Preamp casing cost? 1/3 of the price

[Catcher10]

I know the video you speak of, and agree he mentioned it in the context of price, sales.....but I am sure it was more about the cost of the preamp.

If we are speaking of the same video tour, what got me was the one worker who basically said she did not like the sound of the amp....I wonder if she still has a job there?
LOL

[VicsVinyls]

Originally Posted by Catcher10

I know the video you speak of, and agree he mentioned it in the context of price, sales.....but I am sure it was more about the cost of the preamp.

If we are speaking of the same video tour, what got me was the one worker who basically said she did not like the sound of the amp....I wonder if she still has a job there?
LOL

Ha, I know the one your talking about. I was thinking the same thing about her. This is a different one though. I’m going to join tonight, then I’ll pm you the vid.

[Puma Cat]

One of things that drives up the COGS for fancy preamp chassis' that are milled/machined from billet/solid metal, etc., is the fact that all units/pieces must be cosmetically perfect; there can be no cosmetic, surface or finish flaws. Just think, one nick or scratch, miscoloring, etc., and the whole piece or part is junk. This drives up the cost because there will always be scrap.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Puma Cat

One of things that drives up the COGS for fancy preamp chassis' that are milled from billet/solid metal, etc., is the fact that all units/pieces must be cosmetically perfect; there can be no cosmetic, surface or finish flaws. Just think, one nick or scratch, etc., and the whole piece or part is junk. This drives up the cost because there will always be scrap.

CNC precision is truly amazing. Here is a Magico faceplate being constructed.

https://youtu.be/gH-sXIVOtis

[W9TR]

The casework, controls, and displays are the one thing that we, the customers, contact directly and constantly as we use the product. It creates the first impression. It's what describes the value of the product, probably even more than the sound itself.

I have McIntosh amplifiers with 1/2" thick glass front plates. Do they improve the sound? Unlikely. Would the amps be as drool worthy and cool without them? Unlikely.

It's interesting that the phrase "machined from a solid billet of aluminum" is used very frequently in high end audio equipment, and has come to mean high quality.

Tom

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by W9TR

It's interesting that the phrase "machined from a solid billet of aluminum" is used very frequently in high end audio equipment, and has come to mean high quality.

Tom

It has and very often they are.

[PHC1]

[PHC1]

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This is serious engineering.

[PHC1]