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Thoughts wanted for new speaker design

I am working to introduce a new speaker at Capital Audiofest this year and have a few tentative designs but wanted to do a little market research and see what you guys would find most interesting. Since I don’t have $40K for focus groups, thought I would ask your guys POV.

I currently offer two stand mounts - one which is a fiberglass based composite (Nightshade) and the other is Carbon Fiber bases (Blackthorn).

you can see them here at:

www.verdantaudio.com

i am currently sold out but will be back in stock in about two weeks.  

i am looking to see what you guys would be most interested in:

1. a higher efficiency standmount - 92dB to 93dB but will be using compression drivers. Material could be MDF or Bamboo but most like Bamboo. Price ~$2500

2. A less expensive standmount made from bamboo or MDF that will be ~$2000. Likely be less than $2000 if it is MDF.

3. A Nightshade (fiberglass) Floorstander that would retail at $8-$10,000.

4. A floorstander that would look like 1 or 2 though I expect the efficiency of 1 will be closer to 100dB. Retail $3500 to $5000.

Unless you guys saw me at AXPONA or know someone who bought my first batch of speakers I know you haven’t heard my current stand-mounts. Just looking for a POV on what will be most interesting to you.

Thanks in advance.






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verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 
@jeffseight  I can produce a Pulsar-like speaker using the exact drivers from Seas in a 1” thick Bamboo cabinet that would be stained or cleared for $4000.  I could also do them in a veneered or painted MDF but I think bamboo is the better choice.  

“Solid” bamboo panels are engineered.  The advantage is that density is remarkably consistent and because it is a grass and not a wood, it doesn’t expand and contract the way hardwoods do with moisture.  It is also 29% stronger than red oak.  

I would customize the crossover to the exact cabinet I create based around those speakers. I would plan to use Clarity Cap CSA caps and Goertz copper foil inductors to maximize clarity which are standard in my Blackthorns and would still use WBT binding posts and Kimber Kable inside which is standard in all my speakers.


elliottbnewcombjr
5,349 posts
 
You seem to have your current stand mount design and production well in place.

Something NEW for the show, which, assuming successful, will be added to the line.

In the context of a young speaker company moving up the chain of recognition/volume:

I vote for higher efficiency, same essential size as your current offerings, as production is in place. Small size keeps parts, finished product, shipping containers from requiring large storage spaces, that's the practical part.

More efficient, designed, added to the line, specifically to allow less powerful amps, both SS and to use with a buyer's existing or desired Tube equipment. Allowing a client to need/spend less on amp power leaves more money in their pocket to afford better speakers.

I would not advise chasing price as a means of success, rather continue your design, and look into methods of recognition beyond shows, word of mouth, private listening. 

Sold out sounds like success, but a large concern to anyone involved in the sales chain, I suggest never promising a production schedule that adds too much unneeded pressure to you or your organization. Beat your promises most often of course.
elliottbnewcombjr
5,349 posts
 
Oh yeah, be sure and have low power amps playing them when you demo them, the true way to reveal their efficiency beyond words.

Perhaps both a low powered SS amp, and a Tube preamp and tube amp. Maybe a modern integrated tube amp with remote volume and remote input switching, so people can bring their own source material and easily hear it.

If you can hook up with an amp maker, they could loan you their equipment, benefiting from their exposure via your speakers.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 
@keithtexas   Those Trenner and Friedl ISIS are $40K.  Holy crap.  The only way a pair of speakers that size could be made by hand for less than $6K would be to make it out of MDF and I am not sure I could ever hit $3k with drivers and crossover parts that I would be proud to put in a product of mine.  

MDF is not going to perform the way the hardwood plywood Trenner and Friedl are using is going to perform.  The sound will be muddier and IMO, wouldn't even be a poor man's imitation.  

In round numbers, I could probably do a baltic birch plywood cabinet in the $6K range with a mainstream veneer.  "Solid" bamboo (engineered planks) would be in the $7K to $7.5K range.  These will be much closer in terms of sound profile.  I am not privy to the method they are using for venting so I am certain mine will sound different but would be excellent.  They definitely wouldn't be identical but I could do a "poor man's version" in better materials that you might be pleased with.  
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 
@elliottbnewcombjr  Thanks you for your POV.  I am leaning toward a higher efficiency stand-mount that would pair with the Art Audio Carissa (18w SET) which I import and have one in inventory to use for shows.  
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