Eric,
Thanks for the kind words and we're pleased you've been able to experience all of what the Sason's are about.
You are correct in surmising our profit margin is quite small. The price point chosen may get the Sason Ltd little attention in comparisons with their true competitors - the Peak Consult Incognito, Kharma Ceramique 3.2, Magico Mini, Sound Fusion Luna, and other two-way monitors representing the ultimate expression in current audio art and engineering. Not only are the items you see such as drivers and natural granite cabinet very expensive; it is in the Sason's details you don't see like the silver Ridge Street wiring and crossover parts quality where we expend much of our cost. The crossover parts chosen need to perfectly compliment the drivers sonically and they also must perform reliably under duration for generations of use. That translates into higher costs. A point I'd like to make: the drivers are sourced from Scan-Speak but they are modified with larger motor structures, additional damping and a special transmission line absorber within the tweeter. A copper Faraday sleeve compliments the woofer and tweeter pole pieces as well as lighter viscosity magnetic fluid in the tweeter gap for better overall detail, dynamic finesse and higher frequency extension than the stock units. We also treat the tweeter with a proprietary cryo-temper process. I think we are the only company doing this. If it's not performed right the tweeter is ruined. (The internal wiring and crossovers are cryo-tempered also.)
Simply choosing the best drivers and cabinet materials will not get you to the highest level in music reproduction. I am amused when a new driver hits the market and based on its appearance or manufacturer becomes the flavor of the month for companies placing a higher priority on sales and marketing than providing their customers a system capable of thrilling far into the future and proving its worth with every upgrade. We have chosen the highest performance drivers available regardless of appearance or cost. Ask Bobby Palkovic of Merlin (a man I admire, BTW) if he should be concerned the drivers he uses have been on the market more than a decade. I'm betting he is not.
I sympathize with Carlman's and other's observation that it is difficult to readily audition superb products from small specialty companies especially when the marketing model is Internet direct-from-manufacturer sales. It is our hope the extremely low price of the Sasons will bridge some concerns about the investment and entice prospective purchasers to take a closer look at what is the true value of the Sason Ltd and actively make apples-to-apples comparisons with other leading loudspeakers. We openly encourage all to come visit us at Ridge Street Audio Designs in La Porte, IN and have a unique listening experience. It will be well worth your effort!
Based on our original project projections, the Sason Ltd would not be a viable long term product if priced under $7680/pr. direct from the manufacturer. As many of you already know, Ridge Street Audio Designs does not invest in high profile advertisements and does not wish to fund a large marketing campaign that would be paid for by... you the customer. However, we are unwilling to compromise our parts and materials quality and selection for the sake of image over substance.
Effective June 1st, 2006, we are ending the 58% Off Introductory Price. The Ridge Street Audio Sason Ltd will be priced at $7680/pr Factory Direct beyond the first of June. (Suggested Retail will hold at $12,500/pr for the time being.) Go
HERE for current price and information.
Everyone - blame it on ehider!
Steve Rothermel
Engineer/Associate
Ridge Street Audio Designs
