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What building my own speakers has taught me...

Hi Everyone,

After 8 years or so I have finally finished my "reference" speaker system.  I say eight years because what started as a small, high end 2-way has morphed into a 3-way active system.  Really happy with the results for myself... but I wanted to step back a little and reflect on the audio industry right now. 

First, I’m not here to convince you to DIY your next pair unless you NEED to build something.  And I’m not here to rail against the high price of gear, which does have some merit.   Mostly what I think about is how difficult it really is to make a business selling audio gear, and that I’m actually SHOCKED at how many companies attempt to do so, and even more when they thrive. 

Pricing out all the components in my speakers I come to a total parts cost.  Lets say it’s $1,000.  It could be $10, the actual amount doesn’t matter, but pretend it’s $1k. If I try to imagine "How would I take this product to market?"  I simply can’t get to a selling price under 15 to 20 times manufacturing cost. 

At the same time, the cost of the average "reference" speaker over the last 20 years has really skyrocketed, while the audio enthusiast market has dwindled.   Then along came HDMI whose ridiculous licensing and technical requirements seems to at least have been partially responsible for Meridian and Theta Digital dwindling from the market. 

I can’t imagine how hard it is for anyone besides say Sony or Harman or Samsung to be in the market for audio gear.  Increased costs, high competition, dwindling consumers.....  are we in a bubble or does every generation think "this is it, this is the end of high end audio?" 

erik_squires
kennyc
2,910 posts
 

After 8 years or so…

I’m too old to start DYI from scratch to reach such a high sonic level.  
@erik_squires - congratulations on your accomplishment 

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
15,050 posts
 

Congratulations!

They are magnificent...

You are gifted!

 

 

spenav
548 posts
 

Nicely done. Congrats. 

pindac's avatar
pindac
3,920 posts
 

Not to take anything from the Speaker Build, eric stated " I did none of the woodworking I'm afraid ".

Producing a DIY Speaker does not have to be absolutely hand on, there are wonderful speakers available to be produced, where the DIY element is that the individual decides on a design that already has the support for it in place.

A Cutting List for Cabinet Parts and an assembly drawing with photo evidence of the methodology used. This allows for a CNC Shop to produce the Board Material cut to a very very accurate dimension.

Assembly can be DIY endeavour, or a experienced Cabinet Maker can be used, who may also Veneer the Cabinet as well. Other methods for finished coatings on the Cabinet can also be considered.

Drivers are already selected through the design where there might also be a option as a upgrade created by the designer as the Speaker evolves through being in service.

Xovers can be similar to Drivers, where the design is in place and can evolve as an upgrade.

The Builders design choice is for an internal or external Xover.

Such a route to building a Speaker is not a cheat and will create a substantial speaker, easily competing with models costing much much more.

Note: Speaker Producing Companies are all exposed to the dame requirements as outlined above, but also have much harder constraints on their budget.

If the DIY BOM for a Speaker is $3K-$4K, certain brands in the commercial sector are most likely using a BOM of $800 - $1200 to retail at such a cost of $3-4K, I would also suspect for some brands at a $1.2K BOM speakers are seen retailing near $8K.

The DIY BOM at $3-4K can create a Speaker that easily falls into the retail world at $12K - $20K.

A Friend has purchased a used item Troels Graveson Speaker, which was built by Troels and imported to the UK. These Speakers have made such an impression, much more expensive commercial sector speakers are superseded.

Following remuneration from the sale of the commercial sector speakers, there was a purchase easily covered by the sale of the other speakers and plenty left to fill the coffer for my friend. My own take on the demo's is that the Speakers are the best heard in the system and maybe the best heard by myself. A few demo's across a few systems would confirm this, but that option is not available.

  

parkergetdean
1,048 posts
 

I am curious how they sound. Are they comparable to anything we might know?

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