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1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8

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Posted on July 26, 2020 at 11:39:35
flyingpoint
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: Maine
Joined: May 13, 2020







Like most projects, it took a bit longer than usual, but I've finally finished refurbing my mid-eighties vintage JSE Infinite Slope 1.8 speakers.

As you'll see in the photos, these were in rough shape. They had bounced around from house to house for nearly three decades, they went to college with my son (where they clearly had a fantastic time) and - worst of all - they got caught in a flooded basement. But they were one of my first "grown up" purchases that I made getting out of college and I truly wanted to try to bring them back to life.

A few lessons learned :

* These audio communities rock. I posted more than a couple stupid questions online and always got great advice. In particular, Bill Miller from MillerSound and Brian Salazaar from Holt Hill were lifesavers. One of my biggest questions going into the project was what to do with the x-over caps. And both publicly and privately, Bill and Brian reached out with "Based on JSE experience, you really don't want to mess with those infinite slope cross-overs. Here's why..."

* Plug 'em in before you start. I knew the speakers were in horrible shape. The bass drivers were gone. The tweeters were smashed. So I just started tearing things apart. If I would have taken a little time to wire them up, I would have also learned that a mid-range was shot. Learning that near the end hurt just a little...

* Stick with what you know. I've done a fair amount of veneering and my glue of choice is traditional contact cement. For this project, I tried some of the new Titan XL glue which gets good reviews. HATED IT. Brittle, inconsistent drying times and I've already had to fix a couple of spots.

* Rely on experts. I had to take care of a medical issue just as I was reassembling/discovering that my mid was shot. I dropped Brian at Holt Hill Audio a note and asked if he could see them through to finish. It was one of the smartest things that I did. Brian fixed the mid, cleaned up wiring and overall -- made them better than I ever could have done. I can't recommend Brian enough.

If anyone has any questions, please let me know. And a huge thanks to everyone that lent a hand.



 

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RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 26, 2020 at 11:46:05
rivervalley817
 I have a question

how do they sound to you in situ?

regards,

 

RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 26, 2020 at 11:55:15
flyingpoint
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: Maine
Joined: May 13, 2020
 They sound GREAT. I had forgotten how good the imaging was on these Infinite Slopes — absolutely fantastic. Their new home is in a giant room and they're perfect for the location.

 

RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 26, 2020 at 11:59:44
rivervalley817
 I would imagine a well tuned bass response as well

don't you just love it when a plan comes together?

thanks for your reply & I'm jealous of both the speakers & 'giant room'

with regards,

 

RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 27, 2020 at 09:36:11
Mick Wolfe
Audiophile

Posts: 3365
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 Congrats on a very nice restoration. Always loved my JSE Model 1's, so I know the potential of that original design. Nice looking woodshop BTW.

 

RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 27, 2020 at 10:29:54
flyingpoint
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: Maine
Joined: May 13, 2020
 That's too kind. But thank you.

 

That's an impressive woodworking shop, posted on July 27, 2020 at 17:06:38
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 I just did a run to the wood suppliers myself.

VERY nice job

Enjoy and post more reviews!!!

 

RE: That's an impressive woodworking shop, posted on July 28, 2020 at 04:52:19
flyingpoint
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: Maine
Joined: May 13, 2020
 Thank you. And trust me - it's a lot messier than it looks in these photos.

 

RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 28, 2020 at 06:22:46
jaynemo
Audiophile

Posts: 1881
Location: Connecticut
Joined: February 7, 2003
 Glad you finished these! They look great. One question-do you remember if the tweeter was wired out of phase? They were on my 2.0's. As you may well know, contact cement never dries, so using it prevents veneer shear, and allows the veneer to contract and expand without failure. Glad your enjoying these. Looking to sell my 2.0's, if I can get past the tire kickers, dreamers and low ballers!

 

RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 28, 2020 at 06:27:25
flyingpoint
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: Maine
Joined: May 13, 2020
Thanks.

Tweeter seemed to be wired normally in this case.

As to the contact cement, I found the Titan XL stuff to be "gummy." If you look closely at one of the photos, you'll even see some of it hanging out after a cut. Hated it and will never use it again.

If I had a place for them, I'd take your 2.0s off your hands!

 

RE: 1st time restoration finished - JSE Infinite Slope 1.8, posted on July 28, 2020 at 06:35:51
jaynemo
Audiophile

Posts: 1881
Location: Connecticut
Joined: February 7, 2003
 When I was restoring my 2.0's someone had done a tweeter repair and not knowing, stuck to convention on the wiring however with a nasty cold solder joint. When I removed the other, I noticed it was original and wired out of phase. Luckily, John was still offering advice. My 2.0's are tucked away waiting for the right buyer, however, going to do a shootout with them soon vs. Model 1, Dahlquist DQM-9 and German Physiks Borderland Mk1. Fun! Enjoy!

 

RE: That's an impressive woodworking shop, posted on July 28, 2020 at 07:11:45
airtime
Audiophile

Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Now that I've been relegated back out to the garage, I can clean the shop with a leaf blower. I have to say it is nice and easy.

When I had a big open shop in the basement of my other house, I used a shop vac to gently blow the dust into a pile, then vacuum it up. But I did give up working on walnut and cedar. There are some exotics I'm not too crazy about working on as well.

These days I like small projects. No more 10' entertainment centers.

 

Placement, posted on July 28, 2020 at 09:31:31
jaynemo
Audiophile

Posts: 1881
Location: Connecticut
Joined: February 7, 2003
 Remember to switch the placement of the speakers versus whats shown in the deck photo. But I bet you knew that!

 

RE: Placement, posted on July 28, 2020 at 09:45:12
flyingpoint
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: Maine
Joined: May 13, 2020
 Yep.

Although I was told that "as photographed" was correct for small rooms and flipped (the "regular way") for large rooms.

That advice feels like it comes from the land of audio nonsense, but -- lucky for me -- these speakers are going into a very large room.

 

RE: Placement, posted on July 28, 2020 at 10:13:42
jaynemo
Audiophile

Posts: 1881
Location: Connecticut
Joined: February 7, 2003
 The "right way" as you call will result in maximum stereo imaging and center fill. Regardless of room size.

 

Great restoration... , posted on July 28, 2020 at 22:55:45
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31879
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 Hope they bring you as many more decades of enjoyment!

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

JSEs, posted on July 29, 2020 at 07:16:29
M3 lover
Audiophile

Posts: 6604
Location: SW Mich
Joined: May 29, 2005
Contributor
  Since: July 4, 2007
 I bought a pair when they were first introduced. Connected to a c-j PV-5 and Eagle 2A that was one of the better systems I've owned. They looked like yours (four drivers) but I can't remember the model #.

Hope you continue to enjoy them.

"The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing, if you can fake that you've got it made." Groucho

 

RE: That's an impressive woodworking shop, posted on July 31, 2020 at 14:20:08
flyingpoint
Audiophile

Posts: 18
Location: Maine
Joined: May 13, 2020
 Thank you. And trust me - it's a lot messier than it looks in these photos.

 

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