True – but people who can afford $50k speakers can probably manage a flight to Boulder for an audition.
No question about it - a super tough market. I am not entering this high priced market for any reason other than a selfish one. I want these speakers for myself. Plus, we’ll get a dozen or so out there to be people like yourself, Mike Kirkham, a few of our distributors, reviewers and the like. If that’s all we wind up selling I am ok - and the reason is simple. Where we see the market is the lower cost derivative models based on the same technology. These will be easier to get into showrooms and homes.
Besides. Take a look around at what $50K buys you. A pair of Wilson Alexias, for example, or Magicos, heck, for a few bucks less, the new paradigms. All wonderful speakers, don’t get me wrong, but in completely different leagues. Where these speakers might have a couple of woofers, midrange and a tweeter, none will even come close to approaching what this beast can do. Not even remotely close. Think about it. The line source itself has 30 linear drivers. The servo system alone is probably worth the price of entry.
Like all PS products, it’s way more bang for the buck - and, truth is, I am not even sure we can get it out the door in these small quantities for $50K. That’s just a WAG.
magister saidTrue – but people who can afford $50k speakers can probably manage a flight to Boulder for an audition.
+1
Paul McGowan saidLike all PS products, it’s way more bang for the buck - and, truth is, I am not even sure we can get it out the door in these small quantities for $50K. That’s just a WAG.
I’ve wondered about that myself.
Send me a pair, I’ll be your midwest showroom. I will also need a pair of BHK 300s to present them at their best.
I was beaten to the post, but I have to agree that anyone who can afford $50k speakers, can afford a trip to Boulder.
Paul McGowan said… we’ll get a dozen or so out there to be people like yourself, Mike Kirkham, a few of our distributors, reviewers and the like. If that’s all we wind up selling I am ok - and the reason is simple. Where we see the market is the lower cost derivative models based on the same technology. These will be easier to get into showrooms and homes.
…Take a look around at what $50K buys you. A pair of Wilson Alexias, for example, or Magicos, heck, for a few bucks less, the new paradigms…
Mike K would be in an envious marketing juxtaposition as he has his own high-end speaker coming out later this year under the Halcro brand, which he’d no doubt like to be selling plenty of. As consumers we are spoiled for choice.
Yes. $50K will get you entry level Magico, with some change.
If I had the money on hand and was sure my wife accepted the looks in the living room, I’d buy one out of this new speaker range blind without listening.
jazznut said…and was sure my wife accepted the looks in the living room…
I think it’s an unattractive looking speaker, but one of the best sounding speakers I’ve owned was even less attractive (Coincident Pure Reference Extreme). Certainly the smaller iterations of the new speaker would be on my radar simply because of size considerations. But as a Magico owner I’m in no hurry to upgrade just yet.
I am not sure if I will get one even I have the money. I am sure they are going to be great since this will be very likely the last speakers Arnie is going to make. My concerns are room to put these monsters and to move them around. I am getting old and can hardly move my BHK250 by myself:)
For what it is worth, every pair comes with one of our techs to install it and make it sound wonderful in your room. There’s no sense selling a behemoth like this without sending help to set it up.
Paul McGowan saidFor what it is worth, every pair comes with one of our techs to install it and make it sound wonderful in your room. There’s no sense selling a behemoth like this without sending help to set it up.
Cool…maybe you could enlist the PS community leaders in the far flung corners of the world where PS dealerships are sparse on the ground to assist in this regard.
Paul,
it would be nice if this will be setup by you and Arnie instead of the tech:)
Great ideas guys. Arnie’s getting on in age and likely won’t be doing any setup. I might for reviewers. It’s a lot of work and I am basically lazy. 
I would think that in the far-flung reaches of the world our distributors will be installing. We do plan to place caster on the base so the beast will roll out of its cage easily enough, and once in place, they can recede into the base.
Cool idea. Hopefully the casters can be extended again if and when the beasts need to be moved.
Exactly. We’ll have a tool that cranks them up and down.
A very nice touch that only someone who has had to move huge speakers around would think of. Wish my Sophia’s did that, and they only weight 165 pounds each.
The new 800 series of B&W have a mechanism like that. Check the link
http://www.bowers-wilkins.net/Speakers/Home_Audio/800_Series_Diamond/802-D3.html
stevem2 saidA very nice touch that only someone who has had to move huge speakers around would think of. Wish my Sophia’s did that, and they only weight 165 pounds each.
That’s surely heavy enough you need either casters or amiable thugs for assistants. You’d think at that price they’d throw in some casters. Still, love those speakers.
The Wilsons did come with casters, which the installers removed once they had placed the speakers (with Wilsons the dealer is required to set them up for the customer, not that the set-up or delivery is included in the price, of course). I still have the casters and the wooden crates the speakers came in. Those would work as coffins in a pinch. I’m fortunate to have an unfinished basement where I can store this crap. If you ever need replacement crates (in case you move or sell the speakers), I think they charge a couple grand for them. I believe the great innovation with Wilson’s latest bottom-of-the-line floor-standers is that they are small and light enough to ship UPS. Still, I love my Sophia’s. Doesn’t mean I don’t have a place in my other system for a pair of (smaller) PS Audio speakers.
Mine are 200 lbs. They move fine on carpeting with a bit of encouragement. There are nice little glide pads you can buy for both carpeting and hard floors. One under each corner and the speakers/piece of furniture zips along.