Sonodyne, are they value for money at their current price?

[Premblr]

Thank you all for your wonderful insights, it does clear a lot of air...

My point is this, Calcutta also makes excellent musical instruments like Guitars and Drums. But these are priced at 1/5th of that of a Gibson or Mapex, if that is the case, why only Sonodyne commanding a high price with similar manufacturing?

Another point is, if the other players have moved on to better versions or have product refresh, where as Sonodyne is almost the same, why increase? You can also get the price down by better manufacturing methods.

The Rupee to $ change is a recent last week activity, no price have gone high so far beacuse of this.

 

[AmitKumar]

Towards end of 2007 and begining of 2008, 1 usd use to cost about 39 rupees. and today after 5.5 years 1 usd cost 60 ruppees, who says it is just a recent week activity. i know there a recent higher downfall in our currency but the trend is declining indian rupee from last 5.5 years or so.

cost of materials used to manufacture speakers might have gone up i.e wooden board cost have gone up drastically over last 3 years. labour costs have gone up. In such scenario a 10 % hike in sonodyne products does seem very reasonable.

Dont know about Gipson or mapex, so cannot comment. i sure there will be some reason behind the same.

Regards, Amit

 

[elangoas]

Thank you all for your wonderful insights, it does clear a lot of air...

My point is this, Calcutta also makes excellent musical instruments like Guitars and Drums. But these are priced at 1/5th of that of a Gibson or Mapex, if that is the case, why only Sonodyne commanding a high price with similar manufacturing?

Another point is, if the other players have moved on to better versions or have product refresh, where as Sonodyne is almost the same, why increase? You can also get the price down by better manufacturing methods.

The Rupee to $ change is a recent last week activity, no price have gone high so far beacuse of this.

Which product of Sonodyne are you referring to as priced high compared to competition...

Manufacturing cost increases, even though the product doesn't refresh... Currently their focus is on Studio monitor products/Professional Audio...But they have promised on facebook page that they will come up with Home entertainment products very soon....hyeah:

 

[Premblr]

Thanks Amit, yes in general all prices have gone up in the last few years, and I agree that 10% hike in last 3 years is highly justified.

 

[Premblr]

Thank you Elangoas, I do agree about the increasing manufacturing costs... but you can also get better products at much better prices if you can cut down where needed.

Take a look at the automobile Industry, you will see the recent launches have better features and technology at a much less price point.

 

[krishnakanth_590]

My point is this, Calcutta also makes excellent musical instruments like Guitars and Drums. But these are priced at 1/5th of that of a Gibson or Mapex, if that is the case, why only Sonodyne commanding a high price with similar manufacturing?

When the users who heard the speakers opine that Sonus speakers can compete with foreign branded speakers which cost 40k, how can we consider Sonodyne costly. Can we expect Sonodyne to be dead cheap (1/5th of other three way speakers ) just because it is manufactured in India ?

 

[sunilkm]

I always thought the speakers are always sold in pairs (except for centre speakers).. is my understanding correct

Yes you are right. I have also seen pricing per pair for ther brands
Not so sure why the price is mentioned for 1 FS or BS !

 

[elangoas]

Thank you Elangoas, I do agree about the increasing manufacturing costs... but you can also get better products at much better prices if you can cut down where needed.

Take a look at the automobile Industry, you will see the recent launches have better features and technology at a much less price point.

Yes.. If there is really good acceptance for the product, company might think twice to hike process...

I hope your are referring to KTM Duke 390 :clapping:... I love it (Price to performance)...

It is manufactured in India by Bajaj and retails for 2 Lakhs OTR...But the same product is exported to Europe & priced @ 4,500 Pounds... (Roughly 4 Lakhs)...

So we are getting an international product @ 50% of international price :clapping:.. Kudos to Bajaj for making this happen....

 

[Premblr]

Yes was referring to Duke and Ecosport :clapping: superb pricing...

Krishnakanth, wasn't looking to price it at 1/5th, but to me the whole Sonodyne current pricing looked like another Bose in the making or an Indian version of the Bose but in tower form...

 

[krishnakanth_590]

Yes was referring to Duke and Ecosport :clapping: superb pricing...

Did someone just say Duke390 :licklips:
I love it too :yahoo:

Krishnakanth, wasn't looking to price it at 1/5th, but to me the whole Sonodyne current pricing looked like another Bose in the making...

I wish it doesn't go the Bose's way :sad:

Many users have a positive outlook towards Sonodyne but still they hesitate a bit to buy them (Including me hyeah

 

[elangoas]

Yes was referring to Duke and Ecosport :clapping: superb pricing...

Krishnakanth, wasn't looking to price it at 1/5th, but to me the whole Sonodyne current pricing looked like another Bose in the making or an Indian version of the Bose but in tower form...

Cool... Yeah i heard about ecosport from my friends... :cheers:

I get your point on 1/5th price....Why do you think so....But i have to say it is defenetly not the case....

Sonodyne Sonus 1501 BS cost Approx 11K the most affordable stereo speaker i can think of....Have you come across any product with the same specs or better pricing than this one ?

 

[elangoas]

Did someone just say Duke390 :licklips:
I love it too :yahoo:



I wish it doesn't go the Bose's way :sad:

Many users have a positive outlook towards Sonodyne but still they hesitate a bit to buy them (Including me hyeah

Yes.. i Meant Duke 390 hyeah:.. If the ride quality is good, am thiking of going for it :clapping:

I have come across threads where Sonodyne Sonus 2605 had retailed for 21,22K (2005) to 26K (2013) now.... Do you think it is Bose way

 

[Premblr]

Exactly, after all my audition exercise Sonodyne is one of my top favorites... my friend who was there with me also felt the fit and finish not up to mark with the phoren brands.

Again a very simple 80's or vintage kind of design, no fluidic design methodology and no sexy curves and I don't like this silver beading standing out... again this is subjective and my view... there may be fans for such design.

I like my speakers in black...

 

[elangoas]

Exactly, after all my audition exercise Sonodyne is one of my top favorites... my friend who was there with me also felt the fit and finish not up to mark with the phoren brands.

Again a very simple 80's or vintage kind of design, no fluidic design methodology and no sexy curves and I don't like this silver beading standing out... again this is subjective and my view... there may be fans for such design.

I like my speakers in black...

True...I think @ that price point, that is what they could pull off.... May be better colours will attract some.

Have you had a chance to check Avant range from Sonodyne.... They are top class product....Superb fit & finish... It exudes sheer class from every angle...

 

[krishnakanth_590]

Yes.. i Meant Duke 390 hyeah:.. If the ride quality is good, am thiking of going for it :clapping:

If you use it for daily commute or for frequent long rides, then yes, consider the ride quality and ride comfort. But, for weekend rides you can just buy it closing your eyes for its 44bhp engine (~290bhp/ton Power to weight ratio :clapping

Being a KTM, I don't think it will have a bad ride quality. I don't know about the ride comfort though (even though it has upright riding position).

I have come across threads where Sonodyne Sonus 2605 had retailed for 21,22K (2005) to 26K (2013) now.... Do you think it is Bose way

2005 - 2013 ... Those are 8 long years :lol:

If you consider the savings bank interest of 4% (which is least you get), the 22k in 2005 will be approximately >28000 today.

Considering the inflation and higher manufacturing cost, the new Sonodyne prices are acceptable and this is not at all the Bose's :lol:

Exactly, after all my audition exercise Sonodyne is one of my top favorites... my friend who was there with me also felt the fit and finish not up to mark with the phoren brands.

Again a very simple 80's or vintage kind of design, no fluidic design methodology and no sexy curves and I don't like this silver beading standing out... again this is subjective and my view... there may be fans for such design.

I like my speakers in black...

I agree with this point... when I showed the pictures of Sonodyne Sonus 2605, Polk TSi 400, Wharfedale Obsidian speakers to my family members for their preference, they simply rejected Sonodyne, purely decause of it looks.

Yes it doesn't have the sexy curves of Wharfedale Obsidan or other Polk RTi speakers but we are buying them for sound quality after all.

I also agree that the speakers should look good and attract the attention of guests as they are huge, take lots of space and they can also be considered as furniture but still that is secondary requirement.

 

[vnmathur57]

My entire AV gear is in black, except the speakers. Yes, I'd have loved to have black color speakers but had to settle for these poor man's Tannoy/Dali. Sonodyne will definitely sell more if they could offer black finish.

 

[Dr.Bass]

Wharfdale sells at least 100 times more speakers than Sonodyne in a year, around the world. Of course they can sell cheaper! The comparison is not like Tata vs Hyundai, it is more like Reva vs Hyundai.

 

[Dr.Bass]

Wharfdale sells at least 100 times more speakers than Sonodyne in a year, around the world. Of course they can sell cheaper! The comparison is not like Tata vs Hyundai, it is more like Reva vs Hyundai.

To add to my own post, none of the Sonodyne gears are "cheap" I agree, but the same goes for their sonics. Compared to many other mass market entry level hifi products(Polk, Boston Acoustics etc) Sonodyne gears sound more like music to my ears.

 

[Premblr]

Hi all,

I had a look at the "Show your equipment thread" right here in HIFIVision and you will see that Sonodyne is in a minority.

People who speak high off Sonodyne, when the final purchase happens, they settle for Phoren brands. I mean, if you have to show off the gear, you better show off something better than this vintage design or a better brand name.

Avant does look good, but people prefer wooden cabinets and even the sales person was promoting the wooden cabinet.

Regarding this thread, feedback is a good thing for companies, I am sure this will help them.

 

[krishnakanth_590]

People who speak high off Sonodyne, when the final purchase happens, they settle for Phoren brands. I mean, if you have to show off the gear, you better show off something better than this vintage design or a better brand name.

May be true !
But, in my case, it is a little different. The only reason for my inclination towards Sonodyne is because it is Indian ( Patriotic feeling somewhere inside ) and I am new to the Hi-Fi world and I never heard any of the speakers we all are talking about. After some PMs to forum members like vnmathur, elagoas and nanacp76 who personally use Sonodyne speakers and getting confirmations about the performance of the speakers, I finalized Sonodyne. Waiting for money to pile up so that I can buy AVR+5.1 setup. I may purchase them soon :clapping: