JSE Infinite Slope speakers

[Vistance]

I just picked up a pair of JSE Infinite Slope speakers - they look just like the below:

Same finish and everything. The woofers are rotted out and I will need to get them refoamed though. So my big question - what model are these? I know they had several but I can't seem to find out online and that sticker on the back tells me nothing - it has everything BUT the model on it. Real little information on these is online. I'd appreciate it!

 

[kfa888]

Model 1.8 I believe.

 

[lunchmeat]

Yep. They are Model 1.8. You will love these speakers. I have a pair of the Model 1s and they will never leave.

 

[tubed]

The Model One had an extremely complex crossover network that sucked alot of amplifier juice. However once up and running(guzzling), did a great job of filling the room with lively musical sound.
Dynaudio tweeters
Focal and Seas woofers...they were actually a 2-way:scratch2:

 

[Vistance]

Hmm, well when I looked up model 1.8 earlier - I kept finding versions that looked like they had two 10" drivers. This speaker clearly has a 10" woofer and an 8" mid-bass driver and I'd say a 6.5" mid driver with a 3" tweeter. It may be possible that these are 1.8 and I just keep finding pictures of the 1.8A speakers. The 1.8A's have the dual 10" woofers and the edges are rounded - these speakers clearly have well defined edges. I wish I could find something to make me feel confident they are 1.8's, but it is as best I have to go on right now.

So can anyone tell me anything more about these speakers? How old are they, original price, that kind of thing? I know nothing about it really, but looking at it I imagine them to have been pretty high end pieces when they were new - I'm guessing in the 90's or the late 80's.

 

[Nat]

I must have forgotten to actually submit my previous reply -- oops.
JSE licensed the infinite slope crossover technology patented by Richard Mondafieri(sp?) of Macintosh tuner fame, which gives very steep slopes to the crossovers without the usual ringing which bedevils more than 6 or 12 dB slopes. This allows each driver to play only in its appropriate frequency range with almost no interference with other drivers. Not only does this make for a very clean sound with first rate imaging and depth, but in my experience it also seems to dramatically diminish the boxy sound that almost always is there with box enclosures.
John Solecito (JS of JSE) used very high quality drivers (dynaudio, focal and others) and the quality of construction was high (though I didn't care for the light oak veneer which seems prone to cracking and fading) and the result was a very highly regarded line of speakers, but one that was relatively expensive, so they didn't meet with the market success they deserved.
Eventually JSE cease manufacturing, and Joseph Audio took over the infinite slope license. John Solecito than started Source Technologies. He still is willing to help JSE owners who need advice.
I think you will like your speakers a great deal. In a fit of madness I sold my 1s which outraged my daughters -- along with a big pair of Bozaks, the only speakers whose departure hasn't been greeted with hosannas by by weary family.

 

[Vistance]

Cool, I had heard good things about these and decided to buy - which definitely means I need to get those woofers refoamed. I had heard that Millersounds in PA was one of the best to use - but I'm curious how much will it cost me to get those 10" drivers refoamed in total? Are there any other places anyone would recommend? This will make the first time I have ever sent drivers to be reconed - although these are the first speakers of this caliber I have ever found. They certainly seem well worth it, I played the lightly and every other driver works great and sounds good.

One other issue - one of the speaker terminals has cracked. They're quite small - maybe 2" x 2" at most 3" x 3". Where can I buy a similarly styled replacement?

 

[Nat]

Most speaker terminals are pretty generic, so look at Parts Express's catalogue, or simply fill the cracks with hot melt glue. Actually the ones in the pictures look round, not square, and if they are the ones you are thinking of, they look very easily replaced.

 

[chucksrt]

are these 1.8 for sure? I have 1.8A speakers that have two 10" woofers. So is there a 1.8 and a 1.8A? I just found a guy selling what looks like the speakers you have pictured but I wasn't sure what model they were.

 

[Vistance]

are these 1.8 for sure? I have 1.8A speakers that have two 10" woofers. So is there a 1.8 and a 1.8A? I just found a guy selling what looks like the speakers you have pictured but I wasn't sure what model they were.

Hey Chuck, pretty sure if they look like the above photo they are model 1.8 (Made circa the late '80s for around $1,895). The 1.8A model was newer, made in the '90s and looks like this:

Note the dual 10" drivers and the larger midrange driver. Additionally, the edges are bevelled whereas the 1.8 is very squareish. I too faced the same dilemma you did and I'm pretty sure 1.8 is the model of the speakers I pictured in the original post (which is what mine look like). The model above them is Model 2 which looks like these (Since they have one extra driver I'm thinking 1.8 is definitely the model of the previously pictured speakers):

 

[Vistance]

Hey there all, I contacted Source Technologies and can confirm that indeed that is where John Sollecito has gone (His name was associated with their info email account). In the future - in case anyone stumbles across my thread desiring information on these, these are in fact model 1.8 speakers but to be more precise they are first edition model 1.8 speakers. I presume this is because later 1.8 speakers had dual 10" woofers and I believe mine do not.

John Sollecito told me in his email that these speakers should have their bottom most woofers replaced and that Source Technologies will replace them at a cost of $125 per woofer. I am unsure if it has been decided the originals were of inferior quality, but it does seem rather common at this point to see the bottom most drivers requiring a refoam. Mr. Sollecito also said these were highly collectible nowadays (Although as the designer of the speakers, he will certainly be a bit biased towards his own product), though I can say I have enjoyed what I have heard out of them so far even with the bottom woofers lacking their surrounds.

Any other questions regarding JSE speakers at this time seem like they should be directed to the info section of Source Technologies. Hope this helps someone out, as this came as quite a revelation to me. Just a question for anyone though, do you think I should go with his suggestion of replacing the woofers or just getting the originals refoamed? I mean, I'd like to think that the person who designed the speakers would know best (Being the JS in JSE) but I'm not sure if that would have a significant impact on the sound of the speakers. I'm inclined to say it wouldn't being they're the bass drivers, whereas tweeters and midranges would make a more marked difference though I'm curious what someone else would do in my position. The cost to refoam both woofers (professionally, mind you - I won't dare risk damaging them by doing it myself) is $100 and that does include shipping. The costs if I replaced both woofers would probably be around $275-$285 after shipping. I suspect he may have chosen to go with rubber surround replacement woofers as every other driver on the speakers uses rubber surrounds and are still in great shape. What would you do in this situation - considering that they are supposedly very valuable and great sounding speakers.

EDIT: Well I emailed Mr. Sollecito again asking about his recommendation and he said the following about the new woofers:

I don't recommend refoaming the old woofers as they've been replaced by much better performers. I've designed a new, rubber surround, 10" unit with the ideal motor, cone, and magnet/motor system for the Phase Shift Bass loading in your 1.8's. Better depth of bass, more detail and dynamics.

For those in the future who discover this page, the website is Source Loudspeaker Technologies.

 

[Joe Salvatto]

I recently aquired a pair of JSE model 2s in pristine condition. I was told that as a speaker, "they take the cabinet out of the speaker". Now allow me to say that I have them powered by a Mc intosh 2500. Once I began to listen to them I was stunned to hear what was going on. And for the record I have been in the professional recording arena for over 39 years and worked in the greatest studios on the planet and these speakers are completely amazing..I cannot stop listening to them.The pairing of the 2500 with the model 2's is a natural choice seeing as their appitite for power is not a question.
As all vintage devices go, they will require care and nurturing, In particular the main tweeter (just below the super tweeter) is developing the tiniest bit of gravel in specific tonal resonances. Its not terrible but being the professional I can see the writing on the wall. If anyone has leads on replacements for this tweeter, please do reach out .

 

[Coaxial2005]

I recently aquired a pair of JSE model 2s in pristine condition. I was told that as a speaker, "they take the cabinet out of the speaker". Now allow me to say that I have them powered by a Mc intosh 2500. Once I began to listen to them I was stunned to hear what was going on. And for the record I have been in the professional recording arena for over 39 years and worked in the greatest studios on the planet and these speakers are completely amazing..I cannot stop listening to them.The pairing of the 2500 with the model 2's is a natural choice seeing as their appitite for power is not a question.
As all vintage devices go, they will require care and nurturing, In particular the main tweeter (just below the super tweeter) is developing the tiniest bit of gravel in specific tonal resonances. Its not terrible but being the professional I can see the writing on the wall. If anyone has leads on replacements for this tweeter, please do reach out .

Hi Joe. Welcome to the JSE family! I'm an original owner of JSE 2As and had a pair of model 2s before that. They are indeed great speakers. John Sollecito (of Source Loudspeaker Technologies) can help you with a rebuild. He can upgrade your crossover and provide you with new modern drivers designed specifically for your model 2s. Indeed John does in fact support his JSE line through his current company despite the fact that JSE is long gone. I refurbished my 2As a few years ago with new drivers and an upgraded crossover. See the before and after pics... Considering that my old drivers were falling apart, it was well worth it. John can be hard to reach but keep trying! I also have original manuals for these speakers and can send you a copy if you can somehow get you your email address. BTW, I too and using a McIntosh amp with my JSEs. Great combo!

 

[baco99]

My JSE Model 2 are some of the best speakers I have ever heard. I regret selling them...BOTH PAIR!

 

[FloridaCrab]

I bought a pair of Model 2's on an Ebay auction. When I saw how much they weighed, I thought how in the hell can I afford to have them shipped? Then I saw the guy selling them, was 4 miles from my house! I love these speakers. I drive them with an Adcom GFA-555.

 

[Hotcress]

Can you please clue me into what model drivers you changed up to? My 10"s look like they've seen better days. I want them looking new again

 

[Nat]

When you say your speakers look like they've seen better days, what do you mean? If they don't work, or work intermittently, that's an issue, but one that might be addressed via recapping or checking for cold solder joints on either end of the tinsels. If surrounds are bad, they can be redone. Dustcaps can be replaced. None of these measures will cost anything like replacing drivers will, and have a much better chance of retaining the original (and desired) sound.

 

[baco99]

Can you please clue me into what model drivers you changed up to? My 10"s look like they've seen better days. I want them looking new again

Don’t replace them. The drivers on that speaker were matched specifically to the specs on the Infinite Slope crossover. Changing a driver Willy-nilly will not result in the desired effect

 

[Hotcress]

Looks like the orginal woofers where refoamed. It definitely wasn't the cleanest job. I'd love to listen to them without the grills on...but im gonna be looking at the not so neat refoam and zooming in on the flaws. Other then that they sound amazing. If there are direct replacement woofers to look out for it'll be good to know. Even if I never change them it'll be cool to read specs as I don't have any info on the system as a whole.

 

[ultumax]

Hey Chuck, pretty sure if they look like the above photo they are model 1.8 (Made circa the late '80s for around $1,895). The 1.8A model was newer, made in the '90s and looks like this:

Note the dual 10" drivers and the larger midrange driver. Additionally, the edges are bevelled whereas the 1.8 is very squareish. I too faced the same dilemma you did and I'm pretty sure 1.8 is the model of the speakers I pictured in the original post (which is what mine look like). The model above them is Model 2 which looks like these (Since they have one extra driver I'm thinking 1.8 is definitely the model of the previously pictured speakers):

They look like some extraordinary well crafted speakers . Wow 10” woofers I have no floor standers with that big of woofers .
-I have a pair of lancer mk12 with big woofers but there’ the big box type of speaker . Not tall slim floor standers , and not near as nice as these .