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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.






128x128verdantaudio
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 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.  
mcreyn
293 posts
 
Re: "Heco, The New Statement, bass response (according to their website) can go down to 18 Hz with 93db sensitivity. I think it may work well with low power 300B amp."

Talk about playing fast and loose with the specs. They rate the speakers as "4-8 ohms" with sensitivity of 93db @ 2.83v. Translation, they are are 90db efficient speaker at 1 watt.

Similarly, their 18-20,000 hz range is given with no restriction, +/- db, or -3, -6, or -10 db downpoint. Any bass driver can go to 18hz, the question is how far down will it be relative to its average level and what will be its output limitations.

Thiel/Small parameters and Hoffman’s Iron law still apply to all speakers. Designers have to pick their tradeoffs of two of the three of bass extension, efficiency, and enclosure size. There is no way two 8 inch paper drivers in that sized enclosure (approximately 3 cubic feet) are putting out any real output at 18hz. Because those are lightweight paper, their fs is probably in the 40hz range, so at best the enclosure is tuned in the high 30hz range with a 24db/octave falloff below the turning frequency. They could tune lower, but the group delay will go through the roof and efficiency down.

The short is that their specs and reality don’t comport.
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,231 posts
 
Right mcreyn. There is absolutely nothing special about that speaker and maybe you might feel 18 Hz in a phone booth but in any normally sized room those speakers might go flat to 40 Hz if that. And since when did an Alnico magnet become special or indicate how well a mid range driver might perform. 

bigkidz
3,328 posts
 
I have been contacted by a few people who told me that they had new speaker designs.  I have to take the time to go hear them.  I partnered with GT Audio at a few Capital Audio Fests as he makes fantastic panel speakers.  Another person has a new driver design so I am really interested in hearing those also.  In producing something I always told myself that it cannot just be another component.  It has to be something that within less than one minute the person goes, I have not heard anything like that before.  Otherwise to me, I am just wasting my time.

Happy Listening.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,469 posts
 
@bigkidz  I agree.  When I set out to start something I wanted it to be differentiated.  Why bother putting out another MDF cabinet speaker using the scanspeak, SEAS or SB drivers.  

Thus, my composite cabinets made from prefabricated sheets- I am not the first to use composites but I am by far the least expensive and I think if you heard the Blackthorns in particular, you will be pleasantly surprised at sound quality.  You won't say I haven't head anything like that before, but you will probably say I haven't heard anything like that before at that price.  Quite a few people did at AXPONA.     

The unfortunate part is that my prices start pretty high and it is tough for people to engage with the brand which is why I started this thread.  The question is, how can I make these things my own, in a differentiated way.  

If you are going to be at Capital Audiofest.  Pop in.  I am going to have room 525.  
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