woensdag 22 juli 2015

In the past few months, easily adding up to more than a year I was busy figuring out how to build the JR Superwoofer. 

The basic shape of this Superwoofer is a round tube. How on earth does anyone like me without any skills in constructing build a tube?

Well after much browsing around the internet I came across this site. http://www.facstaff.bucknell.edu/esantane/movies/sub.html

These so called sonotubes (see here http://sonotube.com/products.aspx for their website) are used in constructing to act as mold for concrete pillars, for bridges etc.

After much browsing the internet again, I found that these sonotubes were also available in the Netherlands (at http://www.hakron.nl/) And they were kind enough to sell me for a small price (40 euro) a tube.

Making it the right size and gluing several layers togheter was the next step.

A picture of the tube can be seen here.

The next challenge was the top-lid and bottom. The pictures I had found on the internet and those I mailed during the preparation gave me no clue how the internals would look like.

Fortunately, very recently, I found pictures on the AudioKarma forum (http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=646067) showing the top and bottom part of the Superwoofer.

zaterdag 22 maart 2014

This is my story to finally complete the set of JR149 speakers with a matching Subwoofer. 

Where it all started?
In 1980 I left my hometown to go and study in Amsterdam. My room was on the Oosterpark overlooking the Tropenmuseum. A few years before I purchased a Revox A77 tapedeck and a Philips 212 turntable (at that time it was still vinyl folks). So in order to enjoy music there was an immediate need for an amplifier and some speakers. 

My room was small. Big speakers would cost much space. I looked and looked and eventually my choice was the JR149. Small, cylindrical, speakers with excellent reviews. It had a matching subwoofer. This one was both big as it was expensive. The JR149 were fl. 500 each, the subwoofer fl. 1200. (fl. 100=€45). See this excellent site for more Jim Rogers.

The amplifier I bought was a Luxman L3.

Now, more than 30 years later, both the Luxman as the JRs are still in use. The Revox too. In the mean time I added (and dumped again) other source systems. However the Quad FM3 tuner is still there.

You see, I am fond of vintage stuff.

A few years ago the quest started for a JR subwoofer (or super woofer as they call it). I found out that a fully refurbished and perfectly working one would set me back for about €700 (or more). Although a reasonable price, I thought this nice-to-have was to much of an investment. 

Two years ago the LPA (low pass amplifier) was offered on eBay. This was the first step. For a very reasonable price I was able to purchase the LPA.

Some months ago I decided that the best approach was to build a replica. And this blog will be the archive, window to other enthusiast and, most important, the drive to continue. 

Enjoy. There is no way back now!