Epik Going out of Business

[r_malvia]

Sorry if this is a repost, but I was just on the Epik website and they are going out of business. This might be old news to others, but new to me. Wowww!!!! Anyways, they have some serious smokin' hot prices on their remaining inventory of subs, drivers, amps, etc. The Empire is soooooo affordable now. Too bad it's out of stock. Anyways, here's hoping there will be stock in the upcoming days.

 

[j_garcia]

The Legend was still in stock when I got the email from them but it sold out quickly at those prices. Not exactly a repost, but we did have a few discussions about it before it actually happened (aka, it has been coming for a while it seems). I wouldn't count on anything coming back into stock either, since it is a clearance sale.

 

[rnatalli]

They aren't going out of business, they're already out. There's a huge thread over at AVS about it.

 

[Pyrrho]

It means that getting service and replacement parts may be problematic. So they need to be cheap to be a good idea to buy at this point. No company means no warranty.

 

[r_malvia]

I'm pretty behind when it comes to this news. I just read some of the threads on AVS. I've been in and out on this forum sporadically during the year.

 

[Sheep]

It means that getting service and replacement parts may be problematic. So they need to be cheap to be a good idea to buy at this point. No company means no warranty.

TBH, those subs are probably easy to fix though. Model up another driver in their box and you should be okay. Worst comes to worse replace the amp if the filters are not right and you still have a usable box. Shame to see them go under, but I always wondered how those smaller companies stayed a float. I definitely didn't buy one.

SheepStar

 

[j_garcia]

The cabinets are well built. The drivers almost look cheap comparatively, but the result still ends up being good sound. The amps would be the Achilles heel. If my Empire ever dies I will upgrade but will definitely rebuild this one, likely passive with an external amp.

 

[Pyrrho]

TBH, those subs are probably easy to fix though. Model up another driver in their box and you should be okay. Worst comes to worse replace the amp if the filters are not right and you still have a usable box. Shame to see them go under, but I always wondered how those smaller companies stayed a float. I definitely didn't buy one.

SheepStar

Amps are usually the first part to go in a powered subwoofer. Most companies know this, and it is often reflected in the warranties, with the amp going out of warranty first. (That is one of the reasons I like having unpowered subwoofers.) If they used EQ in their amps, which is common in powered subwoofers, figuring out how to get it right would be troublesome. Most likely, the easiest way would be to use an ordinary amplifier (not built-in) and then use a microphone and something that analyzes the output and use an EQ for the bass. But the cost of that might make it less expensive to just buy another subwoofer. Not to mention the fact that some people are not up to doing that, and so they will just buy another subwoofer.

And yes, it is hard for a small business to survive. Given the current offerings, I would not want to try to compete at all in making subwoofers. SVS and Hsu would be hard to beat at their price points. This can explain why some small companies go for just the very high end, but that is hard due to there being relatively few customers who will buy such a subwoofer.

 

[Rickster71]

The day I got the email from them I ordered a spare amp for my Empire.
Not a bad deal at 50% off.
I was tempted to get the two spare 15" drivers.
But decided against it, since by the time this sub goes bad I'll want to upgrade anyway.

 

[lsiberian]

Amps are usually the first part to go in a powered subwoofer. Most companies know this, and it is often reflected in the warranties, with the amp going out of warranty first. (That is one of the reasons I like having unpowered subwoofers.) If they used EQ in their amps, which is common in powered subwoofers, figuring out how to get it right would be troublesome. Most likely, the easiest way would be to use an ordinary amplifier (not built-in) and then use a microphone and something that analyzes the output and use an EQ for the bass. But the cost of that might make it less expensive to just buy another subwoofer. Not to mention the fact that some people are not up to doing that, and so they will just buy another subwoofer.

And yes, it is hard for a small business to survive. Given the current offerings, I would not want to try to compete at all in making subwoofers. SVS and Hsu would be hard to beat at their price points. This can explain why some small companies go for just the very high end, but that is hard due to there being relatively few customers who will buy such a subwoofer.

Would cost around 300 excluding labor which is not hard. Assuming you can install software properly.

 

[its phillip]

I think it's very lame of Epik to be selling whatever stock/parts he's got left when he has a bunch of unhappy customers with unresolved warranty claims outstanding. He should cannibalize all remaining product and do whatever he can to help his customers.

 

[lsiberian]

I think it's very lame of Epik to be selling whatever stock/parts he's got left when he has a bunch of unhappy customers with unresolved warranty claims outstanding. He should cannibalize all remaining product and do whatever he can to help his customers.

It seems every company has plate amp issues. I'm not sure I'd even offer a warranty for one in a sub given the issues they cause for numerous companies.

 

[Pyrrho]

I think it's very lame of Epik to be selling whatever stock/parts he's got left when he has a bunch of unhappy customers with unresolved warranty claims outstanding. He should cannibalize all remaining product and do whatever he can to help his customers.

It is called "capitalism."

 

[Pyrrho]

It seems every company has plate amp issues. I'm not sure I'd even offer a warranty for one in a sub given the issues they cause for numerous companies.

This is a strong reason to prefer subwoofers without amplifiers. I use the old SVS CS-Ultra subwoofers, which are unpowered, and I am very, very happy with them. I can use any amplifier I want with them. I am so happy with them, that if I found some more for sale used at a good price, I would probably buy them, even though I do not need them.

 

[r_malvia]

I'm really out of it. Just found out that Elemental Designs is no longer around as well. What's going on with the sub business?!! I guess cost overruns on parts, labour, etc. Or that sales are slumping or too much competition out there.

Just emailed Rythmik. Thinking of maybe adding a 2nd sub in my setup. Have the FV12, but they changed it with the LV12R. They said it's the same as FV12, but rear ported instead of front. If I buy it, aesthetically, they won't match.

 

[sawzalot]

I'm really out of it. Just found out that Elemental Designs is no longer around as well. What's going on with the sub business?!! I guess cost overruns on parts, labour, etc. Or that sales are slumping or too much competition out there.

Just emailed Rythmik. Thinking of maybe adding a 2nd sub in my setup. Have the FV12, but they changed it with the LV12R. They said it's the same as FV12, but rear ported instead of front. If I buy it, aesthetically, they won't match.

Just turn it around

 

[jinjuku]

Going to start a sub company where all the subs are passive and commercial amps are sent out with the DSP locked down with a password.

 

[lsiberian]

Going to start a sub company where all the subs are passive and commercial amps are sent out with the DSP locked down with a password.

I could see doing a small sealed 12" sub for 400. Definitely passive. You can buy your own dsp and amp.

 

[Pyrrho]

I'm pretty behind when it comes to this news. I just read some of the threads on AVS. I've been in and out on this forum sporadically during the year.

This kind of thing is entirely appropriate to post, even if some people have already heard about it.

 

[Pyrrho]

Going to start a sub company where all the subs are passive and commercial amps are sent out with the DSP locked down with a password.

I would not buy from a company that did that, and I expect a lot of other people wouldn't want to either.