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In Reply to: RE: brain storming with Magnepan posted by wendell diller on May 29, 2009 at 13:45:11
Very much welcome Wendell!
As I appreciate your openness, I would try to contribute with some minor ideas. In my earlier life as a product & marketing mgr, I valued input from customers highly.
This forum has been followed on a daily basis for nearly ten years and has been a great inspiration in establishing my music system. My modified and bi-amped 3.6 will stay with me for this life-time. While I am the most satisfied customer, will not however suggest you to innovate many of the modifications discussed in this forum (such as stands, better caps/coils etc) as these are aftermarket improvements only interests a minority of customers, it seems.
However I believe your latest development of the ”mini-Maggies” could become complementary addition to your vast product range.
By developing the A4-size "MiniMaggies" into a new scalable modular approach is suggested. Such modules could easily being implemented as a single unit which is stack-able in the vertical dimension with these properties:
1. First, a point-source thin mini monitor speaker are known for their imaging properties.
2. Secondly, the principle of a tall column that comprise a line array of properly implemented speakers allows: Contours the vertical sound dispersion such that floor and ceiling reflections are minimized; Maintains a wide listening area with room filling, nearly constant sound intensity; Provides exceptional dynamic range and linear performance.
(Design Guidelines for Practical Near Field Line Arrays, James R. Griffin).
3. Standardized speaker modules would allow various configurations as 2-channel audio as well as all channels home theater etc.
4. A new "modern, cool looking" MiniMaggie face could define the new product design.
5. Complementary planar dipole woofers or monopole woofers would need to be added for the low range.
6. Finally, crossovers could be modularized, allowing for active bi-and tri-amping.
With this modular approach, I can see several significant benefits:
1. Customers could enter and grow the system as they like. Also, spouse acceptance becomes less of a ”pro/con” issue. Also, changing room size is less of an issue.
2. Customers are able to experiment with mounting (floor stands, or wall hinges), upgrade crossovers (passive or active analog or digital), minimizing sound bloom (with a curved baffle to equalize sound paths or by use of precedence effect via vertical power tapering etc. Here is a space after-market products
3. Possibly, a low entry price-point also ”middle income” customers could find a ”no compromize world-class” speakes to be affordable.
4. New niche markets could be addressed such as younger people with smaller compartments, complementary segments as home theater, wall-mount TV speakers, PC desktop speakers etc.
5. The established dealer network is supported since existing customers could return for upgrade and continue to add-on new modules as they advance.
6. Logistics could be dramatically simplified since shipping and storage will deal with small and lightweight units.
7. Central service and support could more easily and swiftly continue. Multiple module customers could continue to use their system while a module is away for maintenance.
8. Finally, such a product would allow for a worldwide introduction and gradual reach of new distribution network. Internet-based logistics would allow a dual-path distribution: direct customer shipment while promoting dealers for their added-value with after-sale kickback schemes.
Naturally a multi-way system will be more complex in terms of time-coherence and so on, it is important to educate dealers and customers. A physical or digital integration between bass- and mid-range by speaker placement and/or using digital delays could be obtained. Digital-based solutions are today available from several vendors as Behringer, TacT Audio, DEQX or PC based software.
I do realize that such new approach addressing new markets would require substantial investments in marketing. Although the economic crisis will hit most audio vendors, it is at the same time an opportunity for those stable and enduring companies to show their value and strengths.
Maybe new marketing channels has to be invented other queing up for the usual Stereophile and other magazine reviews.
This is what I think!
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