Did I Expect too much?


I purchased a pair of speakers from a US manufacturer who I shall not name.  The speakers are beautiful and the sound exceeds my expectations (after a minor upgrade).  So why would such a reputable company use six dollar binding posts?  It makes no sense.  I replaced them with Cardas binding posts and decent 12 gauge wire between the driver and posts.  My system is valued for clarity and clean highs.  The difference was audible.  I know, snake oil.  But it wasn’t.  I don’t think that spending $15K for speakers is nothing.  So yes, I was disappointed.  

langla4

I suspect a $6 binding post is a perfectly good quality binding post.  A Cardas binding post is 10x the cost.  It should sound better.  For me $15k is a large sum of money to spend on an audio component, but in today's market it won't buy SOTA parts.

If they are only using $6 binding posts (probably have ferrous materials, which would go a long way to explain why the Cardas sounded better), I would be very dubious as the the quality of the crossover components used. 

After all, those a much less visible So if they are going to skimp anywhere, using inferior caps, coils and resistors is very likely. 

And talk about an area in the execution of building speakers that can make a big difference! 

A friend and I used to have a cottage business upgrading speakers. When we came across a speaker that had good engineering, but budget execution, just swapping caps and coils made a pretty obvious improvement. 

 

 

@kennymacc  it's pretty ridiculous when a home audio system cost as much or more than an automobile, I bet the auto industry has a lower profit margin per car than high end audio per system.

@gdaddy1 the prices PS audio charges for direct buy don't seem to be any cheaper than they were with dealers, just more profit for PS audio.

I never heard s BD 5; I was kidding about that upgrade.  I have heard some pretty wild drivers, such as the equally expensive Voxativ fieldcoil full range driver.  I also heard a system with fiekd coil woofers and midrange drivers and a field coil tweeter that cost $60,000 a pair.  I could not afford the power supply for these drivers, never mind the drivers.