Jecklin Float Electrostat

Data

General

• Manufacturer: Jecklin
• Model: Float electrostat
• Years of manufacture: approx. 1972 to approx. 2002
• Manufactured in: Switzerland
• Weight: 630 gram
• Original price headphones approx.: 1000,- DM
• New price power supply unit approx. 350,- DM

Technical data headphones

• Principle: electrostatic push-pull transducer with constant charge
• Coupling to the ear: completely open (design head loudspeaker)
• Nominal impedance: 4 to 16 Ohm
• Rated power handling: 15 W at 8 Ohm
• Contact pressure: practically zero, since with an average head diameter by the bracket form of the headphones the transducers are placed freely floating in front of the ears.
• Frequency response: 20-20000 Hz
• Distortion factor: < 0.2 % at 95 dB, < 0.5 % at 100 dB
• Maximum continuous level: 110 dB
• Characteristic sound pressure level: 65 dB
• Connection: 6-pole ( type Hirschmann plug: MES 60 BZ, socket: MEB 60 HS)
• Pin assignment version PS0 and PS1: 1:Bias, 2:L+, 3:L-, 4:not used, 5:R-, 6:R+
• Pin assignment version PS2: 1:Bias, 2:L+, 3:L-, 4:Bias, 5:R-, 6:R+
• Cable length: PS0 and PS1 approx. 3.5m round cable 5-pin, PS2 approx. 4.5m ribbon cable 6-pin.
• PS0 and PS1 receivers can be used with all power supplies, PS2 receivers only with PS2 power supplies!

Technical data power supply

PS0 MkI:

• silver acrylic case, white back panel with black lettering.
• transmission ratio: 1:60
• number of transformers: 2 pcs. type EI48, free wired
• Polarization voltage: approx. 1,800 V
• HV-cascade on output board, inputs on own board
• Mains voltage: 220 V / 110 V optional
• Power consumption: 0.1 VA
• Signal connection: screw terminals / DIN sockets
• Push button switch for headphone/speaker on top of rear housing
• Headphone connectors: 2
• Overload protection: not available

PS0 MkII:

• black acrylic case, rear panel with white lettering.
• gear ratio: 1:60
• number of transformers: 2 pcs. type EI48
• polarization voltage: approx. 1.500 V
• HV-cascade on own board
• Mains voltage: 220 V / 110 V optional
• Power consumption: 0.1 VA
• Signal connection: screw terminals
• Push button switch for headphone/speaker on the top of the front case
• Headphone connections: 2
• Overload protection: not available

PS1:

• Aluminum case with silver front and black lettering.
• Gear ratio: 1:60
• Number of transformers: 2 pcs. type EI48
• Polarization voltage: approx. 1.200 V
• HV cascade on own board
• Mains voltage: 220 V / 110 V optional
• Power consumption: 0.1 VA
• Signal connection: terminal strips
• Push button switch for headphone/speaker switching on the front of the cabinet
• Headphone connections: 2
• Overload protection: VDR (type ZNR10K330) and fuses 1.6 A / T

PS2:

• Aluminium case with black front and red lettering
• Gear ratio: 1:120
• Number of transformers: 4 pcs. type EI48
• Polarization voltage: approx. 1.200 V
• HV cascade on main board
• Mains voltage: 220 V / 110 V optional
• Power consumption: 0.1 VA
• Signal connection: terminal strips
• Push button switch for headphone/speaker switching on the front of the cabinet
• Headphone connections: 2
• Overload protection: VDR (type ZNR10K330) and fuses 1.6 A / M

PS2 MkII Version 1:

• Aluminum case with black front and red lettering.
• Version with ultra stable double transformers
• Gear ratio: 1:120
• Number of transformers: 4 pcs. type EI48
• Polarization voltage: approx. 1,200 V
• HV cascade on own board
• Mains voltage: 220 V / 110 V optional
• Power consumption: 0.1 VA
• Signal connection: screw terminals
• Rocker switch for headphone/speaker switching on the front of the cabinet
• Headphone connections: 2
• Overload protection: VDR (type ZNR10K330) and externally accessible fuses 1.6 A / M

PS2 MkII Version 2:

• Aluminum case with black front and red lettering.
• Version with ultra stable transformers
• Transmission ratio: 1:120
• Number of transformers: 2 pcs. type EI54
• Polarization voltage: approx. 1,200 V
• HV cascade on own board
• Mains voltage: 220 V / 110 V optional
• Power consumption: 0.1 VA
• Signal connection: screw terminals
• Rocker switch for headphone/speaker switching on the front of the cabinet
• Headphone connections: 2
• Overload protection: VDR (type ZNR10K33) and externally accessible fuses 1.6 A / M

Special Features

• A special power supply unit is required to operate the headphones. The power supply is connected to the loudspeaker output of the amplifier as well as to the mains voltage in order to generate the bias voltage for the electrostats by means of a diode cascade circuit. The audio signal is modulated in the power supply unit to the high voltage required to operate the headphones. The power supply is equipped with a switched loudspeaker output which allows the input signal to be switched through to connected loudspeakers. The headphones are then deactivated in this switching state.

Remarks

The Float electrostat was manufactured successively in three externally different variants: The "Ur" variant PS0, which can also be seen in the New York MoMA, the variant PS1 and finally the variant PS2. All in all, countless detail changes have been made in the course of production. Until today unique wearing comfort - whereby it is very controversial whether this is to be understood positively or negatively. The "head loudspeaker" rests loosely on the "average head" and requires a steady posture to avoid falling off. For "above average head shapes or sizes", the ears are pinched; there is no adjustment for different head sizes or shapes because of the rigid design. This may be one reason for the controversial and sometimes quite subjective opinions. In its day, the Float Electrostat was considered by many to be the best headphones in the world - but again, opinions were quite polarized. A main competitor were the models from Stax, which were rated sonically superior or inferior, depending on where the listener placed their emphasis.

Other models with conventional "dynamic" transducers:

• Float Model I
• Float Model II

Pictures

Links

http://www.quad-musik.de/html/jecklin.html Not only, but also: repair service for electrostatic headphones of the Jecklin brand (Europe's "electrostatic scene" meets at Mr. Stein's place).

or

http://www.w-e-s-t-e-r-w-e-l-l-e.de Repair service for electrostatic headphones of the brand Jecklin.

http://www.high-amp.de/html/jecklin_float.html More technical info and reviews on the Jecklin Float electrostat.