JansZen Electrostatic Loudspeakers

Janszen is a name associated with a rich heritage in audio.  Arthur A. Janszen was a pioneer in the design of electrostatic loudspeakers, creating legendary designs that go back many decades (inventing the first useful electrostatic hi-fi speaker in the 1950's).  Arthur's son, David A. Janszen continues in this family tradition, with new electrostatic speaker designs that continue to set new standards.

…the zA2.1 ranks as one of the best i've heard in terms of resolution and overall realism…  regardless of genre, listening through the zA2.1s is an experience that few other loudspeakers can match."  -Steven Stone / hifi+



 

JansZen offers three current models, all of which are built in the United States to the highest standards using the highest quality parts, materials and construction:

  • • Electrostatic panels
    • Membrane material is immune to in situ degradation and loss of tension
    • Arcing is prevented to triple the air gap breakdown voltage by insulation that does not interfere with sensitivity and is immune to in situ degradation
    • Stators are tough, stable, injection molded ABS
    • Immune to the effects of wide and rapid temperature and humidity swings
  • Bias supply 
    • Uses no transformer or oscillator -- no complex, degradation-prone parts
    • Multiplier capacitors are ceramic, operate at relatively low voltage, and will last many lifetimes
    • Protected from even the most extreme power surges 
  • Baffle and plinth are 2.5" thick hardwood
  • All finishes are of the highest quality
  • Highest grade American MDF used in cabinet walls
  • Stainless steel rear panel, nameplate, and exterior hardware will never rust
  • Designed, engineered and built in the U.S.A.

1. zA2.1 Floor standing hybrid ESL


2. zA2.1A: Active version (incorporating dual 190-watt amplifiers in each speaker)


The new zA2.1A is an internally bi-amplified loudspeaker system, e.g., each cabinet houses two 190W/8Ω amplifiers. JansZen’s AoN (Act of Nature) drive system is formed by mating these amplifiers to built-in, advanced signal processing technology. JansZen has utilized the signal processing portion of the system to create a 3rd order crossover (18 dB/octave) whose Butterworth characteristics result in very low ripple and phase skew. This provides minimal acoustical interference between drivers, and a more correct relationship between musical tones and overtones. It does this without the signal degradation that comes from using a passive crossover of such relatively high order -- replacing the traditional passive crossover with an active crossover cuts losses and improves linearity.

The zA2.1A has a balanced input, easily adapted to single ended if needed. On the back of each zA2.1A, there's a gain control to match the AoN to any source output for best signal to noise ratio. For those with high grade portable sources, JansZen’s AoN system is designed with enough gain to produce full volume when connected directly to sources with as little as 1V RMS maximum output, yet be scaled back to work equally well with any common higher voltages.

The zA2.1A ships from the factory with four pushbutton selected sonic profiles. The standard selections are:

1) Natural – correct tonal balance when played at realistic levels, from 30 Hz to 30 kHz

2) Quiet – compensates for ear sensitivity differences at lower volumes

3) Natural Near Field – gives proper driver convergence at close listening distances

4) Quiet Near Field – for quiet listening at close listening distances


3. zA1.1: bookshelf / monitor

 

The zA1.1 monitor is finally available and shipping!  Although very compact in size, the zA1.1 monitors are capable of full range performance!  This is accomplished by using the same dual woofers found in the floorstander zA2.1 series.  We've enjoyed virtually all genre's of music with ours and haven't found them lacking regardless of whether we're experiencing an acoustic violin trio or rocking out with them.  Check out the zA1.1 monitors impressive specs:

JANSZEN zA1.1 SPECIFICATIONS

  • Electrostatic midrange and treble for exquisitely sweet sound
  • Unique, 2nd counterfiring deep bass woofer at rear
  • Deep bass and treble individually adjustable
  • Maximal room independence via controlled dispersion (+/- 20 degrees horizontal; +/- 10 degrees vertical)
  • Not overly beamy
  • Space saving -- normal position is only 5" to 15" from front wall
  • Sensitivity: 85 dB (free field; 1W/2.83V/1m; pink noise)
  • Frequency response: 30 Hz - 40 kHz in room
  • Impedance: 8 Ohms (pink noise; rear woofer at zero dB position)
  • Power requirement: 120W/ch for full steady state SPL (40W - 350W/ch will do, with best transient reproduction using higher powers; immune to clipping damage)
  • Crossover: 1st order @ 500 Hz -- far below the disturbance-sensitive hearing region of 1 kHz - 3 kHz
  • 17" H x 8" W x 12" D [43 x 20 x 30 cm]
  • 35 pounds [16 kg]
  • Figured maple, walnut, or cherry finish

We're proud to represent their outstanding speakers and have the floor standing zA2.1 & zA1.1 monitor available for audition here at the studio.     

 

 “One can hear something so like concert reality as to be almost mind boggling.”

 Robert E. Green, The Absolute Sound (January 2014)

Founder David Janszen says that “extreme claims are often made for high end speakers, and I'll admit, the sound is usually impressive. But when you listen to ours, there's a huge difference.”

He’s right. There is a huge difference with JansZen Loudspeakers. Ironically, that difference is not about complex technological artifice. Instead, JansZen Loudspeakers are engineered to use the simplest, most linear possible way of moving the air. As a result, JansZen Loudspeakers are uniquely able to effortlessly bring you so close to the original performance and into a truly musical experience.

JansZen zA2.1 in Walnut / © Wes Bender

The zA2.1 won a 2014 Editors' Choice Award from The Absolute Sound 

Unlike most other electrostatic speakers, JansZen employ damping. David Janszen says it’s “just the right amount of damping.” This damping optimizes transient response and eliminates the resonant coloration and break up that affects all undamped electrostatic speakers. JansZen Loudspeakers keep the loud transient sounds intact—even at high average loudness—and this adds to the realism and dynamism.

Just the right amount of damping of damping means JansZen Loudspeakers can handle overloads—even three times as high as what would ionize the air—without saturating and putting a low impedence across your amplifier. And there's no electronic voltage limiting to compress peaks. Brief, transient overloads, like from drum or piano hammer strikes, will simply be as loud as they are supposed to be, even though the speaker is technically overloaded. Plus, you can use amplifiers with significant headroom without ruining the panels or damaging your amplifiers.

Speaking of “just right.” Consider this apt, evocative analogy from Hugh Mandeson's review in the January edition of The Audiophile Voice as he listened to an SACD through JansZen ESL Loudspeakers:

"Norah Jones’ “Come Away with Me” on SACD was like butter and I was toast"

It’s far more powerful (and fun!) to hear how good these speakers are than to merely read about them. Schedule an appointment to audition JansZen Loudspeakers at WBSNYC.