Sealed cabinet bookshelf speakers from the 1990s.

[chebby]

From memory (a friend had them) the JPWs sounded pretty good, but being small and a sealed box, needed a good amount of welly to get much volume out of them.

Thanks

Not interested in loud. (Smallish 3.5m x 3.5 spare room with desk, iMac, book cabinet and armchair.)

The JPWS are 87dB @8 Ohms and are rated as 70wpc. Listening distance would never exceed about 2m.

I don't think the kind of amp/receiver I have in mind will be troubled (or run to clipping) at low - moderate volumes.

 

[floyd droid]

Found a Black Ash pair Chebby. Lap of the gods if the seller has neglected to update if sold or no. Will post a link if you are interested.

 

[chebby]

Found a Black Ash pair Chebby. Lap of the gods if the seller has neglected to update if sold or no. Will post a link if you are interested.

I think I've seen them. Bury St Edmunds (collect in person) ?

Thanks for looking.

I am very patient. It might take weeks, or longer, but I will hold out for a (not black) wood veneer pair unless a really mint black pair emerge.

Well, I have a totally mint pair of boxed MS20i Pearl Editions (from 1998 ) under my stairs so I know it can happen

 

[floyd droid]

They are in Manchester. Anyways dont blame you for hanging out for what you really want.

Good luck with your search.

 

[chebby]

JPW Sonatas purchased.

In excellent, un-marked, condition, with original box.

Picking them up on Friday.

 

[chebby]

Picked up the Sonatas 10 days ago. Cabinets in superb condition plus original box and packaging for only £18.

Got them home and fired them up. One speaker sounded dull. Ear to tweeter. Nowt coming out. Hmm.

Decided not to cause fuss with vendor. Honest mistake from old boy who probably hadn't even realised his speakers were only firing on 3 cylinders.

He hadn't listed his speakers properly (he didn't even know they were Sonatas until he got the box out for me whereas I knew from his photos on ebay) so I got speakers worth at least £35 - £40 for £18. So we are even.

Bid successfully today on two 'new in box'/never used Audax TW010F1 tweeters for a total of £16.50 including P&P. Circular faceplates but that's no problem. Faceplates are interchangable with my JPW's rectangular (F3) ones because all TW010 tweeters fit into their respective faceplates with a twist/bayonet mount

I will report back when I have fitted brand new tweeters. (I know I only needed one but I thought two brand new ones would be better.)

Total cost so far £34.50. Not bad.

Ho hum. Good job this is a long term/gradual putting together of a second system in another room. So I can be patient.

 

[chebby]

Continued...

'New' tweeters arrived this morning. Called local hi-fi shop to arrange fitting.

They fitted/soldered them this afternoon (only charged £10).

Been playing Bowie, Sly & The Family Stone, The Cure, XTC, a few 'Outnumbered' episodes from DVD and Radio 4 (currently The Archers) to get used to them a bit.

So far so excellent! Wasn't expecting much from them yet. (brand new/never used tweeters with a reputation for being harsh until broken in).

Totally sub optimal positioning whilst testing them (on top of my R3s with a bit of thin bubble wrap between them to prevent scratches).

Will dig out Partington Trophy stands, spikes and Blu-Tac at the weekend for a better listen, but think they have already 'made the grade'.

If all ok then will start looking into wall brackets/little wall shelves next week (for them to go onto the spare room wall eventually).

Once that's all done, and they are packed away, I will need to consider a nice old amp (or receiver) to use with them.

 

[GMK]

Chebby, were the old tweeters blown, or do they just degrade over time and need replacement?

 

[chebby]

Chebby, were the old tweeters blown, or do they just degrade over time and need replacement?

One wasn't working when I took delivery. The other was fine.

The elderly gentleman I bought them from probably didn't even realise one had blown. (I didn't pursue the matter as replacements were easy and cheap to find.)

However I decided to buy two ('new/unused old stock' boxed) tweeters so they matched better.

I don't think such things degrade over time. Plenty of 10, 20, 30 year-old (and even older) speakers out there with original tweeters still working to oppose that notion.

The Audax TW010F1 tweeters were pretty ubiquitous and used by Wharfedale, Goodmans, Mordaunt Short, JPW (and many other brands) over many years.

You'll find speakers on ebay - much older than mine - with fully working, original, Audax tweeters on any day. (Even some suprisingly expensive models used them).

 

[GMK]

Thanks, I only ask as I'm picking up a pair later today (after your glowing praise for them). Any tips on positioning?

 

[chebby]

Thanks, I only ask as I'm picking up a pair later today (after your glowing praise for them). Any tips on positioning?

Stands or wall brackets to raise them from the floor. As close to the wall as you like (as close as connections allow). Keep away from corners.

 

[chebby]

Thanks, I only ask as I'm picking up a pair later today ...

... and?

 

[GMK]

.....and I couldn't pick them up until late evening, and straight back to work today (still here...). They're smaller than I expected though. I imagined they'd be a similar size to my Ruark Swordsman

 

[chebby]

They're smaller than I expected though. I imagined they'd be a similar size to my Ruark Swordsman

I thought I had posted the dimensions (or a link to a site that listed them) somewhere.

Anyway, if you Google... JPW Sonata dimensions ....the first hit tells you they are 320mm high x 230mm wide x 215mm deep.

(Too late for you, but this will eventually come up on future Google searches for others wanting to know.)

 

[GMK]

I've only had time for a fleeting listen so far, but they sound very good. More open, expressive and detailed than the 9.1's, although they lack the bass weight and dynamic drive of the Wharfedale's. They're approximately a foot from the rear wall, so I'll experiment with positioning when I can to see if this redresses the balance slightly. For £25, fantastic value

 

[chebby]

I've only had time for a fleeting listen so far, but they sound very good. More open, expressive and detailed than the 9.1's, although they lack the bass weight and dynamic drive of the Wharfedale's. They're approximately a foot from the rear wall, so I'll experiment with positioning when I can to see if this redresses the balance slightly. For £25, fantastic value

I haven't tested mine that far away from a wall. They were bought expressly to go against a wall (to save space in a small spare room) hence my choice of small speakers with no ports.

Try putting them against the wall as close as stands/skirting boards/connections allow. (Obviously not with all your other gear or furniture between them.)

Give them an hour or so - quite loud - to loosen them up a bit. They probably haven't been used for ages.

 

[GMK]

I've re-read that and my comment could be misconstrued as a negative. They sound very good. My 9.1's on the other hand seem to have this almost hypnotic quality to the bass, which really drives the music along (that I haven't noticed with other speakers), so to compare, nothing has really given me that sense of drive elsewhere anyway.

The Sonata's are like a veil has been lifted in comparison. They're more communicative and insightful. A touch more warmth and welly and I'll be dangerously close to being happy :rofl: