Hey Todd,
That would be nigh impossible. From drivers to speakers, and manufacturers who put speakers into products (like TV's and tablets).
Some are operated out of their garage, and come and go.
That's just speakers. Look at how many actual speaker driver manufacturers there are out there too! I bet China has at least a hundred.
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All I know is that the listings in the latest edition of the Absolute Sound audio directory are woefully incomplete--and here we're just talking about loudspeaker brands currently available in the U.S. |
All I know is that the listings in the latest edition of the Absolute Sound audio directory are woefully incomplete
Not at all surprised!! |
Unfortunately there are no qualifications required to be a speaker designer so theres no limit to how many speaker companies there can be. |
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7,397 companys and raising daily as its a BIG profit area. |
Unfortunately there are no qualifications required to be a speaker
designer so theres no limit to how many speaker companies there can be.
Fortunately there are no qualifications required to be a speaker
designer so the only limits are imagination and desire. FIFY!
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Fortunately there are no qualifications required to be a speaker designer so the only limits are imagination and desire. which is the problem with the speaker industry. There are simply too many bad speakers out there. Its too inclusive. We need a way of weeding out the charlatans |
Weeding? Why is it I get the image of you flying a fleet of 747s across the planet dumping Roundup faster than they can make it? You would be Drax in Moonraker, destroying all audio life in order to remake it in your image. Your perfect image, I meant to say.
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I have the last Stereo magazine directory listing all the manufacturers and their lineup, I believe around 1990 there was nearly 500 listed companies making complete loudspeakers. must have been an off day when I decided to count all the listings! |
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How many White vans are there ? |
In 1980 I went to work for The Speaker Company. We sold kit speakers to college students. Early on the cabinets were vinyl covered mdf. One size fits all, infinite baffle, the box was actually optimized for a Kef B-200/T-27, the Perrless and Audax Kit were slightly suboptimal but affordable. The filters were developed with EE help from Ohio State. The barriers to entry were relatively low and the customers happy. The owner dabbled in an FFT but I think quickly realized to really be good, a LOT more investment required....
so draw your own conclusions... |
In the world?
really?
thousands, easy.
happy hunting.
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Not sure why anyone would care about this, Just listen to some and buy the ones that sound the best. I think you also need to find a dealer who knows how to match an amplifier to speakers. I would suggest attending an audio show and to listen. Problem is you are at the mercy of what the manufactures bring to the show. |
It might be an easier task to count the # of companies gone, starting with Western Electric.
Many were "too good" for the market.
Usually the founder got old and sold.
Then you end up with congloms like Voxx that use the AR name to sell crap to chumps. I'm talking to you now Drop.
Don't worry about the shitty ones, they will pass soon enough. |
Gee larry5729 I sure do hope that Buchardt brings the S400s. Will save me laying out full price to hear them.
No dealers.
I can't fathom any reason they wouldn't. |
One has always been @ the mercy of those who know (or purport to know) and do (or attempt to) something you can't...*S*
I'd suspect that the number of 'builders' vaguely matches the growth of general population, but that's an offhand guesstimation....
But, as larry5729 suggests, it comes down to what one wants to hear and how.....so it's back to the hunt.
'Twas always thus...;) |
If you just take the ones in the US and Europe, I'd guess it's easily over 100. I seem to hear of a new company (to me) every third day and I'm not looking for them, just reading forums. |
It is the same old consumer beware monologue. Most people have no idea what they are listening to all present excluded of course. Remember Bose sold millions of 901s. One of the worst performing speakers of all time. So, it is no surprise there are hundreds of manufacturers making sub optimal products. As long as they make them look nice they will sell. It is looks not sound that sell most loudspeakers. After all there is a healthy profit margin in them. God bless Mark Levinson and David Wilson.
Those of us who are serious know exactly what we want to hear and usually know where to look. We discount 90% of the market almost instantly. These manufacturers are making speakers for people who would rather buy a bigger TV. |
About 6 years ago I read it was over 400 . Now ? |
....Carl Sagan's comment comes to mind.....;) |
