20,000 dollar speakers?

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jamesuazer

jamesuazer

Audiophyte
Hello,
I was browsing online and noticed that one Bowers & Wilkins speaker costs nearly $20,000! Is the quality really that much better than a $1,500 speaker, which still seems quite expensive to me?
 
jamesuazer said:
Hello,
I was browsing online and noticed that one Bowers & Wilkins speaker costs nearly $20,000! Is the quality really that much better than a $1,500 speaker, which still seems quite expensive to me?
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What quality? Built quality?

The aesthetics and built quality is much better. :D

VxuX4qT.jpg


But I've seen a $99 speaker (NHT SuperZero, +/- 0.9dB Response) that had much better on-axis FR than most speakers including the B&W.

If you're referring to sound quality, then there is definitely diminishing returns. :D
 
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20k, expensive ? yes it is and I agree, but in the world of high end speakers it's 'chump change'. Now these are expensive !!

www.overtureav.com

Magico M7

The spectacular Magico M7 speaker is available for sale at Overture in Sales Tax Free Delaware. We welcome any Trade-Ins!
www.overtureav.com www.overtureav.com
 
As great as many speakers look, the appearance does absolutely nothing for sound quality and it adds a fortune to the selling price.

OTOH, WAF......
 
highfigh said:
As great as many speakers look, the appearance does absolutely nothing for sound quality and it adds a fortune to the selling price.
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very true(in many cases) , but having heard the M7's @ Overture I can tell you, they sound incredible !

OTOH, WAF......
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as for the 'WAF', if you can afford these speakers you probably can afford another wife......;)

www.overtureav.com

Magico M9

The spectacular Magico M9 speaker is available for sale at Overture in Sales Tax Free Delaware. We welcome any Trade-Ins!
www.overtureav.com www.overtureav.com
 
jamesuazer said:
Hello,
I was browsing online and noticed that one Bowers & Wilkins speaker costs nearly $20,000! Is the quality really that much better than a $1,500 speaker, which still seems quite expensive to me?
Click to expand...

For $1500.00 you will get drivers of not the best quality and what will really suffer will be the quality of the cabinet. Making an inert cabinet is not easy and requires good materials and construction, especially the bracing.

I DIY my speakers. I built the front three in 2006. The drivers and parts and cost of construction was $13,500. That was at costs 19 years ago. Now imagine what the cost would be when you add build cost and builder profit, shipping, manufacturer and dealer profits. They all want margins of 50% or more due to relatively low volume. Really good speakers are not produced in large quantities as a rule.
 
jamesuazer said:
Hello,
I was browsing online and noticed that one Bowers & Wilkins speaker costs nearly $20,000! Is the quality really that much better than a $1,500 speaker, which still seems quite expensive to me?
Click to expand...
A large portion of B&W speakers' price charges customers for fit, finish, and exclusivity. Do they sound 20x better than good $1000 speakers? short answer - hell no. As AcuDefTechGuy mentioned, there is a definite case of diminishing returns here.
There are many more expensive speakers out there a plenty. These 20k speakers aren't even the most expensive B&W makes.

But, true high-end sound isn't cheap. The issue is that the difference in quality from a 3k system to a 300k system will never be 100x better sound quality.
 
BoredSysAdmin said:
A large portion of B&W speakers' price charges customers for fit, finish, and exclusivity. Do they sound 20x better than good $1000 speakers? short answer - hell no. As AcuDefTechGuy mentioned, there is a definite case of diminishing returns here.
There are many more expensive speakers out there a plenty. These 20k speakers aren't even the most expensive B&W makes.

But, true high-end sound isn't cheap. The issue is that the difference in quality from a 3k system to a 300k system will never be 100x better sound quality.
Click to expand...

You are right about that! It is a log curve.
 
This is audio. Whether something is better than something else is often in the eye of the beholder and is based on a whole litany of subjective things that vary from person to person as well as more objective things that can be definitively measured.

If you plopped those 802s into my living room tonight, along with amps suitable enough to drive them, I’d be a very happy man and would likely stay that way for years. Maybe until I die considering I still have the same main speakers I bought over 15 years ago.

Would I spend my own money to buy them and the amps suitable enough to drive them? Heck no. Can’t afford them, not even close. I could see spending say 10K on a set of “forever”speakers when it comes to replace mine. That would be a splurge for sure, but I think I could rationalize it. Would they be better than the 802s? To many people yes. To many people no.
 
jamesuazer said:
Hello,
I was browsing online and noticed that one Bowers & Wilkins speaker costs nearly $20,000! Is the quality really that much better than a $1,500 speaker, which still seems quite expensive to me?
Click to expand...
I’ll probably never be able to afford speakers that expensive that brand makes even pricier ones then that!!
diminishing returns is heavily debated , with various opinions on when extra spending results in little increase in sound quality.
these are also extremely costly !!!

us.kef.com

MUON - HiFi Speakers - Designed by Ross Lovegrove | KEF US

KEF MUON project, led by visionary designer Ross Lovegrove to drive forward the pinnacle of acoustic engineering and create the ultimate loudspeaker.
us.kef.com us.kef.com
 
Comparing by price alone doesn't mean a lot. Diminishing returns do set in, but likely those B&Ws are more capable than most $1500 speakers. Maybe even prettier in some folks' eyes.....
 
I, long ago, decided that higher level speakers should be considered fine furniture;... or art pieces; with an acoustic function.

I select my wall art after taking in to account its likely position and acoustic properties.

Enjoy!
 
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I’ll take Project Everest along with an integrated Accuphase and move on with my life not looking back.
 
AcuDefTechGuy said:
Are those 100W LED bulbs in there? :D
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I know huh! I loved to do a sit down with a setup like that. From what I've read up on those, seeing those diaphragms breathing in and out is amazing. Rich people can't afford a setup like that only the wealthy can. Me? I'm on a beer and peanuts setup. You, on a steak and wine setup. :)
 
Tankini said:
I know huh! I loved to do a sit down with a setup like that. From what I've read up on those, seeing those diaphragms breathing in and out is amazing. Rich people can't afford a setup like that only the wealthy can. Me? I'm on a beer and peanuts setup. You, on a steak and wine setup. :)
Click to expand...
Well, I try to avoid red meat (beef, lamb, pork). So I prefer seafood gumbo. :D

And I don’t drink any alcoholic beverages. :D
 
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