boead -
A friend of mine visited our shop the other day and told me about this thread. I didn't have time to look it up at the time and wish I had been able to read your initial deleted post. So I can only comment on what I read without the benefit of the original post. (Note: You indicate you did not mention our speakers specifically and I did not interpret any of your comments as being directed at us in particular.)
Everyone has the right to their opinions and you certainly have a right to yours. But not every opinion I held in my lifetime turned out to be correct in the end. So I would hope that perhaps you might have an open mind with regard to the opinions you expressed. With that in mind, I will try and provide an alternative point of view you may wish to consider.
First, when analyzing the chain of components that make up an audio system, speakers are by far the weakest link. No amplifier manufacturer would even consider rating the frequency response of his equipment at +/- 3db (since no one would ever purchase). Yet this is standard practice for speaker manufacturers. In comparison to every other component in the chain, speakers are the least precise.
So to obtain the best possible system performance, you need to start with the speakers. It matters little what the other components are if the speakers are not capable of resolving their quality.
To build a truly great speaker, you need at least four things: 1) great drivers; 2) a great cabinet design (much more than just an MDF box); 3) a GREAT crossover design; and, 4) high quality crossover components. All of these are expensive with the greatest expense being the labor involved in the cabinet construction.
The cost of exotic veneers and fine finishing materials represent only a small percentage of the total cost of a pair of speakers. For those who find no value in these, we offer the option of a plain black satin lacquer cabinets (although we rarely get requests for them). There is no audible benefit to fine finishes. But most of our customers prefer them, so we oblige.
As for your cost analysis, I can only say that our bill of materials is quite a bit higher than the $1000 you mention. And your cost analysis does not include the single largest cost - labor.
I have had a few friends help build speakers over the years and even though they were very familiar with the way we build cabinets, every single one of them commented that they had absolutely no idea how much work went into a pair. I would be happy to have you come to our shop for a week or two and see what is involved. I can guarantee you that, after that experience, you would wonder how we could ever price speakers so low (I wonder this myself every time I look at our profit margins).
As to whether or not a speaker is worth a specific price, that is a question I can never answer for someone else (although I am asked all the time). We produce speakers in all price ranges and only the customer can determine the level of performance they desire.
But I can say this: I don't know what kind of speakers you have in your current system, but based on your comments, I would have to surmise that the speakers in my personal system are superior. So regardless of what upstream components, interconnects, speaker cables or power cords you have, you are not hearing the sound quality I hear every time I listen to music.
I have demoed our speakers with many different types of equipment in the past, including a $129 Sony receiver, a $399 Panasonic digital receiver, ATI, Bryston, AVA and many others. In every case, those listening to the demo were amazed with the sound quality.
Naturally, the better the source gear, the better the sound. But in no case can the sound be better than the speakers are capable of producing.
I would like an opportunity to prove my point. If you PM me with your location, I will try and arrange an audition with an owner so you can hear it for yourself. I can guarantee it will be worth your time in that your current opinion about speaker value will be forever changed.
On another note, just a comment about Carl Smith's cables and interconnects...
I met Carl a few years back and was very impressed with both his knowledge and the quality of his cables. He spent the majority of his adult life designing and building critical instrument-grade cabling for Bell Labs testing facilities. When he retired, he took what he had learned over the years and applied it to his hobby - high quality audio. When he asked me how he could promote his cables, I offered to put them on my site to help him out.
I am asked about cables all the time and thought that some of our customers might benefit by knowing about Carl's cables.
Carl sets his own pricing and I realize his calbes are not inexpensive. But I also know he doesn't make much money building them. It is a labor of love.
While there are certainly less expensive cables available and some may be equally as good, I am fairly certain that few, if any, will be better. Carl left no stone unturned in pursuit of the very best cables that he can produce using methodology and materials currently available. For example, Carl spent six months pursuing a relationship with the only manufacturer, world-wide, of a specific type of wire used in one of this interconnects. It was the best wire available and Carl was simply unwilling to compromise for a cheaper alternative.
As indicated above, I have no personal gain where Carl's cables are concerned. I just thought there might be people who would benefit knowing of their existence.
- Jim
