Do you think it's a bad thing or a good thing that a manufacturer is present both within the studio market and the hifi market?

[sigbergaudio]

Some speaker manufacturers only have products targeted towards home audio, some only have products targeted towards hifi, and some have both.

I'm curious what kind of "signal" this sends to consumers. So if you are looking for something for home audio, would a presence in the studio market build credibility, or the opposite? Or not matter at all?

I can of course suspect what the ASR crowd will answer here, but I'd be interested in an open discussion on the subject.

 

[TurtlePaul]

I judge each device on its own merits. I own and have historically bought studio focused products, traditional hifi dealer distributed products and budget oriented direct-to-consumer products. I buy both new and used based of price and availability.

If anything, studio presence may help a little bit because it means a brand isn’t a snake oil brand. You don’t see any fire hose cables or crystal harmonizers in the studio. But I wouldn’t buy stuff specifically because it is studio targeted. I buy to address my needs and I don’t have a recording studio. Since I review the technical merits of my purchases, this doesn’t matter much to me.

Studio equipment also avoids the dealer negotiation pricing model, which is nice. While I own a pair of Revel speakers, I didn’t get them by haggling with a dealer (I bought them used). I would imagine part of the split in the studio/hifi world is the pricing strategy and sales/distribution model (to get into dealer showrooms and get them paid).

 

[DSJR]

For many audiophiles, appearance is king (eye-fi anyone?). For some, that means a lavish veneered box with high tech drivers almost certainly passively driven, as amp choice is paramount for various reasons. Active operation, at least until recently, was very much a niche thing.

Wood veneers cost, as do add-on properly designed grilles. ATC have both options in their lines (this brand now all but disregarded here as too old fashioned sadly and very expensive these days). Genelec have 'domesticated' options in a now huge range of paint finishes, but maybe Neumann aren't as fussed as arguably selling what they can make into the pro market. I believe Adam dabbled in the domestic scene, marvelling how much more profitable it was, but I think they pulled out. Dynaudio and Focal make separate pro lines not available in domestic stores (maybe to order?).

Had I the finances and bearing in mind waf (don't dismiss that please), I'd return to a pro speaker model I think...

 

[Curvature]

The divide between markets is eroding thanks to assessments focused on measured performance and engineering. I view that as a good thing.

 

[Music707]

In my view being active in both markets is neither positive nor negativ per se. We have e. g. numerous examples here on ASR where studio speakers are giving a pleasurable listening experience in a home environment. As so often, the crucial point is how a manufacturer acts when being active in both markets. Let me mention SPL as an example. Originally targeting studio use they (maybe to their own surprise) had quite a success among audiophiles with their Phonitor headphone amp. Maybe encouraged by this they meanwhile have a product line called Professional Fidelity that seems to be targeted at private persons seeking high quality gear (maybe with some 'studio flavor'). Sadly, their Phonitor X from that product line has been tested by Amir and failed to convince.

 

[boxerfan88]

My personal opinion:

1. Common to both markets: solid technical performance, reliability, build quality

2. Pro market: meet studio functional requirements (Analog, AES, Dente,..., SPL levels, Stereo/Atmos), ROI/value, long service/support life.

3. Home market: appearance/aesthetics/wow factor, upgradability, tweakability, brand recognition, warranty support.

As a small manufacturer, if the product can serve both markets, go ahead to sell to both markets. It'll help spread your fixed cost across a larger revenue base.

My 2cents...

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

If a company is just recently moving into one space, that might cause me to pause and wait and see. Other than that? I don't think it matters one way or the other.

Meaning it might be a plus, or a minus, or neutral... depending on many things going on in the company.

 

[respice finem]

I think it isn't a bad thing to "stand on both legs" as a manufacturer, as long as both markets get equally good gear.
The home market might be the pricier one, because many like luxury like brushed aluminum fronts, or wood veneer, which are irrelevant for pro use.

 

[somebodyelse]

I'm curious what kind of "signal" this sends to consumers. So if you are looking for something for home audio, would a presence in the studio market build credibility, or the opposite? Or not matter at all?

Once upon a time a presence in the studio market would have built credibility with me, but that was before we had access to decent measurements. Now I take them case by case based on the measurements, and that includes different speakers from the same manufacturer. Even if we know they can engineer a speaker that measures well, it doesn't follow that that's the priority for all the speakers they make.

 

[Purité Audio]

I am beginning to doubt that the majority of ltraditional loudspeaker manufacturers (not Sigberg,AsciLB KEF etc) make any measurements at all.
Keith

 

[sergeauckland]

Once upon a time a presence in the studio market would have built credibility with me, but that was before we had access to decent measurements. Now I take them case by case based on the measurements, and that includes different speakers from the same manufacturer. Even if we know they can engineer a speaker that measures well, it doesn't follow that that's the priority for all the speakers they make.

That's how it looks too me. Loudspeakers aimed at the professional user need necessarily to measure well. Loudspeakers or domestic use need to attract buyers at dealer demonstrations, and/or not be returned with on-line sales. Consequently, such loudspeakers need to please, both sonically and aesthetically, regardless of how they measure. If the manufacturer has a story to tell about the drivers being made of unobtanium so much the better. They don't need to be accurate to sell.

I rather favour the approach that Tannoy and Lockwood took with their Pro loudspeakers. They were available in grey Formica or thick paint with side handles for studio use, or with wood veneers for home use, the drivers and crossovers being the same. I understand Yamaha did much the same with the NS-1000.

S.

 

[respice finem]

I am beginning to doubt that the majority of ltraditional loudspeaker manufacturers (not Sigberg,AsciLB KEF etc) make any measurements at all.
Keith

At least some seem to think, nobody's going to notice

 

[Purité Audio]

My albeit fairly limited experience with ‘studio’ guys is that they know very little about loudspeaker design and are just as susceptible to the subjective as any ‘hi-if’ listener whom they often ironically disparage.
Keith

 

[respice finem]

Yes, but, some will read ASR reviews...

 

[Purité Audio]

And a few might even learn to understand them.
Keith

 

[mns3dhm]

I would think it’s a good thing as long the manufacturer is making an equal effort to develop products for both sets of buyers.

 

[Purité Audio]

Transparent speakers are transparent, wherever and for whatever purpose they are put to use.
Keith

 

[Palmer]

Both markets have changed, Studio is a term that has always been abused in my honest opinion. Osmosis is still happening and has so far escaped the recklessness...
Sigberg Audio is an excellent example of this, so is Genelec - one hopes this is inspirational for more participants in the field.
Here's a good example of what some folks think of, when Studio is mentioned.

It’s Out with the Old—Almost—at Japanese Studio - Mixonline

Prime Sound Studio Form in Japan recently updated its studio monitoring with a mix of old and new Genelec models.

www.mixonline.com

 

[respice finem]

Yes, and much of the "studio gear" will land in "youtuber studios" and such like. Or in the homes of crazy people like me. If it wasn't so, many "pro gear" manufacturers could not survive - there are only so many "real" studios, and they don't change all their gear every 2-3 years...

They learned from the whales, they live on plankton

 

[WillBrink]

Some speaker manufacturers only have products targeted towards home audio, some only have products targeted towards hifi, and some have both.

I'm curious what kind of "signal" this sends to consumers. So if you are looking for something for home audio, would a presence in the studio market build credibility, or the opposite? Or not matter at all?

I can of course suspect what the ASR crowd will answer here, but I'd be interested in an open discussion on the subject.

My Q would be, how/why could anyone view it a negative?