sokogear, I am working on another project in tandem with this one. That one in some respects is actually ahead of this one. What I mean, it has passed proof of concept. It has been done. It works. The challenge now is to figure out how to make it cost effective, to sell at a profit and still be good value, and of course to be something people can actually use.
Because yes there is a skill level, and there is time. There was a time we had Dynaco and Speakerlab and even today we have some kits people can get a lot for their money if they are willing and able to turn a screwdriver and solder. That is about the level we are talking. That is the way I started, building a Dynaco ST400 in High School.
This current project, everything all-in is well over $2k. Probably close to $3k if you count the BDR, Mats, and Pods. Some of this like BDR was already here just sitting around left over but you get the idea. One guy on FB was wanting me to make him one- until I said $2k just in parts!
BUT this is more a learning curve thing than an actual problem. The learning curve is what all us who have done mods know very well, that manufacturers always use the cheapest possible parts they can get away with! This means the guy with mere soldering skills can easily do a $5k or even $10k upgrade for $1k worth of parts. We who have done this know this. Problem is hardly anyone else gets it.
That is my big motivation for doing this. Already know very well these punch way above their weight even in stock form. With this crossover upgrade, forget about it! Mine are 194 & 195. There are probably by now 200 pair out there. Ten percent market penetration would be huge, but even that would only be 20. So whatever I do will be with the thought in mind there could be a market for this- of a whopping 10-20 customers. Maybe.
Michael Spallone does something like this. He figured out a great cap and diode mod for Synergistic Active Shielding MPC. I know, I bought it. Because even though I can DIY he is the man who knows which parts really sound the best. So it would be like that. IF I can get the wiring figured out AND find some really primo wire AND figure out how to deliver something your average motivated screwdriver solderer can handle... but yeah you are right. Any way you slice it, huge amount of work to sell only a small number, just not worth it.
That is the challenge all these manufacturers face. Eric's real genius was to figure out a better way of using the same parts to deliver sound at a level no one can touch at that price point. If he made them like mine, even though he would pay maybe $1k for the parts that cost me $2k that would still wind up being $3k for him to profit. At that price people look and see Encore has more drivers. There we are back at the learning curve, they see more and better drivers, crossover components are hidden inside, the average customer just does not and probably will not ever get it.
Oh well. We do. Man am I stoked for this weekend!!!
Because yes there is a skill level, and there is time. There was a time we had Dynaco and Speakerlab and even today we have some kits people can get a lot for their money if they are willing and able to turn a screwdriver and solder. That is about the level we are talking. That is the way I started, building a Dynaco ST400 in High School.
This current project, everything all-in is well over $2k. Probably close to $3k if you count the BDR, Mats, and Pods. Some of this like BDR was already here just sitting around left over but you get the idea. One guy on FB was wanting me to make him one- until I said $2k just in parts!
BUT this is more a learning curve thing than an actual problem. The learning curve is what all us who have done mods know very well, that manufacturers always use the cheapest possible parts they can get away with! This means the guy with mere soldering skills can easily do a $5k or even $10k upgrade for $1k worth of parts. We who have done this know this. Problem is hardly anyone else gets it.
That is my big motivation for doing this. Already know very well these punch way above their weight even in stock form. With this crossover upgrade, forget about it! Mine are 194 & 195. There are probably by now 200 pair out there. Ten percent market penetration would be huge, but even that would only be 20. So whatever I do will be with the thought in mind there could be a market for this- of a whopping 10-20 customers. Maybe.
Michael Spallone does something like this. He figured out a great cap and diode mod for Synergistic Active Shielding MPC. I know, I bought it. Because even though I can DIY he is the man who knows which parts really sound the best. So it would be like that. IF I can get the wiring figured out AND find some really primo wire AND figure out how to deliver something your average motivated screwdriver solderer can handle... but yeah you are right. Any way you slice it, huge amount of work to sell only a small number, just not worth it.
That is the challenge all these manufacturers face. Eric's real genius was to figure out a better way of using the same parts to deliver sound at a level no one can touch at that price point. If he made them like mine, even though he would pay maybe $1k for the parts that cost me $2k that would still wind up being $3k for him to profit. At that price people look and see Encore has more drivers. There we are back at the learning curve, they see more and better drivers, crossover components are hidden inside, the average customer just does not and probably will not ever get it.
Oh well. We do. Man am I stoked for this weekend!!!