Sigberg Audio Manta (12" wideband cardioid active speakers) development thread

[sigbergaudio]

I am working on an FAQ for our webpages, and of course have a lot of existing conversations with potential customers as a source for this, but thought I'd also ask here if anyone had any questions they pondered that might make sense to have in an FAQ?

 

[sigbergaudio]

All the way back to when I started working on the Manta I had a thought in the back of my head: The possibility of doing a smaller version if the original Manta was succesful.

So how do we feel about a "baby Manta" with an 8" midbass?

This is 28x48x28cm (WHD). The original Manta is 36x60x35cm.

 

[Sacha]

Minta

 

[Robocop]

Sounds like a great idea. This size would suit my room and speaker stands much better.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Sounds like a great idea. This size would suit my room and speaker stands much better.

Well speaker stands are included with the Manta, so you don't need to worry about your current speaker stands, but I see what you mean.

In the interest of helping get the price down a bit, the Manta Minor probably wouldn't include stands either, so then it's good your stands fit!

 

[D!sco]

I think the market would fit more of them in their houses. The question is whether a prosound 8" has the impact over a hifi equivalent. I think the same people who run fewer 12s would also run fewer subs. What I don't know for sure is how it would affect these presumably smaller spaces. Otherwise, I really like the idea. Hitting a larger market also means less literacy and patience, so more people trying to run them without the right subs.

 

[sigbergaudio]

I think the market would fit more of them in their houses. The question is whether a prosound 8" has the impact over a hifi equivalent. I think the same people who run fewer 12s would also run fewer subs. What I don't know for sure is how it would affect these presumably smaller spaces. Otherwise, I really like the idea. Hitting a larger market also means less literacy and patience, so more people trying to run them without the right subs.

"The question is whether a prosound 8" has the impact over a hifi equivalent" <- I didn't quite understand what you meant by this, can you please elaborate?

"Hitting a larger market also means less literacy and patience, so more people trying to run them without the right subs." <- Maybe, but while it will be smaller and cheaper, it still won't be cheap in absolute terms. It will typically be more expensive than our SBS.1 (~5,000EUR before VAT and without subs). So I suspect a Manta Minor buyer will still be pretty informed.

 

[Sokel]

What I would consider if I was you would be a bass module (NOT sub) .
I nice looking one with small footprint but tall enough and versatile enough to match a broad range of 2-ways,good enough up to at least 400-500Hz and decent distortion all the way.

I know that W371 does the same but if you could do it for a little less and also look nice it would be a hit.

 

[sigbergaudio]

What I would consider if I was you would be a bass module (NOT sub) .
I nice looking one with small footprint but tall enough and versatile enough to match a broad range of 2-ways,good enough up to at least 400-500Hz and decent distortion all the way.

I know that W371 does the same but if you could do it for a little less and also look nice it would be a hit.

So the difference from our current subs would be the form factor / footprint?

 

[Sokel]

So the difference from our current subs would be the form factor / footprint?

Yes,since the intention is to complete a proper 3-way.
If is made clever enough to replace stands you're there.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Yes,since the intention is to complete a proper 3-way.
If is made clever enough to replace stands you're there.

I have never really understood this approach. Why not just buy a floorstander to begin with if that is what you want?

 

[Sokel]

I have never really understood this approach. Why not just buy a floorstander to begin with if that is what you want?

I haven't either,but it's there.
I suppose one of the reasons is price.And the fact that one can break the price into two different time periods for example has its own effect.
Another one is one can test a broad range of satellites.

The most obvious one,is what already happens,people try to do that buying subs and then wonder about the lack of impact (not rumble,the upper impact).
But you can't cross a sub at 150-200-300Hz if it's 2 meters away from mains.
See that very interest at the Ascilab thread when people saw a bass module in a blurry photo.

Just a suggestion of course,it's you that run your business.

 

[sigbergaudio]

I haven't either,but it's there.
I suppose one of the reasons is price.And the fact that one can break the price into two different time periods for example has its own effect.
Another one is one can test a broad range of satellites.

The most obvious one,is what already happens,people try to do that buying subs and then wonder about the lack of impact (not rumble,the upper impact).
But you can't cross a sub at 150-200-300Hz if it's 2 meters away from mains.
See that very interest at the Ascilab thread when people saw a bass module in a blurry photo.

Just a suggestion of course,it's you that run your business.

Yes, difficult to judge the demand. One reason there is not a lot of products like this is likely that the market is limited.

We already sell a solution to this problem since we have speakers / satelites that DO provide the impact, and have the subs to perfectly match them.

 

[Sokel]

Yes, difficult to judge the demand. One reason there is not a lot of products like this is likely that the market is limited.

We already sell a solution to this problem since we have speakers / satelites that DO provide the impact, and have the subs to perfectly match them.

At about 15k thought?Or less with the small one.
Now think of someone getting a pair of these popular 2-ways for 1k or 2k and couple of bass modules at another 5k (?) .
That's half,and the impact is there.
Don't know,seems reasonable to me even If I am known of liking big speakers (like a Manta-sub combo) .

 

[sigbergaudio]

At about 15k thought?Or less with the small one.
Now think of someone getting a pair of these popular 2-ways for 1k or 2k and couple of bass modules at another 5k (?) .
That's half,and the impact is there.
Don't know,seems reasonable to me even If I am known of liking big speakers (like a Manta-sub combo) .

At around 7500 Euro (+ VAT) you'll get SBS + Inkognito, which will provide significantly more impact, capacity and SPL in the entire frequency range than for instance Kef Reference 1 + KC92 (a great setup as well). And the latter is quite a bit more expensive, and that's before you buy an amplifier for your speakers.

I'm not sure I see people with 1-2k speakers buy bass modules for 5k. They'd be better of purchasing a proper setup to begin with. That said I understand not all people are rational in their decisions.

 

[Purité Audio]

It’s a no win situation whatever you design it will never suit everybody.
Edit the SBS/Inkognito are superb, I listen to mine everyday, Inkognito in its ‘upright’ position tucked away inconspicuously.
Keith

 

[sigbergaudio]

It’s a no win situation whatever you design it will never suit everybody.
Edit the SBS/Inkognito are superb, I listen to mine everyday, Inkognito in its ‘upright’ position tucked away inconspicuously.
Keith

It's hopefully at least a someone wins situation, unless no one wants the product

 

[D!sco]

"The question is whether a prosound 8" has the impact over a hifi equivalent" <- I didn't quite understand what you meant by this, can you please elaborate?

Lower Fs at the cost of max SPL and sensitivity for a hifi woofer. How well the 8" works alone, without a subwoofer supporting it.

 

[sigbergaudio]

Lower Fs at the cost of max SPL and sensitivity for a hifi woofer. How well the 8" works alone, without a subwoofer supporting it.

It will have a subwoofer supporting it. It will be the same concept as the Manta, a 4-way system with subwoofer(s).

 

[sigbergaudio]

Quick size comparison between a potential Manta Minor vs the SBS and the Manta: