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I have been building loudspeakers for almost 17 years now,mostly as a hobby,but I have put together systems for people. The real high-end stores seem to be dying out,for example,here in The Dallas Area,we have had a few store go belly-up,in the last 15 years,I would assume simply because they were'nt reaching a certain market. And it seems that some of these chain stores are trying there hand in it. I was in one the other day and and looked at set of floorstanding speakers,it was relatively small,they were asking roughly 2400 for the pair.And I could tell right away there was no quality in these things,the drivers looked cheap,the cabinets were attractive but had no substantial build to them at all.
nearly all the speakers marketed out there are either closed box,or reflex loaded,there are know transmission line,or TQWT designs out there at all to my knowledge.I just got through putting together a set of speakers using the TQWT
arrangmnent,they were awesome.they would beat anything outthere,using just a single 6.5" woofer,and dome tweeter.
Follow Ups:
Just look at the Michaura phenomenon
Dennyb,
I, too, had the dream. I started my own company. I spent $thousands, did everything "right". My goal was to offer a speaker (6 1/2" 2-way)
with incredible build, parts quality, and solid engineering. The speaker was very, very good...very accurate, and sounded great. All the major A/V mags said so! I advertised, big bucks... Internet sales only, no 48 point dealer mark-up. Sold some, sure. Despite all this, the company is out of business. Maybe I didn't devote enough time to it. (Have a day job, you know) This is a 24/7 endeavor. IMO, the money is in the ultra high end, where you can sell a few mega-buck speaks and make a little money. As someone else posted in their response to you, "No one wants a gallon of perfume for $15" People agonize over a speaker purchase. But if they spend a fortune, they feel like they have bought one of the "best".The best of luck to you.
> > But if they spend a fortune, they feel like they have bought one of the "best".
The cynic in many people prompt them to ask this simple question. If you product is really that good , then why aren't you charging more for it?I look for deals and excellent price/performance ratios, like most inmates. But having been burned on way too many inexpensive too good to be true consumer items, you start to question, why this particular item is so cheap compared to other companies offerings. simple you are worried some maker cost corners somewhere that isn't immediately evident.
With that said, price and image mean nothing to me. Some items are just tools for getting things done. And the rest are toys for my own amusement. I spend what I need to, and leave it at that.
I've done really good doing it part time for friends and relatives I have made a little money,but it's been worth it!!!!!!1
Not to be the one to find the cloud for the silver lining, my opinion is that it is difficult to sell speakers that deliver a lot at a low price. Audiophiles, mostly, equate, usually erroneously, sound quality with price. Manufacturers giving a lot of value for money are shunned or, at the very least, meet with turned up noses and comments of mid-fi. Strange, but well known, a product perceived as being a luxury item or an esoteric item, often sells better at a price set way higher than the aggregate of r & d, production, capital, advertising, marketing, transport, etc costs. No one wants perfume in gallon jugs for $15.00 a pop. A mystique of some kind as to be developed. Image is what sells, the product is, unfortunately, somewhat incidental.
Re: price and value perceived. I'm a chiropractor, and it is a 'truism' in my field that if you give people a 'discount,' the whole relationship suffers. They are 1, less likely to follow recommendations, 2, less likely to get better., 3 more likely to sue you. (You can see how all three can feed on each other). They value the service less, and it becomes self fullfilling.
Denny -There are several commercial transmission line designs out there - PMC, Meadowlark, Buggtussel, Shahinian, Morrison, InnerSound, and Vandersteen (1C) come to mind, and I'm sure there are more. I'm a dealer for one of these.
I'd be interested in hearing more about your speakers, whether or not you have plans to market through dealers.
I used to be an active speaker builder too (mostly transmission lines), and secretly dreamed of one day coming up with a design good enough to go commercial with.
Very best wishes to you,
I have been considering marketing my speakers through dealers,I have a few friends that are dealers,and a relative that works for a consulting firm for high-end audio.
And almost all the other Meadowlarks are transmission line.And Cain & Cain has a couple of TQWT designs.
And there are others. Lots of transmission lines. You just need to look around more.
Follow your dream brother, and dont let anyone steal it.
The high end is full of people like you who sincerely want to do it better.
Yes, there is a market for it.
Corrections, They would beat anything out there of similar size and driver compliment.
Denny,It is possible, but the retail end of things is pretty grim IMO. You obviously realize that a $2500 speaker is sold to the manufacturer for $1200. This seems fine. Heck, you can build a decent speaker for that $.
But then marketing creeps up on you. Stereophile seems to rule the day for many consumers. I believe the potential for you to build a very decent speaker is good, but making the commercial jump to the storefront is difficult. Those guys realize that many customers are purchasing a good spec sheet/hype, rather than a good sound.
Your only hope is that there are a few folks out there with good ears. I believe there are a few good ears remaining.
Ask the local storeowner if he would sell your speakers. Heck, it can't hurt. The worst thing he might say is "yes".
Dave
And thanks for the advice I can use all I can get!!!!
He has a line of speakers that is making its way to market. Some HiFi shops are starting to carry them. Single Fostex driver in a pipe. Everything I've heard about them is positive. I will be auditioning a pair in August. I believe the retail is under 2k for at least one of the models.
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