JR 149s and JR Super Woofer

radine · Mar 3, 2015

I've been lucky enough to be able to put together a rare combination - Jim Rogers JR149s with the extremely rare JR Superwoofer and Low Pass Amplifier.

The speakers needed replacement Kef T27 tweeters and I was lucky to be able to get a well matched working pair for a very reasonable price from a kind audiophile. I just had the speakers recapped with a Falcon Acoustics kit. The LPA has also been professionally recapped and I replaced the woofer with a SEAS driver that I got together with the woofer. I am hoping to track down foam surrounds so I can refoam and re-install the original woofer. In the meantime this combo is sounding simply awesome.

Are these JRs the best looking speakers that you could ever buy?

A400 · Mar 3, 2015

They look great and I've read good things about the sound, well done!

JimPA · Mar 3, 2015

What was the original driver used in JR Super Woofer?

Tooker · Mar 4, 2015

10" Audax but I don't know the model number. I think I have one in storage someplace...

http://mcmullon.com/icollect/hi_fi/jim_rogers/jrsuperwoofer.htm

radine · Mar 4, 2015

JimPA said:
What was the original driver used in JR Super Woofer?

I actually have two super woofers here that need refoamed. I could not find any references on the web to which model Audax drivers they might be. They have different woofers. Both have no markings on them whatsoever. One is away getting it's wiring repaired but here is a pic of the other:

This one has squared off edges, the other is circular.

The replacement SEAS drivers bear a sticker that says:

H0085 - 08
A25 RE4

I will post more pics of the drivers and the differing designs of the super woofers over the coming weeks as I restore them.

Descartridge · Mar 4, 2015

In the early 80s, this was the hot ticket.

SaSi · Mar 4, 2015

Although I lusted over these in high school, I doubt these are the best looking speakers you can buy. Certainly different from the rectangular coffins most others look like.

BTW, I'd dare suggest that the blades could be the best looking speakers one can buy, if only I could actually buy them. I'd sure like to but can't afford them.

audiodon · Mar 4, 2015

Those JR-149s look better than mine:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=7874007&postcount=2
Top photo only.
Mine had been hacked up by a previous owner, but I've done my best to restore them, including putting B110s in where that genius had made the cuts and nibbles necessary to fit some larger speakers. I did the Falcon Acoustics cap replacement also. It fills in the midrange nicely.

It's a good thing they disappear when you play them.

I didn't even know there was a woofer.

radine · Mar 4, 2015

audiodon said:
Those JR-149s look better than mine:
http://www.audiokarma.org/forums/showpost.php?p=7874007&postcount=2
Top photo only.
Mine had been hacked up by a previous owner, but I've done my best to restore them, including putting B110s in where that genius had made the cuts and nibbles necessary to fit some larger speakers. I did the Falcon Acoustics cap replacement also. It fills in the midrange nicely.

It's a good thing they disappear when you play them.

I didn't even know there was a woofer.

It's so sad when someone hacks about a classic. You did a great job bringing your 149s back to life. I bet they sound amazing. I can't get over the sweet midrange and the amount of bass these tiny B110s produce. It looks like you just have the cosmetics left to deal with. By the way, plain grills are available on Ebay UK. Sadly the fluted or ribbed replacement grills can no longer be found.

I was lucky in that I bought my pair from the original owner and they were totally untouched. The tops have a lovely patina. I took these pics just after I got them and they show some minor bruises on the sides. A polish with walnut Briwax has improved that somewhat.

radine · Mar 5, 2015

I just got the second original woofer back from it's rewire.

It is a SEAS driver with this id number:

25F-WBX / DD

radine · Mar 5, 2015

What would you do?

I can get a replacement foam surround for the original SEAS driver in the post above and can therefore restore one Super Woofer to original condition which in my mind is preferable to using the replacement SEAS driver which I have.

I have tried both UK, US and Dutch suppliers without success looking for a replacement foam surround for the other Super Woofer. The UK supplier can offer a butyl surround that would fit the driver well.

I would be grateful for some advice on what you think is the best of these remaining options for the second Super Woofer:

1. Use the original driver with the butyl surround
2. Use the replacement SEAS driver

I would have thought option 2 but I would be grateful for your thoughts.

Thanks in advance.

SaSi · Mar 5, 2015

It's considered that most of the driver's suspension strength comes from the spider and not from the surround. Obviously, foam is usually weaker than butyl but perhaps not by much. But of course, that would alter the driver's behavior a bit. Perhaps for the better or for worse - sometimes a matter of taste; sealed enclosures are very forgiving to "mis-alignment", i.e. alteration of the enclosure volume.

But, imho, I would exhaust any possible options before making such a "tweak".

JimPA · Mar 5, 2015

By using a butyl rubber surround mass will be added to the driver suspension compared to the original foam surround.
This will lower the driver sensitivity a bit.

radine · Mar 25, 2015

The second LPA amp just had a bad solder joint so was an easy fix. I now have two working LPAs and two working JR Super Woofers.

I just finished the sealed woofer having rewired it and re-done the surround in butyl. Just listening to it now. Here's some pics of it's construction.

The other woofer is of different construction and is ported. I am awaiting a foam surround for this woofer but have been using it with a replacement SEAS driver so far. I will post pics of its construction when I do the foam surround and install the original driver in the coming week. Next step is to connect one to each channel.

radine · Mar 27, 2015

Ported JR Super Woofer

The foam surround for the ported sub came yesterday and I have now finished restoring the second sub which is back in my system. As you can see from the pics the construction of the two is quite different.

mech986 · Mar 27, 2015

Nice!

radine · Mar 28, 2015

IMFs now taking a rest and both Low Pass Amps and JR Super Woofers have been wired up. Lovely

VanArn · Mar 28, 2015

The Audax 10 '' woofer with the four flat edges appears to be either a HD 24 S 45 2C or the HD 24 S 45 4C model.There should be lettering on the rear of the magnet that describes the actual speaker.

jayQuad57 · Mar 31, 2015

Radine - Those look perfect!
I am working on the very same project. (used with Quad 57s)
My single JR Super Woofer looks nearly identical to your ported version with the 25F-WBX/DD woofer.
1) There doesn't seem to be any screws. How did you remove the woofer?
2) Where did you get your foam woofer surround?
3) Where did you get your black ribbed exterior foam?
Thanks so much.

radine · Apr 1, 2015

jayQuad57 said:
Radine - Those look perfect!
I am working on the very same project. (used with Quad 57s)
My single JR Super Woofer looks nearly identical to your ported version with the 25F-WBX/DD woofer.
1) There doesn't seem to be any screws. How did you remove the woofer?
2) Where did you get your foam woofer surround?
3) Where did you get your black ribbed exterior foam?
Thanks so much.

You did very well to find the JR Super Woofer. They are far from commonplace. Like you I will end up with just one. Much as I would love to keep the pair I can't. The two I have here belonged to a guy I met online on a British forum. They needed some re-wiring and re-foaming. He had them for years but never got around to fixing them up but he did source the exterior foams and had the two JR Low Pass amplifiers professionally re-capped. He offered me one sub and amp in exchange for fixing up both subs. I am expecting him to come and collect one of them in the next few weeks.

The place in the UK where he sourced the exterior foams are no longer in business which is why my 149s have plain rather than striped or fluted grilles. However, after buying the plain grilles I found a link online to this place in the US that make custom grilles including striped ones. So give them a try.

The foam woofer surround that I found is perfect for the SEAS drive unit. It sits very neatly within the recess around the frame of the woofer and also fits the cone perfectly. You can order it from Holland here.

Finally the woofer is simply sandwiched between the floor of the speaker enclosure and the sub-woofer base. Just pry it out carefully.

I'm sure the sub will sound great with your Quad 57s but I would recommend that you try it with a pair of 149s if you get the chance. It's a really good sounding 2.1 system that is very well integrated by the LPA.

Good luck with your restoration.

JR 149s and JR Super Woofer

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Stereos been berry, berry good to me!

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