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From: bill@vrdxhq.verdix.com (William Spencer)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Cheap Speakers, Expensive Amps
Message-ID: <8897@uwm.edu>
Date: 14 Jan 91 14:05:14 GMT
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in article <8769@uwm.edu>, chowkwan%priam.usc.edu@usc.edu (Raymond Chowkwanyun) says:
> This is an argument for the opposite viewpoint:
> "Cheap Speakers, Expensive Amps".

> you can build a better speaker for fewer bucks than you could
> even a few years ago.  Case in point: Spendor S100.  The most
> astonishingly *tonally* accurate speaker I've heard.  Unfavourable
> exchange rates have pushed the price from $2.1K to $2.7K but it's
> still a bargain. 

It occurs to me an explaination of these differing viewpoints. Those 
calling for "Cheap" speakers, aren't. Their budget is higher. This doesn't
explain every case. Some of the recommendations for $500 Spicas are exactly 
that, recommendations by non-owners or reviewers who 
get to hear a lot of other speakers now and then. 

Cheap speakers can be pretty good. So can amps. Speakers tend to be linear 
in nature, and everything else about them tends towards trade offs. Also 
more opinions and approaches to them as a result. The problem with amps
(as I see it) is that there are a lot of shoddy designs out there. Wack
together a design and apply negative feedback, the result is usually not 
but so bad. Those who care more about sound usually do less sales volume,
resulting in higher cost.
(Re: Carver ads saying the main expense of amps is the power
supply, this is more true of high powered designs like he offers.)

> 3. Driver technology has made tremendous strides in the 
> past few years.  Perhaps some technologist could tell us
> why this is so?  It couldn't be because of computer analysis
> of cone behaviour could it?

Partially, but don't forget about the use of materials such as aluminum
and Kevlar.


bill S.