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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
jssmith
342 posts
 

Nice.

I built my first speakers at 15 from Radio Shack parts. Since then I've built Linkwitz LX Minis and BFM Davids. I usually discourage people from DIY unless they have woodworking experience and tools because it usually winds up costing more than they thought it would. Clamps alone for a full range speaker build can cost over $100. Sandpaper, veneer, stain, capacitors, resistors, circuit boards, batting, magnets,  grill cloth ... it just keeps adding up. And custom-built cabinets aren't cheap. But it certainly gives you a sense of accomplishment.

erik_squires OP
17,544 posts
 

I would not buy any audio gear from a guy who made it in his garage, no matter how good it sounded. If something went wrong in a month that guy might tell  me to take a hike. Or, "Oh, yes, I’ll fix it. Just leave it here in the corner of my garage." Months go by, and you get the picture. 

@audio-b-dog

Well, I think you are misunderstanding my point.  I was not saying I should start a business, and you all should buy my DIY speakers. I was trying to say that running a profitable speaker business, or really ANY high-end audio business is hard as hell and I’m glad I don’t. 

Of course you can’t sell a speaker for the cost of the parts, no one can do that.  Even with books you can’t possibly sell them for the cost of the paper.  I only meant to share how big that gap is, between parts cost and what you have to sell it for exactly because of what it takes to keep the shop lights running. 

To yous your analogy however, given a choice between paying Oracle's per core licensing or installing PostgreSQL or MariaDB or even DuckDB for that matter and maintaining it myself I'm 100% not going to pay Oracle a dime. 

erik_squires OP
17,544 posts
 

@toddalin 

Do you realize that a set of "REAL" ESS AMTs sell for $560/pr and maybe a couple times a year (LIKE RIGHT NOW) they will list them for $250/pr, both with the mounting kits?  These factory sales go real fast and do not last!

Good to know but it would require a redesign, and honestly I don't have the right room for a dipole tweeter.  Also, honestly, dome tweeters are just SO much better now than they were in the 1980's and 1990s, I don't feel compelled to stick with AMTs.... though I like mine a lot.  

toddalin's avatar
toddalin
660 posts
 

I don't run them as a dipole.  I think that the rear wave bouncing all around willi-nilli hurts imaging.

 

Mine are modified so that the rear wave is reflected back through the diaphragm totally changing the frequency response and adding detail like you can't believe.

 

A couple pieces of foam placed behind takes care of any notable residual sound.

https://audiokarma.org/forums/index.php?threads/im-fixing-a-hole-heil.1025205/

devinplombier
1,668 posts
 

toddalin

The only thing I’ve found is this. Apparently it’s unavailable, and Pure Audio Project doesn’t answer emails.

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