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Modern Linestages

This is a general question about how complex and expensive some linestages have become. I'm looking to understand why? I can grasp that really good volume controls are complicated and that equally good switches are not inexpensive. I also have a general understanding of the importance of a high quality power supply, which again is not going to come cheap. I just don't comprehend how you get to a 50lbs. plus preamps that cost well over $20k. Is this level of complexity really needed or is it the equivalent of the spate of 500hp "sedans" for every day driving?
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grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,479 posts
 
Charles1dad,

Did not mean to imply my system was all that .... Really just pointing out my experiences and I sure wish I could have another listening room with an equally well thought out "simple" system with SET tube amps. I have a place in my heart for them.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,807 posts
 
Charles1dad, regarding your examples- I don't know about all of them but I know about some and those are good examples.
response34's avatar
response34
169 posts
 
Thank you Grannyring for your post on 8-27 where you go through some of the cost of running a company and developing upper end products.

Our Purity Audio Design linestage was reviewed in that same Absolute Sound issue as the Constellation pieces. While this was not an inexpensive linestage, we have other models above this.

We have spent the last several years developing this line and this kind of R&D is not even close to being cheap. Overhead of running such a company is is not small and you still have to pay the bills even during the R&D stages.

Bottom line is that it is still a business. The price of products is based on many things (not only the cost of parts used) and since you did such a good job of going through most of them in your post, it will save space in this post.

I still don't understand those who do not think companies should make any profit. I'm sure they don't go to work everyday and work for free.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
It is a miracle that NAD was able to recoup all their R&D costs with a $220 integrated amplifier - I guess selling a million units helped on the profit front.
grannyring's avatar
grannyring
6,479 posts
 
Pubul57

I think you do know the answer for NAD. Small margin, but very high volume over many years. Just a different business model and marketing strategy. Bet NAD sold/sells more units then the Constellation preamp in one day part.

In addition the technology used in that one integrated was also used in many other NAD pieces of high volume. NAD sells many items in their total line so the costs of R&D are also spread out over many products - many high volume products.

Both models can work, but close managing of costs is paramount in both models.
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