can ID speakers compete?

[j_garcia]

When I think ID, I tend to think of the high quality manufacturers, not the generic ones, so when I comment on whether or not ID offers a better value, my answer is usually yes. I agree that this is not ALWAYS the case, but a little research will generally turn up which ones are truly good.

 

[Penny]

I'm sure ID speakers are competitive to a certain price point. I don't think you're going to find a pair that sounds as good as the Ultima2 line, Watt Puppies, or KEF Reference. That's not the aim of ID companies.

http://coincidentspeaker.comcan stand up with/to/surpass anything on the market.

 

[codexp3]

http://coincidentspeaker.comcan stand up with/to/surpass anything on the market.

Looks like they do make some good speakers. I've never listened to them, I cannot judge them. Are they a true ID company? Their site links to dealers, but you can't order directly.

 

[bkmerrill]

to me, it seems that just by LOOKING at some of these speakers the b&m tend to look like they have spent more time and money engineering them. ie look at the woofers on the b&w speakers, so unique....so what ID companies have a reputation for good engineering and well built speakers, rather than decent sounding speakers that may not last, or that are not very well designed?! What are the ID companies whos speaker construction quality and materials quality could stand up to speakers like the b&w paradigm revels, or other b&m speakers....

 

[fredk]

Looking at speakers tells you a lot... about how they look (as in fit and finish), but pretty much nothing about how they are engineered.

Looking at a Chrysler minivan tells you nothing about how its transmission will perform or how well it was engineered.

The ID companies mentioned on this board are all well designed engineered and built. If they wern't you would see lots of posts from very annoyed people.

But hey, if you feel more confident with your purchase going with a company that distributes through B&M thats fine. There are lots of good competent companies of that variety around too.

Fred

 

[furrycute]

I don't know if anyone remembers this. Some years ago, av123 used to be the distributor of Swans speakers. Swans speakers at that time looked a LOT like B&W speakers. The Swans' domed tweeter looked almost exactly like the B&W domed tweeter. B&W threatened a lawsuit. I never found out what happened to that lawsuit. After that, av123 started carrying the Rocket line of speakers. I don't know if the decision to change the speaker supplier was because of that B&W lawsuit.

Anyways, these back stories are always pretty interesting.


I don't know if anyone has paid any particular attention to the supply shortages at av123, Emotiva (a branch of av123) and SVS. This supply shortage started around the end of last year and has been going on for quite sometime now. A bit concerning.

 

[fredk]

Emotiva (a branch of av123)

I was not aware these two companies were one.

As to shortages, its probably a sign of growth in the listed companies. Its not easy to expand manufacturing capacities past a certain point. Capital and trained manpower take time to acquire.

Fred

 

[furrycute]

Or, viewed in another light, this shortage problem could also be a sign of existing financial problems. This supply shortage started right around the time the U.S. dollar started plummeting in value.


Expansion. Has any of these companies planned for the demand contraction that will inevitably ensue in an economic recession? Or could this supply shortage be a hint of the cutback measures they have already taken?

 

[fredk]

I suppose. There is no sure way of knowing.

Fred

 

[tomd51]

Emotiva is not a brand of AV123. AV123 was the main supplier of Emotiva equipment, that is their affiliation.

And furrycute, peddle your anti-SVS/AV123 crusade somewhere else, it's old... -TD

 

[Soundman]

I was not aware these two companies were one.

As to shortages, its probably a sign of growth in the listed companies. Its not easy to expand manufacturing capacities past a certain point. Capital and trained manpower take time to acquire.

Fred

This is true. You used to be able to order Emotiva gear right off the AV123 site, but I believe they separated the companies as some point.

 

[Soundman]

to me, it seems that just by LOOKING at some of these speakers the b&m tend to look like they have spent more time and money engineering them. ie look at the woofers on the b&w speakers, so unique....so what ID companies have a reputation for good engineering and well built speakers, rather than decent sounding speakers that may not last, or that are not very well designed?! What are the ID companies whos speaker construction quality and materials quality could stand up to speakers like the b&w paradigm revels, or other b&m speakers....

Honestly, I've found this to be the opposite in many cases. If you look at ID speakers in the same price range as B&M speakers, you will find that the built quality, fit, and finish usually surpasses that of the b&m speakers per dollar spent. This is not always the case, but there are some very competitive ID companies out there. It has helped keep this market competitive. If they didn't offer some kind of value, there wouldn't be much of an incentive to order online. It's best to research the speaker you are interested in. Look at who designed it. There are some well known designers that have helped design some of these ID speakers. As I mentioned, built quality is top notch as well. Some of these companies are using all real wood veneers and 1-inch thick enclosures. To give you an example, the front speakers in my system weigh 200lbs. My point is that there are some good ID companies who are definitely not skimping on materials and quality craftsmanship. So your comments on ID's being speakers that "may not last" are a little ignorant. I really believe there are great, well built speakers in both ID's and B&M's. You just need to research, do some listening, and find the speaker that's right for you.

 

[Halvie]

Doesn't totem use HiVi drivers in some of their models? Totem is a top notch company imo so if they are good enough for them they should be more than enough for many of us.

 

[furrycute]

AV123 used to "peddle" Emotiva gear. So unless you are an AV123 insider, it's kind of hard to gauge who owns what.


And what are you now? The official SVS/AV123 hitman? I remember you from way before, you had really nasty hoodlum like attitude. Quite befitting of that gangster avatar you now have.

Emotiva is not a brand of AV123. AV123 was the main supplier of Emotiva equipment, that is their affiliation.

And furrycute, peddle your anti-SVS/AV123 crusade somewhere else, it's old... -TD

 

[tomd51]

I'm nobody's hitman, I'm just tired of seeing your venom towards SVS and AV123. In fact, I don't even own either of their equipment (used to own and SVS sub), I'm just tired of seeing your negativity and BS bias towards them.

When you start contributing to threads in a positive manner, I'll drop my "hoodlum like attitude". Funny, if you look at my previous posts not only here but in other areas, I try to do what most folks are here to do, make a positive contribution. You might like to consider that once in a while as well.

And by the way, my "ganster avatar" is Shemp from The Three Stooges, one serious badass... -TD

 

[silversurfer]

Doesn't totem use HiVi drivers in some of their models? Totem is a top notch company imo so if they are good enough for them they should be more than enough for many of us.

Actually, I think Totem uses some Dynaudio drivers, and HiVi has some similar looking drivers.

 

[furrycute]

Positive contribution? Since when does ponying up to SVS/AV123 count as positive contribution? Especially when I am not being paid to peddle their gear.


And speaking of positive contribution, the only "positive" contribution you have given, so far as I can see, is ponying up to SVS/AV123.

 

[tomd51]

Positive contribution? Since when does ponying up to SVS/AV123 count as positive contribution? Especially when I am not being paid to peddle their gear.

I never suggested doing that, I only suggested adding your opinon on the original poster's question. You just can't seem to do that without throwing a jab at either of these two companies.

And speaking of positive contribution, the only "positive" contribution you have given, so far as I can see, is ponying up to SVS/AV123.

How so?

Do me a favor and point out where I did that in my previous post here... or in the last ten postings I've made. You're just not happy until you get a thread closed, are you?

 

[furrycute]

Not my words

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=29188&highlight=svs+banned

 

[fredk]

How about you two go piddle on each other somewhere else. This has been a civil discussion so far.

Fred