Why is BK stuck in their ways ?

[canada16uk]

Hey with all this talk about SVS this and Seaton that. which one has a 13.5" 50lb driver and the other.... Well 2x15" drivers..

BK has the tools and equipment, why have they been stuck on the same models for so long, yes I know they sell, but surely with all this talk about USA subwoofers and people having to pay hundreds just for delivery, surely someone in the UK should step up, and BK is the only real contender to do this, as dont know of any other retailers in the UK making their own subs like BK.

Why do you think they cant place an order for 50 15" drivers, make some cabinets, and see were it goes, you got to spend money to make money.

Why is this all in the USA. what people in the UK dont like Bass in the face

Whats your thoughts.

 

[hoppaz]

Hey with all this talk about SVS this and Seaton that. which one has a 13.5" 50lb driver and the other.... Well 2x15" drivers.. image


BK has the tools and equipment, why have they been stuck on the same models for so long, yes I know they sell, but surely with all this talk about USA subwoofers and people having to pay hundreds just for delivery, surely someone in the UK should step up, and BK is the only real contender to do this, as dont know of any other retailers in the UK making their own subs like BK.

Why do you think they cant place an order for 50 15" drivers, make some cabinets, and see were it goes, you got to spend money to make money.

Why is this all in the USA. what people in the UK dont like Bass in the face

Whats your thoughts.

I agree, I have been saying the same for months. They are missing a massive trick here, just look at the number of DIY threads. I would even consider a 15" or 18" (single/dual) passive models if it meant they would start making these type of subs with the finishes they currently offer.

Paul

 

[bluedroog]

I think they did make prototypes of a larger sub some years ago but for some reason didn't pursue it.

Also consider living spaces in the UK are fairly small so for most people a XXLS400 or Monolith is enough.

That said one day when i have the space and own a place I can sound proof I would consider a big sub, my 400 suits me now but as I type this I'm watching Inception on BD and can't help but think how it would sound with a 15 or 18” sub.

 

[sergiup]

I think the general idea is that a 12" ported box will give enough output for most people in the UK, given the average room size, neighbours etc. To be honest I'm pretty happy with my Monolith, I would only consider upgrading if I had a considerably bigger room, or maybe going for an IB setup when I'll have our own house.

I think the Monolith etc are a tried and tested design, and if it works don't mess with it, right? They do their job well enough, and I don't think an even bigger sub would sell as many. I'd love to be wrong though

 

[Member 116841]

Probably because there's not a big enough market for them to do the R&D and make enough out of them for it to be worth their while. The US has a far higher population, so will sell a lot more than this tiny little island, and they generally have larger rooms to fill too. You'll probably find that most people who have a large enough room for stupidly large subs in this country really aren't interested in buying them - they're more interested in owning several cars and a couple of holiday homes.

You could argue that there are people on these forums that want something huge but it's a very small number. BK would've had to have done this years ago - with all the new competition springing up here there and everywhere, they'd be up against too many competitors.

 

[Member 639844]

BK would actually be in a better position than most to do something a little different. They build to order, dont stock models, dont have a dealer network to stock, and can make their own amps. The fact ofthe matter is they are that interested in it. Making subs is only a sideline business for them to help keep a small company ticking over, and I dint think they want to expand or have extra workload put on them.

 

[hoppaz]

Probably because there's not a big enough market for them to do the R&D and make enough out of them for it to be worth their while. The US has a far higher population, so will sell a lot more than this tiny little island, and they generally have larger rooms to fill too. You'll probably find that most people who have a large enough room for stupidly large subs in this country really aren't interested in buying them - they're more interested in owning several cars and a couple of holiday homes.

You could argue that there are people on these forums that want something huge but it's a very small number. BK would've had to have done this years ago - with all the new competition springing up here there and everywhere, they'd be up against too many competitors.

Yet you sell the same massively sized subs in not so many finishes and that is entirely ok?

>>> awaits another mod infraction

 

[hoppaz]

BK would actually be in a better position than most to do something a little different. They build to order, dont stock models, dont have a dealer network to stock, and can make their own amps. The fact ofthe matter is they are that interested in it. Making subs is only a sideline business for them to help keep a small company ticking over, and I dint think they want to expand or have extra workload put on them.

Very glad to see you Moonfly

 

[blowy111]

Canada I totally agree. You have made some great points...
I would love to aspire to own a 15 inch British made sub supported by a British company.
Looking at BK their price would probably be reasonable too.

 

[Member 639844]

They havent followed through on my request yet and my compulsion to check in and post is as strong as ever, which is a little annoying.

 

[Member 116841]

Yet you sell the same massively sized subs in not so many finishes and that is entirely ok?

>>> awaits another mod infraction

I was talking of the subs that are stupidly massive. The biggest thing we keep is the PB13 Ultra, which does sell, but not like the MX5000 MkIII because of its size.

 

[hoppaz]

They havent followed through on my request yet and my compulsion to check in and post is as strong as ever, which is a little annoying.

They shouldn't follow through on that request though if this place has any integrity.

 

[hoppaz]

I was talking of the subs that are stupidly massive. The biggest thing we keep is the PB13 Ultra, which does sell, but not like the MX5000 MkIII because of its size.

If the PB13 sells then there is a market and so will others. Chase Home Cinemas passive (albeit) 18" sub is similar in size and would sell under those comments and the SVS will not even get close. It retails for much less too.

There is a market Dave as you have acknowledged but I am not a sheep and I don't like getting shepherd thank you very much.

 

[Member 116841]

Who's shepherding you? I think you're reading into thing a little too deeply. Not unusual round here though.

 

[hoppaz]

Who's shepherding you? I think you're reading into thing a little too deeply. Not unusual round here though.

From a definition:

a person, such as a clergyman, who watches over or guides a group of people.

You stated that BK won't bother as there is no market. Yet you sell products which are bigger in size but could not match the output of a 15 or 18" drivers with cabinets smaller in size with even less finishes than BK offers and pretend otherwise. The "guide" was quoted because your statement guides people to think this is the case when it isn't so.

 

[hoppaz]

I was talking of the subs that are stupidly massive. The biggest thing we keep is the PB13 Ultra, which does sell, but not like the MX5000 MkIII because of its size.

I was of course talking about the PB13's size but also taking in to account the bigger sub that was mentioned in your posts output

 

[Member 116841]

You stated that BK won't bother as there is no market. Yet you sell products which are bigger in size but could not match the output of a 15 or 18" drivers with cabinets smaller in size with even less finishes than BK offers and pretend otherwise. The "guide" was quoted because your statement guides people to think this is the case when it isn't so.

It was my opinion that BK wouldn't enter that market for the reasons I stated. I'm sensing a lot of negativity. Amazing how easily people choose sides and stick to them...

 

[hoppaz]

It was my opinion that BK wouldn't enter that market for the reasons I stated. I'm sensing a lot of negativity. Amazing how easily people choose sides and stick to them...

But they, if anybody, have the ability to change that and why make an assumption on their behalf? The only side I take is that of one where great subs are offered to the public that are the best on the market and the facts aren't ignored.

I don't take sides (another assumption IMO) as I have owned and still own the brands you sell/sold... and there is no guarantee I will stick to them if something comes along better in the future.

 

[Member 116841]

But they, if anybody, have the ability to change that and why make an assumption on their behalf?

Because the OP asked an open question, and I decided to give my opinion from a retailer's point of view.

 

[IronGiant]

They havent followed through on my request yet and my compulsion to check in and post is as strong as ever, which is a little annoying.

I grant you your resolution...

 

[hoppaz]

Because the OP asked an open question, and I decided to give my opinion from a retailer's point of view.

I work in sales and what you have told me David in that sentence is that you have made an assumption without asking the correct amount of questions or establishing the true facts and then have taken a short cut and answered with your retailers hat on.

Hearing is not necessarily listening.

 

[Member 116841]

I think you need to take a reality check. As I said, the OP asked an open question for all to answer, and I answered it from how I see their business model. Plain and simple.

 

[sergiup]

Unless I'm mistaken, at least a few of the current BK models are very similar / refinements of equipment that they produced for other retailers, correct? This could mean that their R&D costs/time could've been more or less covered indirectly by their clients, which is not necessarily so for any new 15" or 18" products.

I do agree that it probably wouldn't take a huge amount of effort to create such a model, but maybe they just don't see it as worthwhile when taking into account their current sales, and all other areas of the business.

Would I entertain the idea of wanting a 15" or 18" BK sub? Maybe, not in the next couple of years though (for myself anyway).
Do I think BK should do it because they're otherwise losing out? Too hard to tell, they're the only ones familiar enough with their business to figure it out.

edit: Dav1dF, you might not want to say for obvious reasons and that would be perfectly understandable, but you are a retailer and therefore probably one of the best to clarify this.. is there any chance you could roughly tell us the distribution of subs that you sell? Not in terms of models etc, but in terms of driver size / output. I'm only asking because my hunch (as above) is that most of the retail market will be for 8" or 10", there's some market for 12", and then above that size it just tails off to relatively small numbers. Thank you!

 

[Member 639844]

Dont forget that 15 and 18 inch models are typically very expensive. If they were cheaper, I'd bet we'd sell a few more being sold.

 

[m4ccam]

Before discovering this and a couple of other forums I was influenced mainly by reading What HiFi and my local dealer who sells only high end hifi. I bought my Linn amps and speakers from him years ago. When I decided I needed a sub I couldn't afford what he sold so I resorted to reading the magazines. There were never any mention of SVS or BK etc.

Basically How many people buy equipment on recommendation from What HiFi? If they started printing stuff about how much better a 15" or 18" driver would be I'll bet the market would open up considerably.