So much for losing their edge :)
- Thread starter MylesBAstor
- Start date
OK, I must have missed the memo 
. The video didn't say anything. What edge must have they lost? Marketing?
. The video didn't say anything. What edge must have they lost? Marketing?
OK, I must have missed the memo
I was referring to another thread on WBF
The official press announcement comes out 12/15.
Does XLF means eXtended Low Frequency? The video mentioned 'New Bass Management Technology', so this series must be all about better LF.
Jack you must be itchin' to upgrade from those lowly VR9 SEs......and for only 1/5th of a million $$
...and for only 1/5th of a million $$You can receive a shipment at the beginning of 2012 but have to wait until the end of 2012 for the full details?
Myles, I have no doubt this is (or will be) a great speaker, as the Alexandria is a great speaker already. Obviously you are taking a shot at my other thread, but in nearly 4,000 hits so far no one - including a member of the Wilson family - has been able to explain what the Wilson brand is all about. In the video, David Wilson doesn't bother explaining either.
But from a business stand point, there are several issues at play:
- new composite materials - this is likely a response to all the chatter about the lack of resonance of Magico aluminum enclosures. Something has hit a nerve.
- a $200K speaker will get a lot of attention, but how many models will actually sell?
- the design claims to be making big leaps in several areas, so probably no upgrade path
- the introduction of this speaker will mean that the XLF innovations will likely trickle down to lower priced models. What does it mean for the sales of the Maxx and the Sasha in the next 12-18 months? Smart consumers will wait and get the updated models... The used market will get flooded...
But from a business stand point, there are several issues at play:
- new composite materials - this is likely a response to all the chatter about the lack of resonance of Magico aluminum enclosures. Something has hit a nerve.
- a $200K speaker will get a lot of attention, but how many models will actually sell?
- the design claims to be making big leaps in several areas, so probably no upgrade path
- the introduction of this speaker will mean that the XLF innovations will likely trickle down to lower priced models. What does it mean for the sales of the Maxx and the Sasha in the next 12-18 months? Smart consumers will wait and get the updated models... The used market will get flooded...
At that price, he won't need to sell many. That said, my guess is he will sell quite a number. There are still a lot of very wealthy people in this world who can "afford" such an item and contrary to some of your allusions that Wilson does not have a "what we stand for" theme, I think they do - and so do many/most of their customers. And for that reason, they have somewhat of a captive audience out of their existing customer base.
The X-2 is a wonderful speaker so I have not doubt that this new monster will be a step up! $50K worth? That is all relative.
And I'm not 100% sure his new cabinet material is in response to Magico. Wilson was one of the first audio companies to get away form MDF. Each iteration of his speaker line has had improvements in cabinet material.
I have always been a huge fan of the Wilson marketing approach and this is just one more step along the way.
Since most audio businesses do not have a transaction revenue stream, an additional approach for growth for a company like Wilson (in addition to getting new Wilson customers) is market churn. And by coming up with new cabinet, which as you suggested will probably show up in other lower priced models, his existing customers will "upgrade" generating new revenue from an existing customer base. Brilliant!
But that's just my $0.02 !!
It is apparent from the brochure that the XLF has increased cabinet volume over the X2. That alone should increase bass even with the same drivers. I love this teaser style introduction. We see this a lot in the largest consumer entertainment segments: Gaming, Television and Motion Pictures. Wilson has always adopted best practices from other industries. They were one of the first to adopt viral product introductions.
Put simply, given Wilson's loyal consumer base, probably the largest among all domestic loudspeaker manufacturers whose products fall above the $10,000 threshold, and with a production facility capable of producing what marketing efforts can generate in terms of sales, Wilson has an easier time calibrating both supply and demand. To me that is real savvy.
Put simply, given Wilson's loyal consumer base, probably the largest among all domestic loudspeaker manufacturers whose products fall above the $10,000 threshold, and with a production facility capable of producing what marketing efforts can generate in terms of sales, Wilson has an easier time calibrating both supply and demand. To me that is real savvy.
Similar threads
 | Steve Williams Site Founder | Site Owner | Administrator |  | Ron Resnick Site Co-Owner | Administrator |  | Julian (The Fixer) Website Build | Marketing Managersing |