Where's the big 3.7 vs JansZen comparison?

SteveFord · « **on:** 17 Feb 2014, 05:37 pm »

Inquiring minds want to know.

TitaniumTroy · « **Reply #1 on:** 21 Feb 2014, 11:01 pm »

In my opinion there is no comparison, I heard the Janzen at AXPONA 2013. What I remember most was that the Janzen was sound strained trying to pressurize that small hotel room. This was at moderate volume and not even playing bass heavy music.

I also thought the King Sound speaker which won some kind of best of show award. Was lacking in dynamics and overall volume, in comparison to my Magnepan 3.6's. The Montis ML however sounded outstanding and one of my five best of show.

TONEPUB · « **Reply #2 on:** 22 Feb 2014, 02:33 am »

I had the same experience with JansZen.

Pryso · « **Reply #3 on:** 22 Feb 2014, 04:44 am »

Recently there was some difference of opinion posted on Speaker Asylum regarding Janszen show demos. I'll admit my two experiences, one at an audio club meeting and the other at THE Show Newport, were mixed. I'm really not certain why this happened. I was able to arrange an at-home audition. Those results were so overwhelmingly positive I ordered a pair. At least a half dozen members of our audio club have been to my home to hear the zA2.1s. To a person they could not believe it was the same speaker they heard at our meeting or at Newport. It could have been the rooms, it could have been the electronics. I suspect it was a combination of both.

I've owned early Maggies, Infinities with Emit tweeters, RTR, Acoustat 2+2, ML CLS, and a larger number of cone driver speakers. The Janszens are the most musical, satisfying speakers I've owned in over 40 years as an audio hobbyist.

TitaniumTroy · « **Reply #4 on:** 22 Feb 2014, 05:42 pm »

Interesting Pryso, thanks for the counterpoint point of view. Your experience with planer's is pretty extensive, how much power are you using with your Janzen's?

Pryso · « **Reply #5 on:** 23 Feb 2014, 01:02 am »

Hi TT, interesting question.

When I got the zA2.1s I'd been using Parasound JC-1 monos. They sound wonderful but with 400 wpc into 8 ohms and 800 into 4, they exceeded Janszen's warranty range. So rather than take any chances (like an unexpected system short) I'll be selling those and replace them with something less powerful. Right now I'm using a pair of Monarchy SE-100s with a tube line stage. After selling off several excess components I'll begin auditioning alternatives in the 100 to 200 watt range. Unless I try tubes which might allow 70+ watts.

All this may take awhile but I'll try reporting back once I settle on amplification.

jsm71 · « **Reply #6 on:** 25 Feb 2014, 07:50 pm »

While I don't have the speaker lineage that Pryso noted, I had no trouble getting superb sound in my home that surpassed what I heard at a show as well. To be fair, at shows there really aren't many speakers that knock me over with sound quality and I know from anecdotal reviews that all those speakers must be far better than they come off in those settings.

I have heard the Maggie 3.7s many times as I considered them a possible upgrade path from the 1.7s I had. Once I dialed in the JansZens, I removed Maggies from further consideration. These two speakers really don't compare easily however. They are so different in their delivery. While there is alot right with Maggies I simply feel the JansZens sound more correct across the entire spectrum, clearly a matter of taste. I have become an ESL believer.

Like Pryso, I like to validate my impressions and I had two audiophile friends over just this past weekend to hear the JansZens for the first time. I was expecting polite praise with a few "buts" thrown in but they both just sat there and nodded in approval during a number of the selections. They both left my house saying they knew somebody else that should hear these. Both of my guests have systems easily multiples of cost above mine. One has the floor to ceiling Sound Labs.

I'm driving the JansZens with a 25 watt PP tube amp, Decware Torii MK IV. It is a little light on power even though I get all the volume I need. I have Decware's next model up on order and should have it in a few weeks. David Janszen heard this exact amp on his speakers at Steve Deckert's shop and really liked the combination. David likes his music loud. BTW, the new PP class A amp will bring a whopping 40 watt/ch. The JansZens are an easy load. The nominal impedance is 6 ohms, dipping no lower than 4 and no higher than 10.

titaniumheads · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Mar 2014, 04:05 pm »

Still waiting for mine to arrive. I guess he is having problems getting the walnut Plinths. I will definitely give you my take of them if they ever get here.

jsm71 · « **Reply #8 on:** 7 Mar 2014, 01:25 pm »

Glad to see another forum member "waiting as fast as he can".

We all had to wait a little bit as David is very exacting. It's worth the wait. Did you opt for the AirLayer option? Feel free to send an email offline if you have any questions.

Scott

Pryso · « **Reply #9 on:** 8 Mar 2014, 07:57 pm »

Hi th, congrats on your purchase.

I assume you meant walnut baffle, rather than plinth? A plinth is a base or platform and so far as I'm aware David utilizes MDF, which is then painted, for the base of his speakers.

Whatever; as Scott comments, it will be worth the wait. Also, Scott and I both had a much easier time with room set up with the zA2.1 than Dr. Greene reported in TAS. But do pay attention to the guidelines offered by Janszen.

titaniumheads · « **Reply #10 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 02:15 pm »

Ok, so my JansZens will be here Monday. And yes I meant Walnut baffle. Give me a few days to listen to them and I will try to give my totally unbiased opinion, not a fanboy of any speaker. So far every speaker I have owned has had both its strong and weak points and never left me truly satisfied. Whenever I said anything about what I thought were weaknesses I would get bashed by the fanboys.

avahifi · « **Reply #11 on:** 4 Apr 2014, 02:25 pm »

For those of you who were concerned about the sound of the Janszen electrostats at recent trade show demos, your worries are over.

David Janszen recently purchased a Fet Valve 400R amplifier from us and it will replace his previous amplifiers at Azpona this month.

Stop in and listen to them again, properly driven, you will be astonished.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

SteveFord · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Apr 2014, 01:58 pm »

Frank,
Have you heard the 3.7s and the JansZens at your place?

avahifi · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Apr 2014, 02:11 pm »

I have heard the Magnapan 3.7s driven by our Fet Valve 600R at a Minnesota Audio Club presentation a year ago. The outcome was excellent, good enough to sell a 600R to a Magnapan owner right after our demo.

I have not heard our equipment with the new Janszen speakers, but David Janzen has.

We will get to hear this combination at Axpona later this month. Of course my main efforts will be with Jim Salk, using a complete AVA Fet Valve equipment set. David Janzsen bought the 400R for his own use and will be using it with his own pet high end DAC/Preamp unit.

I did have the opportunity to run a Fet Valve amp with one of Janszen's earlier designs a few years ago at the Detroit Audio Show. It was used with two pairs of completely restored KLH 9 electrostatics, one pair in parallel per channel. The club member who owned the speakers told us he had never heard them so so good before. The result was a huge spacious wall of amazingly high definition and wide range sound. The speaker load did not faze our amplifier at all.

Frank

Pryso · « **Reply #14 on:** 15 Apr 2014, 05:25 am »

tt, the little Janszen rumor birdie suggested to me you received your pair and after a little experimenting "can't stop listening". Well, whenever you finally can tear yourself away, I'd enjoy hearing more detailed comments on your experiences.

Thanks.

titaniumheads · « **Reply #15 on:** 15 Apr 2014, 01:58 pm »

I promise to get something written by the end of the week. One thing I did find out is my sofa is not as comfortable as I thought it was. After a couple hours my back is killing me. Not used to sitting in one place that long. I also think I hurt it packing the two JL audio F113 subs out of the room since I didn't need them anymore.

jsm71 · « **Reply #16 on:** 15 Apr 2014, 02:27 pm »

titaniumheads, I look forward to your review. What speakers did you have before the purchase? Be sure to note your setup. I found these really don't need placement out into the room as most dipole planars do. Good to hear you feel you don't need the subs. I stopped using mine as well as soon as the speakers relaxed and let the bass do its magic.

Phil A · « **Reply #17 on:** 15 Apr 2014, 03:07 pm »

Quote from: avahifi on 4 Apr 2014, 02:25 pm

For those of you who were concerned about the sound of the Janszen electrostats at recent trade show demos, your worries are over.

David Janszen recently purchased a Fet Valve 400R amplifier from us and it will replace his previous amplifiers at Azpona this month.

Stop in and listen to them again, properly driven, you will be astonished.

Regards,

Frank Van Alstine

That's good to hear. He was using small (120W) Bryston Power Pacs at the Capital Audiofest last year in a small room and I thought they may be a drop under powered.

steve f · « **Reply #18 on:** 16 Apr 2014, 05:56 am »

Just a little addition about Janszen at the 2013 Axpona show. I visited their room on the last day of the show and thought their speakers were quite good. Perhaps they solved a problem, or found better made recordings. Since this year's Axpona is only about a week away, I hope our attending forum members get the chance to check out Janszen and post their impressions.

Pryso · « **Reply #19 on:** 19 Apr 2014, 06:36 pm »

titaniumheads, sorry for any confusion in calling you "tt" last time. I must have been thinking TitaniumTroy and in too much of a hurry.

Anyway, with the arrival of your zA2.1s I can offer one important caution. Because the Janszens have electrostatic mids/tweets, some folks consider them like most planar (dipole) speakers for set up. Since the Janszen cabinet is enclosed and the rear wave damped this is a mistake. They do not need the distance from the front wall like most planars.

In fact, with only 7" woofers, it is important to take advantage of bass reinforcement with closer placement. In my experience, and with a couple of other pairs I know of, the center of the top of the front baffle should be something close to 24" out from the wall, much closer than might otherwise be expected. Exact distance will vary between rooms but should be within a few inches closer or further from that distance. I have bass extending into the 30 dB decade, and with a surprisingly smooth response, with such closer placement. And yes, midrange clarity and overall soundstaging remains very good as well.

So good luck and have fun.