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Custom Tuning Conspiracy

I have a theory that the reason custom tuned loudspeakers are not offered to the market place is because it would essentially destroy the whole speaker industry. If every audiophile had their speakers custom made for them, there would simply be no need for further speakers to be made, until the next generation of audiophiles came along which would take decades. 

If you think about it, most speakers are mass produced junk. They are made in vast quantities so that more profit can be made. 

Even the few companies that do offer so called custom speakers are not really customized. Companies such as Gr research and Fritz offer their range of speakers hoewever GR research tunes all their speakers flat by default and Fritz does not tune his speakers to his customers exact specifications. 

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there was a speaker company that made speakers according to your exact specifications? You would choose the material, shape, drivers, components, configuration, crossover slopes and frequency response. It would be made to measure. 

The people that mock this idea say that speakers dont need to be made to measure. This is nonsense. Every speaker on the market already sounds different from one another. Audiophiles then go on the merry go round and buy one speaker after another, each speaker never quite fulfilling their needs. How much time would be saved if the right speakers were made for you right from the start?

Not only would it save time it would save resources and energy. Every speaker model is produced in their thousands. Yet perhaps only a dozen people will eventually find that particular model suits their ears. So that means several hundred speakers have been made and will eventually end up in the junkyard. What a waste of time, energy and resources? 

Should there be more companies doing truly custom tuned speakers among the vast sea of mass produced junk producing companies?

kenjit
kennyc
1,585 posts
 

"Customization" increases costs.

It is easier and cheaper to design one then sell multiple units than to custom design for each client for a single sale.

Trying to design speakers to match each customer's "subjective" tastes is NOT an easy task - how do you know what I like?  And you have to do it for each customer.  There will likely be a lot of trial and error until meets customer's tastes - this is a lot of time and effort for one customer.  What if the customer refuses to be satisfied with the results, will the manufacturer have to eat the time and effort? 

No @kenjit you'll find few customers paying a speaker manufacturer substantial money to get a speaker manufacturer to create a "subjectively" ideal speaker - it's easier and cheaper to buy ready made speakers.

And no, @kenjit speaker manufacturers have no incentive to do this extensive custom work per each customer - more work and  grief for lower profit (customization may increase profit markup per speaker, but less total number speakers will be sold)

mitch2
4,065 posts
 

If there were a need for this and if it could be accomplished profitably, then somebody would have probably tried it already.

My speakers are somewhat tunable as they have three-position switches to adjust both treble energy and environment (i.e., speaker positioning relative to the wall).  However, these adjustments are more about optimizing the speaker for the environment and not so much about adjusting the inherent sound of the speaker for each individual user.

There are several reasons this hasn’t been done:

  • Cost - the model is not likely to sustain profitability or, if the pricing were adjusted for profitability then, buyers would migrate to options that provide higher value for the price
  • Choices - there are already many options from multiple manufacturers to purchase speakers that meet a buyer’s individual preferences so buyers can already shop for speakers providing specific sonic signatures and that meet the buyer’s unique price, size, appearance, and amplifier power requirements
  • Options - there are already easier options to adjust the sound of an individual audio system through computer processing such as upsampling, DSD, MQA, etc., through cables and ancillary equipment, through equalization products, and through room treatment

 

arafiq's avatar
arafiq
1,693 posts
 

Thank you for uncovering the heinous conspiracy. I can finally sleep tonight. 

secretguy
1,743 posts
 

LOL. In the words of Bugs Bunny,,,,"What a maroon!"

kenjit OP
1,771 posts
 

@kennyc 

Trying to design speakers to match each customer's "subjective" tastes is NOT an easy task - how do you know what I like? 

Thats exactly my point. They dont know what we like. Therefore all speakers are just based on guesswork. Which is exactly why we need custom tuning to take the guesswork out of the equation. 

 There will likely be a lot of trial and error until meets customer's tastes 

Audiophiles already spend their lifetimes trying to find perfect sound. The goal of custom tuning is to reduce that time. 

What if the customer refuses to be satisfied with the results, will the manufacturer have to eat the time and effort? 

No. Same as with ready made speakers. If you dont like em its your fault. You cant return them. Would a hifi dealer allow you to return a pair of $50K wilsons because you've changed your mind? Probably not. 

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