The Jecklin FLOAT model series describe the head loudspeakers from the "original Float" to the dynamic models 

When Jürg Jecklin came onto the market with the FLOAT in 1971, hardly anyone could have guessed the success story that was just beginning. 

The idea was simple. To place 2 flat sound transducers at the right angle in front of the ears. Nothing that encloses the ears, so that the sound gets into the ear, but also the head around the ear. So "hearing" as nature intended for us humans. Natural and completely fatigue-free.

The initially small quantities made industrial production impossible. Plexiglas was modern and it could be bent around a shape by hand with some skill. Because it was easy to handle, a rectangular strip of plexiglass served as the starting material. The material, which was bent into a “helmet” and at the same time slightly turned inwards at the back, inevitably resulted in the upward optics on the top of the helmet at the front. It was precisely this that gave the first Float its unmistakable elegance.

Original float in 2 variants:

The helmet-shaped Jecklin-FLOAT in its original form was bent from light-grey Plexiglas. By hand over a wooden mold.

The helmet-shaped bracket typical of the FLOAT was made of Plexiglas on the original Float. At that time, plexiglass was a contemporary material that could be easily bent around a mold when heated. In the very first version, the Plexiglas helmet was just the outer shell. The two electrostatic converters, built into their own housing, were attached to the inside of the bracket. Cushioned upwards by a foam pad, the float "floated" on the user's head without any noticeable pressure. Tonmeisters could work with the FLOAT for hours without getting tired. Experts quickly spoke of the only "Wagner-compatible" headphones. For work in the recording studio, there was simply no alternative to the float.

For Jürg Jecklin, it was always the creative implementation of an idea that was supposed to make work easier for sound engineers. So there wasn't just one technical design that was chiselled for ongoing production. Rather, it was about developing the idea further and allowing the implementation to flow into the products as a process. Getting the already low weight of 630 grams even further down. With the plexiglass cover at the same time to carry the important converters to a good piece. The connecting cable no longer needs to be led out from below, but from the side. So product design on the living object. The goal could only be to keep the clear idea as a red line and to optimize it through the practical experience gained. In the 2nd version, the Plaxiglas helmet was bent in such a way that it did not end at the bottom, but continued inwards, at the same time taking on the task of carrying the two electrostatic sound converters.

The supply parts (PS0) required for operation were also modified from time to time. What was a bit irritating for the layman followed the common thread already mentioned above and the requirements of the users. Basically, the power supply assumes the task of supplying the electrostatic converters with the polarization voltage required for operation. In addition, the power supply forms an interface between the amplifier and the optional playback via the float and any loudspeakers that may be present. There is a switch on the power supply for switching. There are DIN sockets or binding posts for connection to the amplifier and the loudspeakers. The housing of the dining parts initially also consisted of glued Plexiglas plates. Later, Jecklin used a no-nonsense black plastic case.

The "Ur" Jecklin FLOAT version 1

The helmet-shaped yoke and the power supply (PS0MKI) consists of gray Plexiglas, the converters "packed" in their own housing mounted inside the yoke.

Technical specifications:

• Weight FLOAT (head speaker): 630 grams
• Country of manufacture: Switzerland
• Manufacturer: Jecklin
• Year of manufacture: early 1970s
• Frequency Response: 30 to 20000Hz
• Headphone connector: Hirschmann 6-pin
• Connection sockets power supply: binding posts or DIN sockets
• Pressure switch for switching headphones / loudspeakers
• High-voltage cascade: approx. 1300 to 1500 volts
• Headphone jacks: 2
• Music signal processing: 2 audio transformers

Pictures of the food parts 1st version of the "Ur-Float"

The "Ur" Jecklin-FLOAT Version 2

The power supply is plain and black. The plexiglass bracket encloses the electrostatic converters at the bottom and runs elegantly inwards.

Technical specifications:

• Weight FLOAT (head speaker): 630 grams
• Country of manufacture: Switzerland
• Manufacturer: Jecklin
• Year of manufacture: early 1970s
• Frequency Response: 30 to 20000Hz
• Headphone connector: Hirschmann 6-pin
• Connection sockets power supply: binding posts or DIN sockets
• Pressure switch for switching headphones / loudspeakers
• High-voltage cascade: approx. 1300 to 1500 volts
• Headphone jacks: 2
• Music signal processing: 2 audio transformers

Pictures of the food parts 2nd version of the "Ur-Float"