Why are Harbeth speakers expensive while its drivers are not.

Rule of thumb is that materials are 20% of the price.  For speakers, 2/3 or so is the cost of the cabinet.

For a $4K speaker, materials would cost $800.  The cabinet would be $550 of that and $250 would be for drivers, wire, cross-over, etc.

Is what it is.


Rich 

^^^^ Yep , Only way around it is to build your own .

And I always thought it was the DRIVERS that were expensive, they claim to put a lot of R&D into those drivers......hmmm go figure. My brother Demo'd a pair of SL5s against his OLD re furbished JBL Century 100's and could not see spending the extra extra (cough) money they commanded. ROFL. And he has a AYON tube integrated amp! 


Matt M

Nostalgia costs, big time. 

Most speakers use lowest cost good enough drivers to minimize price point.

In general the two way speaker that started in the 70's is really one big cost compromise - one less driver but always of limited performance.