Audio Note Kits

[Pure_Brew]

I've been gawking at their kits for quite sometime. The relationship with Snell is interesting to me as an old fan.

http://www.audionotekits.com/newSpkr.html

The speaker kits are essentially a drop in to the Snell EII that I own, nearly identical as the AN/E is based off of these (save the rear tweet).

Thinking about this as a future upgrade seems interesting, and the idea of moving the speakers back to the wall is a welcome change to the room.

The thing is though, they want $1500 bucks for the kit parts (no cabs)which seems very high. We're talking a two way, of what looks like essentially Seas drivers, and not even using the very best that Seas makes. Also if I wanted the AN cabinets, they are $950 unfinished. Stands for like $450?!

As a matter of fact, there is a Seas Kit, using the best drivers, with all the parts (without cabs) for like $1200 though madisound. Taylor cabs would be like $500 more.

So while I'm not really positioned to spend money like this right now, I feel like I want you guys to sway me from it. I will say this though, I've enjoyed these Snell EII more then most speakers I've owned, and that's $135 well spent!

At almost $3000 for a complete AN/E *basic* kit, that seems astronomical for a simple 2-way design! With no finish on the cabs either!

Now some of you could point to kits that would offer more for the $, but I suppose we want to buy what we enjoy. Do you think this AN/E kit might be a tad inflated?

 

[laatsch55]

All speaker systems , to me anyway, are overpriced. Having not been in the business though can't really speak to their costs, inventory or warranty work. Totally in the dark about that. It would seem though that given the published specs on the drivers and checking the competitions offerings you could arrive at good guesstimate to what the true value would be.

 

[Pure_Brew]

Loudspeaker manufacturers usually can enjoy a decent margin. Typically the best of all in a audio shop. At least it was that way for me as a commission salesman. And I'm totally fine with people making money, it's something we need to do!

But yeah limited runs could cost more and having drivers customized to suit the need would ramp up the costs. Then the crossover, testing and driver matching (not always done for kits). The AN/E cabinets are 13ply russian baltic birch, which is also going to be higher priced. Unless sourced and you can build yourself.

The value deal seems to be the refresh from Snell, which would be around $650 for all 6 drivers, including reference matching along with replacement caps and inductors as needed that they would supply.