In terms of brands and models available, speakers are arguably one of the most overly saturated fields in the world of Hi-Fi. So to come on to the scene as a relatively new name in the industry, you have to able to bring something revolutionary to the table... Are Jern the company to do just that?

Founded in 1975 by engineering graduate Holger Dissing, Dansk Skalform; the group behind Jern, is best known as a reputable casting company for the automobile and machinery industries, working with the likes of Rolls Royce, Porsche, McLaren, Audi and many more. So how did they find themselves in the Hi-Fi trade?

Today the company is run by Søren Dissing, son of founder Holger Dissing. One day he thought to himself, “What would happen if a loudspeaker was moulded out of one solid piece of iron?” From here, Søren and his team got to work to produce a loudspeaker prototype that comprised of the finest quality cast iron using skills laid out by his father decades before. And there you have it, Jern Speakers was born.

SO WHY GREY CAST IRON?

If we get in to the nitty-gritty of the physics behind speaker construction, it is a fact that all solid materials resonate when they are excited by vibrations. When a speaker cabinets resonates, it continues to “sing” each note long after the next note begins. Sonically it is very confusing to listen to and creates ghost frequencies that aren't actually on the original recording and are often out of tune with the source material. To counteract this, varying manufacturers adopt different methods. Some use elaborate internal bracing, even on those with inner aluminium shells; Others will use foam or inert filler within the cabinet to deaden the vibrations.

Did you know that “Jern” is Danish for “Iron”?

The truth of the matter is nothing will completely stop vibrations travelling through the cabinet, but grey cast iron can effortlessly and naturally do what the other materials strive towards. It has been proven to be ten times more effective than wooden cabinets and up to one hundred times better than aluminium in reducing vibrations. It is so effective as a dampening material that legendary grand piano manufacturers such as Bechstein, Steinway and Bösendorfer use grey cast iron for their piano frames as it doesn't add any resonant frequencies to the notes being played.

IT’S WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE THAT COUNTS

They look like something designed by H R Geiger for the film ' Aliens'.

Whilst the curved exterior of these cast iron speakers is smooth, some of the real magic happens internally. The inner walls of these loudspeakers are lined with hexagonal domes designed to break-up any internal standing waves that would otherwise compromise the performance of the drivers. This CDS (Cast Dome Structure) technology creates a completely neutral cabinet and is vital to the Jern Sound.

Now Some of you might be asking “Brad, what does a moulding company know about Hi-Fi?”... Well, let’s find out! Jern have sent me a pair of their Model 11 speakers to listen to and put through their paces...

On first inspection I didn't feel like I was just removing another pair of speaker from their boxes. Instead I felt like a curator removing a valuable piece of modern art for my galleries latest exhibition. These things look stylish and slick, but boy are they heavy! Although the Jern Model 11 have a flat base, the best option is to use the included ring to stand them on. This simplistic accessory not only creates isolation between the speaker cabinet and the surface it sits on, but it also allows it to be tilted backwards, forwards and side to side to truly manipulate the soundstage and pinpoint the sweet spot no matter where you are in the room. But there is no denying there is an artistic look to their shapely design.

Armed with my playlist of trusty “go-to” songs for such an occasion, I was able to really put the Model 11's through their paces. For a speaker of this size there is always the expectation that there will be a lack in bass response, but this was not the case. Every track I threw at them did not disappoint. Now I'm not saying they wouldn't benefit from a subwoofer in the long-run, but it certainly isn't an immediate requirement like some models out there. Equally, some speakers of this size can come across as being trebly or too pronounced in the mid-range, again this wasn't the case. The Jern Model 11's have impeccable separation and detail within the sound stage that it's almost like you're not listening to speakers at all, you're completely submerged in the music.

As a side note, if you want to really test the bass response of a pair of speakers, I would suggest Billie Eilish's “Bad Guy”. Although it's not everyone's cup of tea, it is undoubtably a well produced track with some truly unparalleled sub harmonic bass parts.

at one point a passing light meant that the SPEAKERS had this glow about them like a terrifying alien russian doll!

Whilst sat in our demo room listening away, the thing that really struck me is how effortlessly they make the whole listening experience have a more enjoyable feel about it. I find myself no longer analysing the response of the speaker, but instead I'm lost in the music and that is something I think is incredibly special about these particular loudspeakers. It's like they make you fall in love with music all over again. On several tracks I literally felt shivers down my spine!

There are so many factors that attribute to the outstanding performance of these speakers, so much so that I could probably write two or three blogs on the cabinets alone. But alas we must conclude. So heres a rundown of the Pros and Cons -

Pros -

Compact size in relation to sound stage and bass response.
No bass reflex ports mean you can place them pretty much anywhere.
Grey cast iron cabinet means you hear only the sound waves from the loudspeaker driver
Made from recycled materials.
Compete far beyond their price point - Easily worth every penny.
One of the best speakers I've ever heard!
Dedicated, stylish tripod stands available in Oak or Walnut for an incredibly contemporary look. There is also a dedicated flood stand available.

Cons -

At 12kg each, some might find them to be too heavy for wall mounting or putting them on shelves... And certainly don't drop them on your toes when setting up!
Due to the materials used, the range is limited to four finishes – Polar White, Casting Grey, Nordic Black and Fine Red. (Personally, I'm a huge fan of 'Casting Grey', and as this is purely cosmetic, I'm not sure if it's fair to class it as a 'Con')

So, in summary, I absolutely love these speakers! The design, the sound, performance, Everything! I don't think I've ever heard a speaker perform with such conviction... So much so that I think I'll be ordering a pair for myself! But why take my word for it? Come in and have a listen for yourself!

Should you want to have a listen or want to discuss them further, be sure to drop us a line or pop in to your local Audio T store.

Brad, Nick and Joe - Audio T Portsmouth

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JERN Loudspeakers can be found at the following Audio-T stores