Sad News: Meadowlark Audio

byteme · « **Reply #140 on:** 2 May 2005, 04:33 pm »

Quote from: Marbles

Honest business's go bankrupt, and the owners are often ashamed and don't know how to handle it.

I would hope that's the case here.

After being around the owners of audio companies for around 5 years now, I can safely say that's it's a great hobby and a very difficult way to make a living. God bless those who can do it year in and year out.

I agree - and I wasn't implying any funny stuff, just that it seemed more likely that it could be that than simply the economy. It does seem like the kind of thing that would be a lot of fun to try without realizing the increadible amount of effort that it would take to actually make a living doing it.

NealH · « **Reply #141 on:** 2 May 2005, 06:12 pm »

No, it's not the economy, because there is nothing wrong with our economy. I doubt there is anything funny going on either. Just that the speaker market, as well as most other sectors of the audiot field, is very competitive today and, to compete you have to keep the boiler of entrepreneuralism going. There are more manufactures of equipment (especially speakers) on the market today than I can ever remember. Lots of enterprising small shops too which is a good thing. It's what our economy is suppose to be brewing.

bikeman · « **Reply #142 on:** 2 May 2005, 07:20 pm »

Quote from: rnhood

No, it's not the economy, because there is nothing wrong with our economy.

Source?

Thanks,
David

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #143 on:** 2 May 2005, 07:48 pm »

C'mon, Bikeman! You need a reality check!

Open a Stereophile equipment directory sometime- it seems there's almost as many high end companies are there are audiophools! If you count the direct sales companies there's probably one company for each of us. The economy aside, it's staggering more of 'em haven't folded, considered the niche market they all share and the (supposedly) dwindling interested in HiFi. Even in the best of times companies fold, especially if they're mismanaged. I don't know that Meadowlark was, but it's a dog eat dog industry.

tex-amp · « **Reply #144 on:** 2 May 2005, 11:05 pm »

Quote from: rnhood

No, it's not the economy, because there is nothing wrong with our economy.

You do know that the stock market gave up 8% of its value in the last two weeks?

JohnnyLightOn · « **Reply #145 on:** 2 May 2005, 11:21 pm »

Quote from: rnhood

No, it's not the economy, because there is nothing wrong with our economy.

It's like you're standing in the middle of a frozen lake. If the ice is at least 0.75" thick, it will support your weight. Right now, the ice is 0.76" thick, and the weather is warming. You say, "There's nothing wrong with this ice. I can stand out here indefinitely."

If the government pumps hundreds of billions into our economy for defense and homeland security, and at the same time cuts taxes and lowers the cost of borrowing money to almost free, then you'll think the ice is a mile thick. That's how it will appear to the average person. But all that comes at a high price, and the result of that price is that the ice will thin out very rapidly.

For a reality check, ask yourself this: in what areas besides aerospace and entertainment is the U.S. truly competitive in the world right now? How about in five years? You'll find the answer is depressingly few.

kfr01 · « **Reply #146 on:** 2 May 2005, 11:28 pm »

A political / economic discussion?

Yeah, this should be productive. Why don't we throw in religion while we're at it? Maybe tubes v. solid state?

/sarcasm

JohnnyLightOn · « **Reply #147 on:** 2 May 2005, 11:35 pm »

Well he can't make a statement like that and expect people not to speak up!

That's how we GOT in our current situation.

Carlman · « **Reply #148 on:** 2 May 2005, 11:52 pm »

I'm glad someone was positive about the economy...
-edited for silliness

This company went bankrupt. It happens. I've never heard their speakers but would like to. But it just doesn't matter... there's more speakers out there than I can hear in a lifetime.

-C

Marbles · « **Reply #149 on:** 2 May 2005, 11:55 pm »

Politics won't be discussed here....this Meadowlark topic won't get sidetracked.

If you want to comment on Meadowlark, or the state of AUDIO please do so, otherwise there are plenty of places on the net to comment on our economy or politics etc..

JohnnyLightOn · « **Reply #150 on:** 3 May 2005, 12:04 am »

OK, then, a question: Is buying used Meadowlark speakers risky? Do they use drivers and other components that can easily be sourced independently? And is the crossover something that presents a real risk of breaking such that it's not easily fixed?

I have rarely heard of a Meadowlark owner who does not love their speakers. It's sad and ironic that it's this company we're talking about.

Marbles · « **Reply #151 on:** 3 May 2005, 12:15 am »

Great questions..as to risky? I would guess it would depend on the price you buy them at.

I beleive that most of their speakers use off the shelf drivers.

ss397 · « **Reply #152 on:** 3 May 2005, 12:33 am »

meadowlark got in trouble because they had too much debt. business slowed and they couldn't pay all the bills. i have never heard a pair, but i have been following the company because the speakers are a work of art. they started small with one model being made in california. they had great success and expanded to a full product line(all made in house) and a new plant in new york. evidently they expanded faster than they built the cash flow to support. it is very hard to fund the growth of a company like that, the expenses hit you well before the revenue does(the dealers get credit terms). they made a beautiful speaker, the high end ones use easy to get scandinavian drivers that are readily available. when the pricing settles i'm sure they will be excellent values

jswallac · « **Reply #153 on:** 3 May 2005, 12:40 am »

I am one of those Meadowlark owners that loves their speakers. I first bought a pair of Kestrel2s, along with Swan center channel for my HT. When I set up a separate 2 channel system I took the Kestrel2s and replaced then with Swifts in the HT. Besides really really loving the speakers, I try to support companies where I can talk to the owner. When you called Meadowlark, it was often Pat that answered the phone. If not, it was Lucinda (I believe his wife). So I am quite sorry to see all this mess associated with Meadowlark.

As for risk, how often does something go wrong with a speaker? The Meadowlarks are pretty simple designs with a first order crossover. I believe components are off the shelf. The trick with these speakers is the transmission line design (which will not break), the time and phase alignment (which will not break) and the quality of the woodwork.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #154 on:** 3 May 2005, 03:37 am »

I guess if I owned a pair I'd be looking for replacement drivers, at least tweeters, just to be safe. If they're off-the-shelf, you might wanna stock up while the current models are available.

Karsten · « **Reply #155 on:** 3 May 2005, 07:18 am »

Quote from: Rob Babcock

I guess if I owned a pair I'd be looking for replacement drivers, at least tweeters, just to be safe. If they're off-the-shelf, you might wanna stock up while the current models are available.

I don't see any real need for that, the tweeters will be available for at least a decade or probably more.

Regards,
Karsten

skrivis · « **Reply #156 on:** 3 May 2005, 01:54 pm »

Quote from: byteme

Kind of a reach to blame the economy isn't it? Without knowing business practices and decisions made which to me would probably have a lot more to do with wheter or not they stayed afloat. Maybe it was milked for all it was worth and is now being torched, leaving the creditors in the lurch? That sure smells more likely at this point since the ownership seems to have dissappeared...

I'm sure that the economy had something to do with it. It's hit a lot of businesses hard enough that they never recovered.

I'm sure that Pat was extremely proud of the setup he had there. The woodworking tools looked state of the art. He had his lab, a design philosophy that worked really well, employees... It was probably a large part of his life, and where he spent much of his time.

When something like that starts getting marginal, then running in the red and behind on payments and such, it hits hard.

Yes, it looks bad from the outside, and perhaps he could have handled it better, but a lot of people tank when their businesses tank.

You have to feel sorry for the guy. Here he was producing speakers that sounded good and looked like fine furniture, and that wasn't enough to keep the business afloat. And at the same time, companies like Bose and Polk are selling crap and making tons of money.

skrivis · « **Reply #157 on:** 3 May 2005, 02:00 pm »

Quote from: Karsten

Quote from: Rob Babcock
I guess if I owned a pair I'd be looking for replacement drivers, at least tweeters, just to be safe. If they're off-the-shelf, you might wanna stock up while the current models are available.

I don't see any real need for that, the tweeters will be available for at least a decade or probably more.

Regards,
Karsten

Maybe...

But we don't know whether the purchase of D-S-T by Tymphany will change that or not.

It's also hard to judge this without knowing whether the drivers were actually off-the-shelf or not. If they were custom drivers, it's possible that the manufacturer is now sitting on some they'd be glad to get rid of, and don't plan to make anymore...

Karsten · « **Reply #158 on:** 3 May 2005, 06:12 pm »

Quote from: skrivis

Maybe...

But we don't know whether the purchase of D-S-T by Tymphany will change that or not.

It's also hard to judge this without knowing whether the drivers were actually off-the-shelf or not. If they were custom drivers, it's possible that the manufacturer is now sitting on some they'd be glad to get rid of, and don't plan to make anymore...

Drivers are standard, BH2 uses the SS Ring radiator, Nighthawk a ralatively new SEAS, Osprey SS 9700, Kestrel the Vifa ringradiator and Swift some Vifa Tweeter (I did not look into the exact model). These are all drivers which many speaker manufactures depend on, phasing them out would be a rather silly disposition for Tymphany to do.

Yes, I feel sorry for Pat as well. He was a good guy. I hope he gets on his feet again. Furthermore it was a family business, both his wife and daughter worked there, which must make it even harder.

Regards,
Karsten

Sonny · « **Reply #159 on:** 4 May 2005, 07:30 pm »

Hey all, I love the Meadowlarks, and meeting and talking to Pat, its really sad news. i have a pair of Herons and used to have a pair of the Shearwaters as well as the Swifts, which I gave to my parents for their listening habits.

So, the question I have is... "does anyone know what drivers are used for the Herons?" I would like to stock up on them if I can...

Thanks in advance...

Sonny