prodj101 Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 well, after I was thinking about building my own tube sub (shiva based), I suddenly realized that even SVS are astronomicaly over priced. Now I know they are a good deal in comparison with other things on the market, but I still think they are a bit steeply priced considering the parts that go into them. A tube the size that they use is about 15 bucks at home depot, and a driver comporable is about 200 bucks or less. Than throw in a few 2 by 4's of MDF (about 10 bucks total), and you've got yourself an SVS for under 300 bucks, compared to the ultra (without amp and single) which costs 900 dollars. 3 times cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j-malotky Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 The tube does not cost much. But I doubt the driver cost $200. The magnet is as big as the driver on the SVS. JM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOZ Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 There are also a few more parts than you listed.( Don't forget the fuzzy sock pull over covers)... Also time is money. How long is it going to take you to build. Also, when you buy the dual ultra package they drop to about $750 each. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted December 7, 2002 Author Share Posted December 7, 2002 I think if I had all the parts I could do it in 3 days maybe, less depending on the finish. That way you have time to let glue and stuff set. I built my speakres in day after all the parts were here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted December 7, 2002 Author Share Posted December 7, 2002 what other parts are there? some feet, a port? the enclosure and the driver are the big ticket items, teh rest are just chump change more or less. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOZ Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 If it took 1 day to make an SVS ultra, I'd say it was worth it, any longer no. Time is money... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 So build a pair and save yourself some money. Bose is overpriced too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mkl Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 Remember, you can't just add up the price of parts and get the cost of an item. Neither can you figure in just labor of assembly. You have costs such as engineering and development costs. Sure maybe you can just make a sub to the dimensions someone else figured out before you, but someone had to original do all the math. Another is just the costs of doing business, their website, people to answer phones, take care of billing, developing new designs. I know that there are a lot of things I could make myself, and the parts would be cheaper, but I really like to support companies who I feel are valuable to the industry. This way they have the money to develop new products, and the cheapskates get more & better designs to copy -mkl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TVodhanel Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 >>>well, after I was thinking about building my own tube sub (shiva based), I suddenly realized that even SVS are astronomicaly over priced.<<< Obviously you need to go into business for yourself---you'll be able to sell "astronomicaly* overpriced goods,sure to make you a rich man. If the SVs are this overpriced(in your words) and are constantly outgunning the competition that cost 2-4x as much...what does that tell you? TV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dustin B Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 A Shiva won't compete with an Ultra. A Tempest yes, a Shiva no. The Stryke AV12 will compete with the Plus series driver though. The Shiva is a good match for the base model SVSubs (with the ISD anyways, first iteration I'd say the Shiva had a clear edge). SVS has the tube custom made, it is much thicker and denser than sonotube and isn't designed to be peeled away. SVS uses baltic birch for the endcaps and base plate. Baltic birch is about 3 times the cost of mdf. It adds a lot of difficulty to the build, but flush mounting an amp like SVS is possible. Won't add much cost but will add a lot of time. The flared ports are available to us for about $15 a piece. So for the base ones that adds $15, for a plus or ultra clone that adds another $45. Then there are the other basic things like heavy fabric, legs, grille, stuff to hold the driver/legs/base plate/grille in place, wiring, binding posts. The packaging for shipping. You'd be surpised how much good packaging will cost. SVS is far from over priced, but yes if you have the tools, skills and desire, building a sub is by far your best option. Take your typical commercial box sub, parts cost is likely less than 20% of the final retail price. With SVS it will be in the %50-%70 range. Ron has also stated that by his calculation in the first year of operation he and Tom were making about a $1 an hour. SVS IMO is the best value period in commercial subs currently available. By a large margin over retail stuff and a small margin over other online guys like Hsu. Sold in brick and mortar an SVS 20-39PCi would easily be going for close to $1500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minn_male42 Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 so what else is new....someone complaining about the price of something.... if you feel the price is too high, then don't buy it. obviously, svs subs are NOT overpriced because they are very popular and i guess that they sell alot of them.... here's a new concept that maybe you haven't heard of..it's called "supply and demand"..... svs makes a great product, sets the price, and lots of people buy it...sounds like a great business plan to me....(and nobody is getting an inferior product - like bose) buy it or don't buy it.....that's the great thing about the free enterprise system.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted December 7, 2002 Author Share Posted December 7, 2002 "obviously, svs subs are NOT overpriced because they are very popular and i guess that they sell alot of them" I never said that they didn't sell alot of them, or that they aren't popular, I simply said that they are over priced considering the materials that go into them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheEAR Posted December 7, 2002 Share Posted December 7, 2002 SVS is what? Overpriced! LOL LOL and LOL cubed Ever considered design(custom drivers),cabinet,parts,labour,and advertising a bit.SVS is there to make money.Nobody is in business to break even,its all about money and TV will not give away his subs. SVS is damn well priced for the high performance they provide and the quality parts used. Also is a Tumult driver overpriced? NO,it provides top notch performance,its priced just right. Is a Sunfire Signature overpriced,not really they provice major performance in a tiny package.Sunfire sells plenty of subs,people are ready to pay for them.And will continute to buy them even if some may shout its overpriced. Is an Aerial Acoustics SW12 overpriced...NOT TO ME.I can pay for it in bird eye maple and am very satisfied with the high caliber of this sub.Is it expensive YES,and worth each cent Is a Krell FPB600 overpriced? NO not to the customer who wants a amp with almost unreal power output and capable of driving unhuman loads while providing first class sound and built quality. Quality audio can be very expensive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arfz28 Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Tempest sonotube price list. Sonotube 24 inch by 6 feet, had to buy 6feet of it. 60bucks Tempest driver 150bucks mdf 4x8 sheet 20bucks input cup 10bucks pollyfill 6bucks covering 10bucks glue, paint 10bucks port 10bucks ava250 plate amp 180bucks total 396bucks Total of around 400 dollars, and you have to have your own tools to boot.Not to hard to build, but still wont look as good as a svs sub.Mine turned out ok, but its so dang big. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fabulousfrankie Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 "are SVS overpriced or is it just me?" It's just you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prodj101 Posted December 8, 2002 Author Share Posted December 8, 2002 arfz28, notice how I said price for only the sub excluding amp? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOZ Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 I agree with frankie, yes prodj, it's just you... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOZ Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Oh, and TV, thanks for developing this wonderful product, I really enjoy it. Sean Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 you can't cloud my vision cause I'm blind Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Manuel Delaflor Posted December 8, 2002 Share Posted December 8, 2002 Overpriced is a product with less output and less extension at a higher price. And there are lots of examples of this. Going the DIY route will be cheaper, no doubt, but almost no one will take that road. So, if I were not a DIY fan, my best bet would be, without a doubt, an SVS sub. SVS are NOT overpriced. End of story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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