Metal cabinet speakers

Baltics far more costly than $40 a cab to build a speaker a 2x8 sheets $70 much more if furniture grade or veneered Aluminum is cheap to use once you set up to use it. Aluminum is about $1900 a ton birch ply more costly plus waist from ply is not able to be resold, unlike aluminum. It is far cheaper to paint then veneer ply, aluminum is light so you save on shipping costs. Why you see many home theater in a box and computer speaker systems using it. More to the design of a loudspeaker than cabinet materials I think focusing on such while overlooking the whole is self-defeating.

The cost of the (aluminum) cabinet is only part of the story. Take a look at the cross section of a Magico speaker and when you see all the bracing that is required, then you’ll see why they weigh as much as they do., and maybe why they cost as much as they do.

Meridian uses\aluminum sandwiched in plywood and some inner coating with 6 lacquer layers and when JA measured the 8000's he found no measurable resonances! 

 kalali Magico is priced to attract audiophiles who equate cost as much as any other performance aspect they are well made well-designed loudspeakers for sure but overpriced like most all high-end today.         And maybe you missed this part of my post above { More to the design of a loudspeaker than cabinet materials I think focusing on such while overlooking the whole is self-defeating}

Johnk1

Given that I compete with Magico and offer a $7000 pair of carbon fiber stand-mount speakers, I have minimal interest in defending them but will say that there is a big difference between a 1/16" press forged cabinet vs one made from 3/8" extruded aluminum.  You also have to consider fixed tool and die costs in both cases compared to any wood material be it MDF, Baltic Birch or African Rosewood.  

I would love to say Magico is overpriced but other than retail margin, I can't see an issue with their pricing and they don't build in the monstrous margins that some other companies do. I looked a producing a speaker like the A1 and I can't do it at a lower price unless I want to produce them and import them by the container from the far east and I have to outlay a lot of cash up front for tooling. 

Regarding my costs on Baltic Birch, you can get panels a little cheaper than what you see at retail from people who are buying at wholesale in large quantities.  And for the size speaker I am talking about, you can get 2 speakers (one pair) out of a 2' x 8' sheet.  That is where the $40 came from.