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In the Forum: Horn-Loaded Speakers
In the Thread: New superlative horn build - ESD acoustic
Post Subject: I do not know about that.Posted by Romy the Cat on: 4/4/2019
 
 rowuk wrote:
What can we expect from a 6 figures system?

Rowuk, this is very interesting question and much more complex than you might think. The presumption is that if we look at 1/4 million dollars playback system then we should have out of box reputable sound. I very much challenge that presumption. A reputable Sound of a property of a listener’s own self-development and no external investment or presuemed playback quality can furnish it to a person. A guy from Germany in my listening room a few months ago did experience Sound that might be considered reputable and his reaction was a good illustration of what I say: he was exposed to a result to wish he was not ready yet. If so, then what we expect from a super expensive playback system or in this case: an expensive acoustic system.
Here is what I feel: a 6 figures system should take care about something that 5 figures system could not. It is as simple as it but it is very complex at the same time. The people who design 6 figures systems should (in theory) recognize the complexity of problems and divert expense to address the complexity. Not to build up expense to address some kind of imaginary objectives or to patronize some kind marketing BS but demonstrate advance understanding of the problems and  provide the objectively “expensive” solutions to delivery user satisfaction regarding the complex problems.  I do feel that if a company does it then they can claim exclusive pricing. 
 
The case to point: Wilson Audio. Discard the smaller Wilsons, then are not good but if you look at the largest Wilson then you will see that somehow they solved a few typical problem of most of box loudspeakers (compression for instance). In my view they can charge 6 figures as they recognize the problem and did spent very tangible efforts to address the problem. 
 
Another care to point: The current company of the thread ESD acoustic. I do not feel that what they do is 6 figures system even if they show to you that all of this is very expensive to make.  The Jacky presentation at the last page is very nice, not that I agree with everything but it is a good buttering up of yourself and perspective customers why the ESD should be good and why it should be expensive. What is missing from Jacky presentation is the user benefits and statement that they went into complexity to care about user benefits. What ESD did was investment into manufacturing that they took as is with no nurturing and care about users. In my view the care about end users is the ONLY thing worth to pay more or whatever is asked to be paid.
   
When Avantgarde introduced their first horn in 1999 they set their most expensive Trio system to be I believe $35K, which skimming the BS mark ups was under 20K retail. That was pretty much how it should cost then because horns is very contrary to popular believe are not expensive acoustic system to make. Avantgarde invested very little into user benefit and they do not be paid more then what it was. ESD did so far kind of the same. They invented a myth of expense and quality but they did not go to complexity of user benefit and I do not need to hear the ESD installation to recognize it.
   
I do think that ESD MF driver is might be very interesting product. I have no idea if they market it separate and what the price might be. Still, should a system to be 6 figures of it has a potentially interesting MF drivers?

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