[marvda1]

usher has a new line of speakers
ml-801 $12k
ml-802 $14.3k
https://www.usheraudio.com.tw/portfolio-types/ml/
I see they went away from the diamond tweeter.

[S Clark]

I like Usher speakers. Excellent sound.    But I don't understand why this


cost more than a 2 year old Honda Fit with low mileage??


I understand that they aren't as huge and efficient as Honda, but at that price I'd expect someone to make a knockoff.  But didn't Usher start off as a Scan Speak knockoff?  Can there be a Chines knock off of a Chinese knock off?

[Early B.]

I like Usher speakers. Excellent sound.    But I don't understand why this
cost more than a 2 year old Honda Fit with low mileage??

Well, when you're a typical working man, you tend to make associations like this (I do, too), and it's tough to make sense of it all. To rich people, $15K is pocket change. Neither the Honda Fit nor the speakers are of any significant value.

   

[S Clark]

There are those of use that drove used cars for most of our lives to save another $10K so that we would be comfortable in retirement.  If you invested well, you are a low level millionaire.  But you remember what it took to put back $10K.  As a retired high school teacher, and a frugal person, and having invested pretty well, my wife and are comfortable.  I can afford  $15k for speakers, but   I   just   won't   pay    it. 

You're right, $15K is pocket change for those with really high net worth. 

[Folsom]

Well, when you're a typical working man, you tend to make associations like this (I do, too), and it's tough to make sense of it all. To rich people, $15K is pocket change. Neither the Honda Fit nor the speakers are of any significant value.

   

It's really down to efficiency of manufacturing.

But I agree in terms of raw resources it seems literally insane. The game you have to play is what would it cost me to build speakers like that and run a business... then you see.

What people forget is that cars aren't mean to be profitable anymore in their sale price. It's about everything else, really. Sure they make money selling them but the real cash is in options, services, and financing. (and used cars, actually)

[Tyson]

Markup of about 10x over material cost is actually pretty fair for a business.  You might be able to get that lower if you deal in large volumes.  Or, on the other hand, it might go up quite a bit if you're doing very low production or even bespoke products.

[Jon L]

usher has a new line of speakers
ml-801 $12k
ml-802 $14.3k

Well, since I have been thinking about ordering the new Western Electric 300B tubes at $1500/pair, suddenly the large $14.3K speakers with nice drivers and cabinets seem like a STEAL! 

https://www.westernelectric.com/300b?gclid=Cj0KCQjwmIuDBhDXARIsAFITC_5M5jwRYC5jFCIWJXFuEoKZcl6knTRWJ_w6GnkgS-Td_Hg6wbaNFC8aAjICEALw_wcB

[SET Man]

I like Usher speakers. Excellent sound.    But I don't understand why this
....

cost more than a 2 year old Honda Fit with low mileage??
...
I understand that they aren't as huge and efficient as Honda, but at that price I'd expect someone to make a knockoff.  But didn't Usher start off as a Scan Speak knockoff?  Can there be a Chines knock off of a Chinese knock off?

Hey!

   But that's still a lot cheaper than the cheapest brand new BMW! To each of their own...

    I remembered my non audiophile friend's face when I told him how much I paid for the PS Audio P600 power regenarator and what it actually does, his face expression was of shocked, confused and fascinated... it was priceless to me  

   Anyway, I've been out of the loop with audio and haven't heard about Usher for a while,  I didn't know Usher is still around making speaker. Well, those sure look great! The cheapest one cost more than my entire system!

Buddy

[djpk]

I own the Usher Audio V-601 speakers and they are excellent. One of the best values in Hi-Fi in my experience. Usher Audio is a Taiwanese company, not communist Chinese and I've found Taiwanese manufacturing in general to be very good.

[displayname]

Usher is one of the few brands that has higher end speakers like this (which is not the top of their line) all the way down to truly reasonably priced options.

If you're a used Honda guy, they have speakers for you.
If you're a McLaren guy, they have speakers for you too.

My budget restricts me somewhere between those two. But I sure would love to give these speakers a listen just like I'd love to take a McLaren around a track. Heck, I'd be happy with the Mini Dancer 2 and a C8 Corvette 

[wushuliu]

The enclosures don't come cheap I'd imagine. The enclosures, the feet, pricey drivers, shipping and overhead probably bring those speakers well under the 10x markup is my guess. Speakers like that you're paying more for the furniture than the sound. And furniture ain't cheap. The customer base isn't going to spend that money on plain vinyl-veneered rectangles made of mdf.

[DWG]

So who sells these? 

[marvda1]

katli audio is the distributor
audio thesis is a dealer

[S Clark]

I've always thought Usher speakers were excellent sounding.  Several years back at the RMAF  I'd placed a similar model in the second tier of excellent speakers, in some very good company.  They've more than doubled in price since then.  It's about time to get to another audio show.  If so, and if they're there,  I'll look them up.