Why pay $1000? What's the value in speakers...

[tentaguasu]

OK, a beginner question. Through questions here I've concluded that I should be able to build a pair of bookshelf speakers that will perform admirably for a 2.1 channel home theater system and do it for $300 or less.

So my question is - why would I pay $1000 for a speaker set? What is the improvement?

This may seem like a dumb question, but if the bookshelf speakers can fill the room with good sound, what am I getting for the additional $900? (or $2k, or whatever...) Is it that the $1k speakers do something the $200 can't do, such as adequately fill a room with sound?

Or is it perceived or real quality difference in accomplishing the same task?

To use cars as an example, are the bookshelf speakers like a sedan and $1k towers like a pickup? (That is, while there will always be quality differences, they fundamentally acomplish different things?)

Or is it more like Kia sedan v. Mercedes sedan? As an example, an base package, entry-level Kia car, a Toyata Camary, and a top line Mercedes do roughly the same exact thing. It's only a quality difference.

Furthermore, I'd argue that the quality difference drops off pretty quickly at a certain point. So the difference between a bottom line Kia and a well appointed Camary is roughly $20k in price. However the improvement in driver/rider experince is pretty substantial.

On the other hand, I'd argue that for your average driver the additional 100k for a good Mercedes nets you far less real world improvement in drive/ride experience over the Camary. Diminishing marginal improvement for $ spent.

Is this a fair comparison with speakers?

And if so, is my $200 pair of Microbe DIY speakers more like the Kia? Or is the Kia the speakers in my TV set, the Microbe the Camary, and the $2000k speakers the Mercedes?

Your insight is appreciated!

 

[lsiberian]

OK, a beginner question. Through questions here I've concluded that I should be able to build a pair of bookshelf speakers that will perform admirably for a 2.1 channel home theater system and do it for $300 or less.

So my question is - why would I pay $1000 for a speaker set? What is the improvement?

This may seem like a dumb question, but if the bookshelf speakers can fill the room with good sound, what am I getting for the additional $900? (or $2k, or whatever...) Is it that the $1k speakers do something the $200 can't do, such as adequately fill a room with sound?

Or is it perceived or real quality difference in accomplishing the same task?

To use cars as an example, are the bookshelf speakers like a sedan and $1k towers like a pickup? (That is, while there will always be quality differences, they fundamentally acomplish different things?)

Or is it more like Kia sedan v. Mercedes sedan? As an example, an base package, entry-level Kia car, a Toyata Camary, and a top line Mercedes do roughly the same exact thing. It's only a quality difference.

Furthermore, I'd argue that the quality difference drops off pretty quickly at a certain point. So the difference between a bottom line Kia and a well appointed Camary is roughly $20k in price. However the improvement in driver/rider experince is pretty substantial.

On the other hand, I'd argue that for your average driver the additional 100k for a good Mercedes nets you far less real world improvement in drive/ride experience over the Camary. Diminishing marginal improvement for $ spent.

Is this a fair comparison with speakers?

And if so, is my $200 pair of Microbe DIY speakers more like the Kia? Or is the Kia the speakers in my TV set, the Microbe the Camary, and the $2000k speakers the Mercedes?

Your insight is appreciated!

Well a more expensive speaker build will allow you to use higher quality drivers with better bracing, dampening, and crossovers.

This will result in very clean uncolored sound that comes out of the speaker just how it was recorded. It also means you have less distortion in your sound too. You are correct to question speakers price tag. I suggest you double blind test speakers to see if you and some of your friends can tell a difference.

 

[j_garcia]

Yes, there is a point of diminishing returns. Yes, the difference is in the quality of the components, but having said that, you don't need to spend hundreds of dollars on the components to get good speakers. Good drivers and a well designed crossover go a long way and a well build cabinet is always a good thing regardless.

 

[rnatalli]

Or is it more like Kia sedan v. Mercedes sedan? As an example, an base package, entry-level Kia car, a Toyata Camary, and a top line Mercedes do roughly the same exact thing. It's only a quality difference.

The Kia, Toyota, and Mercedes will all get you from A to B, but I'm sure the Mercedes will have a smoother ride, more power under the hood, better sound system, etc... With speakers, a $1,000 speaker will outperform a $200 one. Here's an article that might help:

http://www.audioholics.com/education/loudspeaker-basics/how-to-judge-loudspeakers-sound-and-accuracy/

As with all things, you will reach a point of diminishing return. That point varies person to person and how much money you have.

 

[CraigV]

It’s a very relevant & valid question. Does a $1000 pair of speakers sound better than a $200 pair by default? What about the difference between $1.5k and $2k? $2k and $20K? Can the sound produced by the $20k speaker really be that much better than the $2k to justify the $18k increase in price? How much of the “sonic benefit” is real, and how much is perception? And just like the difference between the Kia, Toyota & Mercedes, how much of it is a persons desire to boast about the status symbol they’re able to afford? Yes, the Mercedes might offer a “better” ride, but better in what measure? And isn’t it largely subjective - what makes a good ride to me doesn’t make a good ride to the next guy, and what makes a good speaker, and a good value, is largely a matter of perception. Even if I had a boat-load of money, I still would not spend $20K on a pair of speakers, no matter how good they sounded to me. Nor would I own a Mercedes (they have a bad reputation for reliability)

 

[rnatalli]

Just for the record, I don't like Mercedes either

 

[tentaguasu]

Even if I had a boat-load of money, I still would not spend $20K on a pair of speakers, no matter how good they sounded to me. Nor would I own a Mercedes (they have a bad reputation for reliability)

Neither would I. I like good quality things, but I hate spending a ton when a great deal can be had if you just ignore the brand name, etc.

So it sounds like generally speaking, a DIY set of speakers for $200-$500 is not going to be radically worse than a $1500 set of speakers?

Again, I understand that there will be a quality difference... but if it's the Camary to Mercedes difference, I'm fine with that.

 

[jliedeka]

Here is something to consider. Speakers bought through a retailer typically have about 15% of the MSRP in parts. Internet direct speakers have closer to 40% MSRP in parts.

Granted, larger manufacturers get quantity discounts that a DIYer can only dream of. But if you build a well regarded DIY design, it will probably be equivalent to something that costs at least 2-3 times as much from a retailer. The catch is having a good design and building well braced cabinets.

There's a very noticeable difference between $200/pair speakers and $1000/pair speakers. After that, there are improvements but they start to get more subtle. Only your ears and budget can decide where to stop.

Jim

 

[alexwakelin]

So it sounds like generally speaking, a DIY set of speakers for $200-$500 is not going to be radically worse than a $1500 set of speakers?

In some cases they are better, even speakers that cost thousands of dollars have to make compromises in the design and manufacturing process. A speaker you make yourself does not have to have any, for example, you can build a properly braced cabinet that weighs a couple hundred pounds because you don't have to worry about shipping expenses.

 

[CraigV]

Neither would I. I like good quality things, but I hate spending a ton when a great deal can be had if you just ignore the brand name, etc.

So it sounds like generally speaking, a DIY set of speakers for $200-$500 is not going to be radically worse than a $1500 set of speakers?

Again, I understand that there will be a quality difference... but if it's the Camary to Mercedes difference, I'm fine with that.

But you must bear in mind that simply buying top grade drivers & throwing them in any old enclosure with any old crossover does not equate to a good speaker. I found this out the hard way by investing a fair amount of money in better drivers and using them to replace existing drivers in an existing enclosure with existing crossovers. They did make the speaker sound different, but don’t confuse different with better/good/accurate sound. Part of what you pay for in a higher-end speaker is the R&D that went into designing a crossover & cabinet that works best in combination with a given set of drivers.

 

[tentaguasu]

But you must bear in mind that simply buying top grade drivers & throwing them in any old enclosure with any old crossover does not equate to a good speaker. I found this out the hard way by investing a fair amount of money in better drivers and using them to replace existing drivers in an existing enclosure with existing crossovers. They did make the speaker sound different, but don’t confuse different with better/good/accurate sound. Part of what you pay for in a higher-end speaker is the R&D that went into designing a crossover & cabinet that works best in combination with a given set of drivers.

Fair enough. Which I guess means that if I'm a beginner with DIY, my best bet is to find an existing DIY project that is well reviewed and well tested.

 

[gmichael]

Fair enough. Which I guess means that if I'm a beginner with DIY, my best bet is to find an existing DIY project that is well reviewed and well tested.

A reasonable guess.

 

[lsiberian]

Fair enough. Which I guess means that if I'm a beginner with DIY, my best bet is to find an existing DIY project that is well reviewed and well tested.

Exactly. And start with something simple. The Recession buster kit was my first build. And they are very nice speakers. I suggest you pick up 3 and use them for your fronts.

 

[markw]

Kits offer good values as well. They take a lot of guesswork out of the equation. If you're interested, just ask.

As for your original premise, you can get a steak at a Waffle House or a Ruth's Chris Steak House.

They're both steaks but cost is a bit different. So is the enoyment derived from consuming them.

The point is finding your own personal "sweet spot" where you can enjoy the end result and not feel ripped off with the price.

 

[lsiberian]

Kits offer good values as well. They take a lot of guesswork out of the equation. If you're interested, just ask.

As for your original premise, you can get a steak at a Waffle House or a Ruth's Chris Steak House.

They're both steaks but cost is a bit different. So is the enoyment derived from consuming them.

The point is finding your own personal "sweet spot" where you can enjoy the end result and not feel ripped off with the price.

Yes but with DIY you can make steaks like Ruth's Chris Steak house.

All one needs is a cast iron skillet. Extremely thick gloves and a fire extinguisher in case things go wrong.

It's simply a pan seared steak which is awesome.

 

[markw]

Yes but with DIY you can make steaks like Ruth's Chris Steak house.

All one needs is a cast iron skillet. Extremely thick gloves and a fire extinguisher in case things go wrong.

It's simply a pan seared steak which is awesome.

If you know what you're doing and have had practice. If not it can be an expensive "misteak"

 

[gmichael]

If you know what you're doing and have had practice. If not it can be an expensive "misteak"

Oh uhg!

 

[Clownfish]

... and a fire extinguisher in case things go wrong.




LMAO!

Good question about speakers, though. Intresting answers, too.

 

[CraigV]

If you know what you're doing and have had practice. If not it can be an expensive "misteak"

Now I wish I knew how to give out red chicklets

 

[lsiberian]

If you know what you're doing and have had practice. If not it can be an expensive "misteak"

http://www.wikihow.com/Pan-Sear-a-Steak

follow those instructions.

Get a butcher to help you pick a good cut of meat.

the 500 degreess is why you get a fire extinguisher close.