Can you help with advice about a crossover?

[Antipodean Brad]

I came across a video about the Heco BellaDonna stand-mount speaker, in which the drivers are removed and the inside of the cabinet and the crossover are shown.  The crossover is shown from 4minutes 40seconds.

 

This is the company's top model, and they describe the crossover as "uncompromising in every respect".

When I saw the capacitors they didn't seem that outstanding so I did a short search, and it seems as though they are kind of cheapish.  For a speaker which sells for about 5000 Euros ($12500 AUD) I was underwhelmed.  Heco is a German brand, but the speakers are made in China, it seems.

 

Can anyone let me know what you think of the apparent quality of the capacitors and the crossover as shown.

 

Thanks.

Edited May 28 by Antipodean Brad

[Steever]

My 2c; First impressions are, it's a pretty speaker and on some suitably deep stands, would satisfy many with its aesthetic (me included).

For the asking price, I'd want it to sound very good indeed and yes, it probably already does in the right system and room.

I've seen Spirit branded caps in many of the Chinese manufactured Mission speakers I've modified over the years. They're not exactly "bad" but for an expensive speaker, I'd definitely expect to see something like basic Solens, Mundorfs or Jantzens, etc in there instead. Certainly, changing them out to something like these would likely yield positive results. For that money, a hard wired cross over would be nice too. And tidier use of hot-melt glue while we're at it. And please, solder all cable connections! Rings and push tabs are audible in the negative.

Maybe the Bella Donna Signature (if there ever is one) could tick these boxes.

The use of real timber on the cheeks, threaded footers, a thick enclosure and internally flared port all get ticks though.

 

End of the day though, listening may prove them to be superb.

Edited May 30 by Steever

[99 .]

"uncompromising in every respect" is just a marketing term; otherwise you would have huge air core coils and all film caps. Whether using more expensive caps would matter or not,, idk.

 

The woofer also appears to be something you'd find in a less expensive speaker; not sure if there's anything special going on in the motor system.

 

Heco makes some cheaper speakers that measure quite well; would be interesting to see what you get for that large price increase

[LogicprObe]

 

Is this a hatchet job?

 

Crossovers are made for the job.

Sometimes you can use a simple but sometimes it is complex.

Sure, some components can cost more but sometimes they aren't needed.

[Al.M]

I’ve looked inside many speakers up to about $20k and you could find similar crossover parts in anything from about $5k upwards. The $5-20 capacitors appear to be polypropylene, which is to be expected at this price level, there only several $1 white sand cast resistors and many round or other type resistors used that can be around $5-10 each so that’s good as many $1-20k plus speakers often contain only the $1 white resistors, the inductors seem of medium quality and copper wire gauge mostly not air core inductors, instead cheaper iron core around $10 each.

 

Speaker parts cost is commonly around 10% of the retail cost and there is a wide variation out there. There is nothing special about the drivers and cabinet construction, though not the lowest quality, also not the very best, probably 3-4 on scale of 10 as a subjective guess. For comparison take a look at some of the latest Scanspeak and Seas website pictures, materials, design and costs for woofers and tweeters.

 

This description is very subjective and limited as its not possible to determine the final design, execution and sound quality from so far and not listening to them. 

Edited June 1 by Al.M

[THOMO]

Upselling something not worthy of upselling.

Compare this to say Osborn Eos Reference speakers that use truly high end components including some of the best drivers money can buy .And cost well under half as much.

[Antipodean Brad]

Thanks, everyone.  I find your comments very interesting, as is the divergence of POV.

[Allan]

On 02/06/2024 at 2:20 PM, THOMO said:

Upselling something not worthy of upselling.

Compare this to say Osborn Eos Reference speakers that use truly high end components including some of the best drivers money can buy .And cost well under half as much.

 

I would have to agree. When selling speakers up around 10K or more, skimping out on xover component costs is a ridiculous business decision, particularly when someone points it out like the gent has in the vid above. They probably cost about $1800 in parts to build. Lets look at the numbers

 

If you were to increase the xover component budget when building these speakers by adding say an extra $400 worth of quality into the xover components you get..

 

$400 / $12500 = 3.2% decrease in profit margin.

 

3.2% is nothing off the bottom line when charging $12500 but it becomes very expensive when it results in bad press.

 

A poor business decision in my book. When people peek inside I'd much rather them say, wow noice... have you seen these!

 

Client word of mouth is the best tool that comes so cheap in business its ridiculous. I hope the company principle budgets for an MBA.

 

 

Edited August 14 by Allan