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Jensen Model 20 Bookshelf Speakers - Pair
Notable as a straightforward vintage bookshelf pair, this is priced in the fair-to-good zone rather than as a steal. At US$150, it sits below the US$199 median and well under the US$382 75th percentile for recent comparable USD listings, so it reads as a sensible buy if the pair is complete and working properly.
These Jensens are the kind of old-school speakers that can still win people over with an easy, relaxed presentation and decent scale for small- to mid-size rooms. The upside here is mainly value: if the cabinets are clean, the drivers are original, and the surrounds and tweeters check out, you’re getting an honest vintage listen without paying top-of-market money.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Jensen traces its origins to 1915, when Danish-born inventor Peter L. Jensen, alongside Edwin Pridham, pioneered the world's first practical loudspeaker, dubbing it the Magnavox. In 1927, Jensen founded the Jensen Radio Manufacturing Company in Chicago, initially producing speakers for radios, military applications, and public address systems. The brand quickly dominated, supplying OEM components to 60% of U.S. independent radio makers within two years, and evolved through entities like Jensen Industries into a cornerstone of post-war audio innovation.
Historically renowned for loudspeakers—ranging from coaxial designs in the 1940s to triaxial models and raw drivers—the brand powered iconic guitar amplifiers from Fender and Gibson during the 1950s and 1960s. Production of original hi-fi speakers ceased in the late 1960s, but the name endures through licensed reissues by SICA in Italy since the 1990s, including modern Jet Series for guitars, alongside contemporary mobile audio like car receivers, amplifiers, and multimedia systems under Namsung America.
Today, Jensen occupies a mid-tier consumer position, blending vintage heritage with accessible mobile and automotive electronics rather than high-end hi-fi. Its reputation rests on pioneering tone and reliability, appealing to nostalgic collectors, guitar enthusiasts, and everyday drivers seeking value-driven performance over boutique exclusivity.
See all Jensen listings on RADAR.
