Why doesn't Slim Devices create an audiophile version?

[jgold0016]

Has Slim Devices considered offering a higher priced version of Squeezebox that incorporates as "standard equipment" the modified elements that people seem to agree are beneficial to achieving higher sound quality - like improved power supply, improved DAC, etc, etc? It seems to be that there are a lot of people in the marketplace who would be happy to pay more to purchase such an "off-the-shelf" product, rather than having to do modifications themselves or pay third-parties to do such modifications for them.

[pfarrell]

On Sun, 2005-12-11 at 09:06 -0800, jgold0016 wrote:
> Has Slim Devices considered offering a higher priced version of
> Squeezebox

I'm sure that they have. The question is asked frequently.

Since I don't work for SD, this is only a guess, but
there are lots of reasons:

1) some of the mods, like using the HE DAC, adds costs
but doesn't add value that can be measured.

2) having two products is hugely more expensive than
having one. Just the cost of shipping the wrong
product version and shipping it back has huge costs
both out of pocket, staff time, and customer relationship.

3) audiophiles are a niche market, not clear that there
are enough folks willing to pay the cost. For very low
volume, Vinnie and others see a market and are meeting it.
If Vinnie and the others are able to grow it into
a huge business, then SD might buy them out :-)




--
Pat
http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimse...msoftware.html

[stedes]

Good point although probably uneconomical.
Listen to this though: Why don't you just get an external DAC...although the analog outputs sound good, I tried my SB3 with my Quad CD-P (24/192 upsampling - inputs) and it sounded much better....tighter sound and the highs were much more accurate.

[cliveb]

Has Slim Devices considered offering a higher priced version of Squeezebox that incorporates as "standard equipment" the modified elements that people seem to agree are beneficial to achieving higher sound quality - like improved power supply,

Bear in mind that not all audiophiles are yet convinced of the benefits of "improving" the power supply. I believe that Slim Devices themselves are skeptical.

improved DAC

The DAC in the SB is already excellent. The sort of audiophile who would be the natural target for further improving it is also the sort who would want to tinker around with external DACs in any case, so improving it would be pointless.

It seems to be that there are a lot of people in the marketplace who would be happy to pay more to purchase such an "off-the-shelf" product.

I think you'd be surprised how *few* people there are in this category.

[tomsi42]

Bear in mind that not all audiophiles are yet convinced of the benefits of "improving" the power supply. I believe that Slim Devices themselves are skeptical.

The DAC in the SB is already excellent. The sort of audiophile who would be the natural target for further improving it is also the sort who would want to tinker around with external DACs in any case, so improving it would be pointless.

I think you'd be surprised how *few* people there are in this category.

If nothing else, A well designed linear PSU sounds better from a marketing standpoint without pushing the price of the unit through the roof.

What I would like in an upmarket unit is the following:
* Standard hifi enclosure (whatever that is).
* buttons for play, pause, next and previous
* A linear PSU, as it is going inside the box.
* Better components in the analog output stage.

This should be able to achieve for less than $500 and I would definetly be interested in one.

I agree with Pat that it is probable that slimdevices can't afford such a unit at this stage.

[Neil Cameron]

Here it is: http://www.boldercables.com/servlet/Detail?no=300 and
http://www.boldercables.com/servlet/Detail?no=369 ...

--
Neil


"jgold0016"
<jgold0016.1zvxub (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.slimdevices.com>
wrote in message news:jgold0016.1zvxub (AT) no-mx (DOT) forums.slimdevices.com...
>
> Has Slim Devices considered offering a higher priced version of
> Squeezebox that incorporates as "standard equipment" the modified
> elements that people seem to agree are beneficial to achieving higher
> sound quality - like improved power supply, improved DAC, etc, etc? It
> seems to be that there are a lot of people in the marketplace who would
> be happy to pay more to purchase such an "off-the-shelf" product,
> rather than having to do modifications themselves or pay third-parties
> to do such modifications for them.
>
>
> --
> jgold0016
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> jgold0016's Profile: http://forums.slimdevices.com/member.php?userid=2748
> View this thread: http://forums.slimdevices.com/showthread.php?t=19016

[JJZolx]

Here it is: http://www.boldercables.com/servlet/Detail?no=300 and
http://www.boldercables.com/servlet/Detail?no=369 ...

The same changes in components done at the time of manufacture would probably cost less than 1/3 of that. The same for a similar power supply manufactured for them by a production house.

Something tells me though, that a $500 "Squeezebox Audiophile Edition" wouldn't sit the same with audiophiles as throwing $500 or more into a $300 Squeezebox. You'd still have guys claiming revolutionary improvements in sound from esoteric mods done to whatever finished product you turn out. The only way to keep that from happening would be to produce a $4000 Squeezebox that nobody would dare let someone hack at with a soldering iron.

[ezkcdude]

The same changes in components done at the time of manufacture would probably cost less than 1/3 of that. The same for a similar power supply manufactured for them by a production house.

Something tells me though, that a $500 "Squeezebox Audiophile Edition" wouldn't sit the same with audiophiles as throwing $500 or more into a $300 Squeezebox. You'd still have guys claiming revolutionary improvements in sound from esoteric mods done to whatever finished product you turn out. The only way to keep that from happening would be to produce a $4000 Squeezebox that nobody would dare let someone hack at with a soldering iron.

Agreed. The same guys who mod the the stock SB3 would still want to mod an "audiophile" version. I think it's more about the act of modding than the actual results.

[pfarrell]

On Tue, 2005-12-20 at 13:24 -0800, ezkcdude wrote:
> JJZolx Wrote:
> > be to produce a $4000 Squeezebox that nobody would dare let someone
> > hack at with a soldering iron.
>
> Agreed. The same guys who mod the the stock SB3 would still want to mod
> an "audiophile" version. I think it's more about the act of modding than
> the actual results.


Of course, the mods to a $4000 squeezebox would start at $3000 and go
up. Maybe it will include the pure gold wiring, at only $500 per ounce
(raw and probably $600 in wire form) it is sure to be cool.



--
Pat
http://www.pfarrell.com/music/slimse...msoftware.html

[Skunk]

[QUOTE=pfarrell]

"Maybe it will include the pure gold wiring, ......."


$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$

Silver is a better conductor than gold, but maybe it would.

$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ $$$$$$$$$

-'It's easy to make a buck, it's a lot harder to make a difference'