The new dynamic in speaker pricing
Yesterday I received the latest issue of the Absolute Sound mag. This issue has the round up of the varying speaker manufacturer’s wares along with the retail pricing. One thing that struck me is the number of speaker manufacturer’s who have a speaker in their line up that cost close to a $1M!! There are good number of speakers now available with prices in the $700K+ range. A few manufacturer’s are also a little ’glib’ with their top model pricing, such as Oswalds Mill--who state- price upon inquiry only!
This new speaker pricing dynamic is interesting, as it clearly indicates that there are buyers out there who are happy to pay these prices and presumably enough buyers to make these products viable. A trend that is certainly interesting and yet questionable as to how it will impact the hobby as a whole.
Opinions on this trend?
@fleschler Your friend is very typical of a number of a'philes who much prefer putting their money into gear than into the room acoustics! Crazy to do this, IME. The benefit he would get with going to similar lengths as you did to treat his room would far off-set the differences he likely got from lowering the far too high YG tweeters. Windows behind speakers is also never a great thing, IMO. That, plus his room is basically a square results in the sound you describe. |
...I think I'll just continue to diy'ing my Walsh drivers. They may not be 'perfection personified', but they make me smile. Perhaps, when I excuse self from this mortal coil, I'll have them destroyed along with my notes, drawings, and all the items collected to make them. ...and y'all can be left with wondering what I was going on about, if bothering to do so at all. Linkwitz noted "...ignore the room...." Since mine is basically hideous at this time, it's an upfront necessity for me. And they do it really well.... I've spent peanuts doing so. My time involved can be considered in $ & sense to roughly equal to a pair of 10K$ units, but it's mine to burn. Remaining clueless is your problem...mho....;) |
@daveyf as you've heard a number of six figure speakers that I have locally, have to admit I'm never impressed enough to pull out my wallet for a pair. YG Sonja XVs, Chronosonics, Gryphon Trident, etc. Most of the time, they have larger issues that require a lot more effort to get right. the one I'd like to hear in an optimized setting is the big Stenheim. |
@keithr I tend to agree that the price tag of some of these candidates tends to be off-putting, when considered against their abilities, or lack thereof! When I heard the big Stenheim's, I was also pretty unimpressed. I was impressed with the Alexx V's, but they require a very large room, a lot of upstream grunt and a fat wallet. Nonetheless, if you have the room and the power ( and the $$), then I would consider them a contender. |
@daveyf I heard the Alexx V’s at a friend of a friend’s house who is also a part time audio reviewer. He drove them with huge SS McIntosh amps, I don’t know what other electronics, a Kuzma turntable, several high end arms and the latest DS $12K optical cartridge and transformer. Even had the famous Mpingo record weight. This system had phenomenal dynamics, bass and resolution. However, after a few records, it just was too forward, too much information. Really like the ultimate studio sound, just not relaxing (or eventually musically interesting). |
