone...
This place was built with a lot of help from people like that.... Modest, unselfish folks. My hat's off to you. :thmbsp:
madtech
Well-Known Member
Hi madtech.
I bought an old Pioneer stereo system from the local equivalent of Craigs List and the lovely old guy (just moved into a retirement home) asked me if I'd like his old speakers as well. He gave them to me gratis as the surrounds are completely rotted away.
The good thing is he still had all of the 'owners manuals' for his gear. However, for the JPW P1s there is a single sheet. Actually it reads 'PI' on the leaflet rather than P1 but they have the Vifa drivers (M21WG-09 woofer and D19TD-05 tweeter).
The leaflet gives directions on how to wire them correctly and then speaker placement and, at the end, has a small section titled 'Specification':
Frequency Range: 65Hz t0 20kHz +/- 3db at 2m on-axis
Sensitivity 98db at 1m pink noise input of 1 watt
Impedance 8 ohms nominal
Power Rating 70 watts continuous
Drive Units 200mm doped paper cone bass unit with foam surround
19mm soft plastic dome tweeter with ferro-fluid damping
Dimensions 434mm high x 254mm wide x 250mm deep
Weight 7.6kg
I hope that helps (if you're still here).
(Hmmm, just previewed my post and the careful formatting of the specs has all gone.)
Thanks!
A400
Well-Known Member
Good speakers, I have two pairs of P1's, one quite an early set I think.
I think the sensitivity is 89dB/W/m. Individual drivers specs are available and around this level.
I think the sensitivity is 89dB/W/m. Individual drivers specs are available and around this level.
