How are Hig-End Speakers Priced?

Pubul57, I understand your perspective, but the dealers would be outraged if the potential for undercut to them, came from the manufacturer themselves. The manufacturer would now on some level be acting as dealer, something that would add to their costs and perhaps it's something they're less well suited to do. After all, if there were issues, you would now take them to the manufacturer. It would be a difficult to be both a manufacturer and direct discount seller, and at the same time maintain an MSRP dealer network. I think on some level it might be incompatible. Furthermore, what would prevent someone from purchasing discounted merchandise from the manufacturer and then reselling at a cost less than dealers offer, in a manner that might compromise the manufacturer's marketing and customer care strategy. Never mind, opening the potential for counterfeit products, for which the duped consumer might expect the original manufacture to be responsible for. Grey market?

Would 200 miles be sufficient protection? At some point the dealer simply can't service the customer. I believe in protection the dealership witin reason based on territory - but in this day and age some product are found in 3 dealers and 500+ miles away. It is a complex issue, and one I don't think the manfufacturers have solved - the dealer networks simply don't serve much of the country anymore, and you do want to protect those that make the financial investment in carrying the product - don't know what the answer is, but the current model is quite right.

I think that's why we're starting to see catalogue merchants like Crutchfield starting to carry high end lines.

I didn't know this thread was still alive. (I'm not receiving e-mail notices.)

Here is a bit of my perspective: I returned home from work rather late last evening, a bit worn out by some projects I've been struggling with. I turned on my DMA-90 to let it warm up while I watched the late-night news. (I had left my Icon and DMC-12 on from my listening session the previous night.) A short while later I was thoroughly enjoying cuts from Yellowjackets' "Live Wires", Joshua Redman's "Wish", Lyle Lovett's "Joshua Judges Ruth", Rickie Lee Jones' "Pirates", Duke Ellington & John Coltrane, and John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman. I had the volume set at twelve o'clock! The music was beautiful.

I had thought I would need to spend three-to-five thousand dollars on a pair of stand-mount speakers to have something commensurate with my main system. (And the ATC's I spent some time with a few months ago certainly satisfied, even though they thirsted for a bit more power than my DMA-90 could muster.) However, I am so pleasantly surprised to be enjoying my music through these relatively inexpensive Human Speakers as much as I am. The music is detailed and fast and involving and, um, musical—whether at lowish SPL's or highish!

Now, I don't have "golden ears", and my listening room—my family room—isn't treated with audiophile sound panels, etc., and I haven't invested in special power cords, etc. But I do attend a fair bit of live music performances, and I can absolutely appreciate the quality of music emanating from these small, inexpensive speakers. The live cuts on the above CD's sound very good, indeed.

I can't help but believe that if the designer/builder of these speakers was more "conventional" with respect to marketing, etc., these small speakers would sell for a good deal more than they do. Oh, God! I really hope he doesn't read this!

rx7audio

Pubul57 That's a very interesting point you raise. How far is to far to expect to be able to buy from a dealer. This is much more of a problem in the US, with the size of the country. Here in the UK, 500 miles takes you from one end of the country to another. I also believe, that is why shows like Denver are so much more important to you than us. It really is impossible to audition a range of options, unless you go to a show.

What I do know, is direct selling by manufacturers, drives dealers crazy. Particularly when they dem the speaker and the client goes and buys cheaper from the manufacturer. Most dealers would drop a line of products under these circumstances. I think you have to ask a dealer, how far he considers, his patch covers