Things you did not know about what is inside your speakers and the Huge markups

@phusis re: 'The Joseph Audio Perspective 2, which retails for something around $14k or so today, is almost identical to the SEAS Thor kit," 

Except they are completely different designs, TL vs, vented, the Thor is a d'Appolito MTM  2-Way design and the Perspective a 2.5 way. The woofers are different: the Thor using SEAS Excel W18E-001 (E0018) that cost $361.70 ea and the Perspective 2 uses the SEAS Excel W18EX-003 (E0074) costing  $579 ea, both Madisound prices. The crossovers are completely different topologies, slopes, frequencies and components.

They do appear to share the SEAS Excel W18EX-003 (E0074) tweeter, $569 also from Madisound. Perhaps that's what you meant by "almost identical".

This feels like unserious clickbait. @panzrwagn makes good points above. As does everyone else who pointed out that a DIY build cannot be compared to a commercial product, for numerous reasons. 

There are definitely some overpriced products out there in high end audio. But this doesn't help with that problem.

Gang,

Listen, I love DIY and making my own speakers.  At the same time, I recognize that even if I made fantastic speakers there's absolutely no way I'd be able to take them to market.  Making and marketing and shipping and supporting speakers is expensive AF and requires a level of masochism and mental toughness I believe few of us have. 

The markup is BIG for a reason.  
As I posted recently, I broke a Monitor Audio speaker and needed service.  It was outstanding, and not possible selling for near parts cost.  

Best,

E

Always educational to watch Danny from GR Research YT - how bad are components in $$$$$ speakers.

@panzrwagn wrote:

@phusis re: 'The Joseph Audio Perspective 2, which retails for something around $14k or so today, is almost identical to the SEAS Thor kit," 

I believe you’re addressing poster @russbutton here.