MARTIN LOGAN TRIPLES THEIR PANEL REPLACEMENT

I'm not familiar with ML speakers (have only seen them in stores), but why is the replacement cost of panels such an issue. Do they get consumed and need to be replaced every year or 3?

Also, if they need it, can't they be refurbished like other ES panels or dynamic drivers? If so, ML's pricing may create a bus opportunity for one of the repair guru's out there.

+1 Mateored & Hifiharv
Remember, Bobo7- that it was WARREN Buffet (not Jimmy) who said that of course there is class warfare in this country; the rich are waging war on the rest of the country and they are kicking our asses! And that it was the Bush II who thought we could wage 2 wars AND cut taxes w/o driving the country in bankruptcy. Think of it; if the Soviet Union had held on a few more years, we might be the country run by organized crime, with a declining life expectancy and the Soviets might be the sole superpower!!! Imagine them duking it out w the Chinese for world supremacy.

All this discussion and no mention of how much these panels cost to replace. If they were $100, then $300 is not too bad. If they were $1000, then $3000 seems a bit much. If they need to be replaced often and the price seems too high, then their value will drop. Simple as that.

What does politics have to do with it? I agree with the post that said the consumer will ultimately decide if this was a good move by ML.

I am surprised that a discussion about speaker panels turned into a presidential debate.
Why does the OP think Martin Logan really cares about the secondary, or "resale" market? I buy used all the time and only want fully functional gear but I never really think, well if this blows up what's it going to cost me? OTOH I try to buy reliable gear. The whole repair process sucks not just the cost. I will repreat the question posed above. Do the panels usually wear out? I still use my Father's JBLs from 1959, they work fine but might need "remagnetizing."
The cost of repairs outside of the warranty is usually pretty expensive. That is this industry's normal and customary policy. Fortunately I have not had expensive repairs outside of warranty except for 2 CD players which had a transport failures, I had no option but to toss them. They were relatively inexpensive to begin with and the repairs would have cost more than they were worth.

@Onhwy61, I am not saying they should just go out of business. I was just point out the fact that once it went mainstream, like selling at Best Buys, their focus had changed. It was probably the right decision for the business but it wasn't a good change for us, the audiophiles.