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Decent, or knockoffs?

Watthour

Watthour

Electron Rancher - JS3600
Subscriber
I just acquired a pair of Monitor C speakers from an estate sale. Here's the caveat - They are not labeled "Bozak" but have a "Jensen" logo. Did Jensen clone the old Bozak unit or build it under license, or did they just use the name? They are not constructed at all like the tiered fronts of the Bozak boxes, but I wonder if they are supposed to be acoustic clones.

They are remarkably similar to the "System C" speakers Jensen sold in the late '70s and early '80s, but they are undoubtedly marked "Monitor C" instead of "System C" despite the similarity.

Any thoughts?
 

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I'm puzzled as to why you think there is any relation to Bozak. They look like Jensens to me, and while that may not excite the collector market, they are probably fine speakers in their own right and don't need to pretend to be something they are not.
 
Nat said:
I'm puzzled as to why you think there is any relation to Bozak. They look like Jensens to me, and while that may not excite the collector market, they are probably fine speakers in their own right and don't need to pretend to be something they are not.
Click to expand...

Other than the name, they are certainly all Jensen. I was just wondering if they stole the name or actually licensed it (and may have had some design help from Bozak).

They were built in Indiana with domestic crossovers on a true circuit board, including the remote RCL trimmer pots and a protection relay for overloads. The West German soft dome midranges have 22 ounce mags, the French dome tweeters have 18 ounce mags and 1¼" VCs, and the woofers, although only 10" have 84 ounce mags, 2¼" VCs, and a spider that is about as big as Rhode Island. As long as all the components are properly matched they are certainly robust enough for the wattage rating. They are air suspension with a front tuned port and a separate vent panel on the rear. I am reasonably impressed with the construction, almost like my old Model 4s in the quality of materials.
 

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Since "monitor" is a term used fairly often to describe a speaker or at least a type of speaker, it doesn't surprise me that they might have used the term in the name of their product. The combination of "monitor" and "C" though is a little trickier to explain, at least as a semi-random occurrence. Maybe they just decided to use letters instead of numbers and got a little lazy.

If they sound good, I wouldn't sweat the details.
 
What relation does 'Monitor C' have to Bozak? -- I just don't get it at all.
Jensen is a well established company that has been in business as long or longer than Bozak (I suspect the company is named after the Jensen who invented the electrodynamic driver, and might have even been started by him, but I might be wrong).
Monitor is an utterly common appelation for any speaker that the manufacturer would like clothed in the aura of professionalism. And using letters rather than numbers is common also. And as far as I know, Bozak never had a Monitor C.
 
"They are air suspension with a front tuned port"

The above can not happen. ether one or the other
 
Oh yeah -- forgot about that one, perhaps because it was intended as a pro speaker not a consumer model. But why is anyone confusing the Jensen with the Bozak?
 
borus said:
"They are air suspension with a front tuned port"

The above can not happen. ether one or the other
Click to expand...

Here's how dumb I can be at midnight...

Yes, they are ported (resonant/reflex) speakers.

Worse yet, that "vent" on the rear turns out to be a 2" high driver, supplementing the soft dome on the front. DOH!

I have only connected them to test each driver and the crosssovers (and to discover the "magic" coming from the "vent" on the rear of each). Since the woofer surrounds are about rotted away I have resisted the urge to exercise them until I get the new foam installed (they should arrive for the weekend).

I don't think I'm at all confusing them with Bozak, other than they are labeled "Monitor C" and are almost certainly a "System C" box. Strange, or no?
 
I think their is another thread about this line of jensen speakers. Someone on here just picked up a set with an odd rear firing tweeter. They may be a model a bit larger than yours if i remember correctly.
 
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showthread.php?t=360337

Your "System C" s are the slightly smaller of the two at the top of the line that I believe were designed by the same guy. (not sure about the rest of the line) If they perform on scale with my System B's I would say you have a nice pair of speakers on your hands. Cant say for sure,.. Never heard the C's in person. Based on the B's, I would pick up a pair without hesitation, especially since they were probably going for a song. Not a well known line.


There is a link to my original thread about my "System B" s at the end of the post above.

I really like mine. I would buy more if they were available for anything reasonable. The only ones I've seen in the past years are either trashed, or overseas. they do like a little power though to open up, even though they seem fine with low power, they just come alive with more power. Such is often the way of things.
 
One thing of note, that surprised me a little. They arent a "bassy" speaker. They look like they should be, but if you are expecting them to sound like CVs or many of the JBLs, or other great "ROCK" speakers that kick you in the pants, just know you might be disappointed without a sub.

I go through phases, and different music for different systems, and these arent what I would call "Exciting" speakers.. I've had some Polk, and Cerwin Vegas, and Altecs and JBLs now that were "Exciting".. but that was mostly because they pushed out more bass than I think was actually intended.

I've had small speakers that seemed HUGE, To some these might seem the opposite. They almost seem smaller than their footprint (and mine with the U base look even a little bigger than yours I think). Then I get used to it again, and they dont seem small, or restricted, or anything,.. but it's sorta the feeling you get when you've been listening to rig, and realize the "Loudness" is on, and then turn it off. Thats about the best I think I can explain it.

Also, my wife, and cats prefer them. Other speakers they shy away from if the volume is up past minimal. These, even when at a serious volume, the wife, (And Cats) dont shy away from them.

I mention that not because I understand it, but that it is notable. I've experimented with it, and without fail, wife and cats need to turn down other speakers to talk or be comfortable.. these they are fine with a noticeably higher volumes.. 100% consistency.

You tell me what it means other than (these are what get played on Sundays :-) )
 
fau5tu5 the cats liking might mean they are low distortion and thus easier on their ears. Just a guess. They look like high quality drivers in a nice box.
 
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