Home Speaker Asylum

General speaker questions for audio and home theater.

Well, look what's in 'em

ScanSpeak makes some of the world's finest speaker drivers, used in some of the highest-end systems, and prices them accordingly. Revelator used to be their top line, but now is second to the even more exotic Illuminator series. (I'm waiting for the Terminators, myself).

The 5.5" Revelator woofers retail from Madisound at $230 each. The two models of Revelator dome tweeters go for $255 and $285 each, respectively -- not sure which model is in the Fritzes. That's around a grand in drivers per pair of speakers, but the OEM can probably get a 30% discount or so if he buys multiple cases.

If those boxes are as well made and finished as they look, he's probably paying at least $30 a piece for them, even if they're made in China. More if made locally.

I would assume that speakers using such drivers would use some boutique crossover parts and jewelry grade hardware. Maybe another $100 or so per speaker sounds fair. (I would also hope that the crossover is competently designed).

Then he's got overhead on his shop, utilities, taxes, wages and more taxes if he has employees, bookkeeping costs, insurance, yada yada. A small manufacturer can't swing the same economy of scale as a big one.

It looks like he has a lot more into those than the typical 10-15% of retail price that most manufacturers put into parts and materials. And at 1/3 off for the demo pair, he's probably not making very much on them.

Compare the linked Illuminator KIT, which goes for a bit over $1200 a pair, AND you gotta build your own boxes!


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