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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
 
@keithtexas   Was going through the implications and am not expecting you to buy them.  More, do you think with significant deviations in terms of price and material these would still be interesting?

i think I need to figure out how to make something cheaper and I love the idea of a $3K floorstander.  Just not sure how to do it.  

  


ajnackman
60 posts
 
I think it depends on your target market. Over 3.5k for a standmount speaker is a tough pill to swallow for someone my age (mid twenties) who is just getting into audio or even as a second speaker. I like the style of your designs, very minimalist cabinet and a driver with a lot of character. An affordable efficient standmount (around 2k) seems like an interesting product given your current lineup and the market as a whole. The problem is marketing to my generation as few of us seem to go to audio shows. I think my generation of consumers like to purchase online from established companies with a return policy. I'm thinking of Kef, monitor audio, focal, etc with flashy websites and that are perceived as "cool". We don't like going somewhere to buy something, for better or worse.

Your current products seem like a third or later speaker; after someone has invested some time and money into this hobby. They know what they are looking for and are willing to do some serious research and/or go listen for themselves.

Again I think an affordable efficient standmount fits into your product line well, its just a competitive price point. It seems to be filled with lower efficiency speakers from major companies.

Just my two cents.
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 
@ajnackman   Thank you!  This is really helpful insight.  I am definitely going to produce a competitively priced, higher efficiency, stand-mount.  
danvignau's avatar
danvignau
935 posts
 
Without even $40,000, do you expect to do research to see what sounds the best, design and make drivers, cabinets, and crossovers, then buy equipment to test, are you really wanting us to choose between things we will ever hear in advance?  
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio OP
1,499 posts
 
@davignau  -  Think of it this way, if I spend $40K on research, that goes into the cost of the speakers and needs to be recovered increasing the price or increasing the number of units that need to be sold to break even.  You correctly pointed out that development costs money.  Spending the money on focus groups adds to that cost.  

Focus groups are intended to screen ideas and generate new ideas. I have a list that I think are interesting and received a couple ideas above that I had not considered.  I can take these ideas along with the ones I already have, drop them in quant research to see which has the most superficial appeal and then I can work on development.  I have to then deliver on the superficial idea. 

so no, I don't expect you to choose between things you have never heard. That would be silly. Just looking for ideas.  

I have successfully brought two products to market that were well received by both consumers and the press earlier in the year but they are expensive.  We shall see if I can make it a third that will ideally be at a more competitive price point.  




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