In terms of a selling price, it's worth whatever the market thinks it's worth.
How active the market for (quality) amateur-built, proven designed, super-high-quality amplifiers in Slovenia is, that's something you know much more about than the rest of us. Maybe nobody wants them. Maybe lots of people want them and can't seem to get them (hooray!).
For reference, on Ebay, one seller recently offered his for USD 1550 (that's what he thinks it is worth) and only got bids up to $1250. Out of the millions of Ebay users, only 5 bid.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1949319695&category=14973
A place called Audioclassics(.com) is asking USD2350 for one.
I think that even if the parts are higher quality than the original, and the build quality is first-rate, most people who want an Aleph 5 would place a lower value on the amateur-built unit as opposed to the one built by Pass Labs, simply because they consider it to be an unknown quantity. Pass Labs has a better-established record and brand-name.
Overall, I like Swede's idea, in terms of what you might actually realize.
How active the market for (quality) amateur-built, proven designed, super-high-quality amplifiers in Slovenia is, that's something you know much more about than the rest of us. Maybe nobody wants them. Maybe lots of people want them and can't seem to get them (hooray!).
For reference, on Ebay, one seller recently offered his for USD 1550 (that's what he thinks it is worth) and only got bids up to $1250. Out of the millions of Ebay users, only 5 bid.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1949319695&category=14973
A place called Audioclassics(.com) is asking USD2350 for one.
I think that even if the parts are higher quality than the original, and the build quality is first-rate, most people who want an Aleph 5 would place a lower value on the amateur-built unit as opposed to the one built by Pass Labs, simply because they consider it to be an unknown quantity. Pass Labs has a better-established record and brand-name.
Overall, I like Swede's idea, in terms of what you might actually realize.
I think the biggest factor is resell capability. Someone who buys the original Aleph amp knows that in case he decides to sell it for whatever reason, he will get very close to the price he paid for it. Someone elses amp built on Aleph design, whatever good, still is a gamble, you might get stuck with it. The other issue is servicing and warranty repairs.
legal
Hi Peter,
isn´t it illegal to make ANY profit (labour count) out of
NP´s patents?
I just know from EU laws that patent protection means
that it´s free to use for nonprofit, noncommercial use
such as building copies for private use etc. BUT spending
about 350.- USD and selling used for 500.- USD is
IMHO making profit (commercial use) and therefore
illegal.
Uli😉
Hi Peter,
isn´t it illegal to make ANY profit (labour count) out of
NP´s patents?
I just know from EU laws that patent protection means
that it´s free to use for nonprofit, noncommercial use
such as building copies for private use etc. BUT spending
about 350.- USD and selling used for 500.- USD is
IMHO making profit (commercial use) and therefore
illegal.
Uli😉
Peter mentioned that
"What about people who charge $500 - $1000 to do mods to SACD and DVD players (what has became quite popular recently). They didn't design the units, yet, for parts swapping and some simple rework (and I don't doubt the sound improvements), they are able to charge up to 30% of the original price."
__________________________________________________
There's a very easy answer to that line as many want to spend less but get higher performance out of a 500 dollar CD player than having to spend $5000.00 on an already built very high end unit. Of course the modifies unit may not perform as well as the 5K unit will but it can be very close.
Personally, being a DIYer I would rather do the mods myself......and I will be doing mods on my Pioneer DV-45A if the manual ever gets here!
Mark
"What about people who charge $500 - $1000 to do mods to SACD and DVD players (what has became quite popular recently). They didn't design the units, yet, for parts swapping and some simple rework (and I don't doubt the sound improvements), they are able to charge up to 30% of the original price."
__________________________________________________
There's a very easy answer to that line as many want to spend less but get higher performance out of a 500 dollar CD player than having to spend $5000.00 on an already built very high end unit. Of course the modifies unit may not perform as well as the 5K unit will but it can be very close.
Personally, being a DIYer I would rather do the mods myself......and I will be doing mods on my Pioneer DV-45A if the manual ever gets here!
Mark
Just think of your amp as you would any other used gear, is it in good condition? Is it a well built piece of work (you having built it would probably know)? What would you pay for it? I don't think you should worry if you sell it a bit more than you paid for it, no one will get one your case for breaking patent laws when you make a few hundred dollars.
Telling DJG not to make a profit fom selling his A5 clone because of patent laws is like telling him not to record a TV show because it's against the law, or telling him not to copy a CD because it's against the law.
If you feel guilty copying a CD, don't sell your A5 clone for a profit, if you don't feel guilty copying a CD sell your A5 clone for whatever you feel is fair or whatever you can get for it. That's my take on it, but whether you make a couple hundred dollars or not, that one person is buying yours instead of a real pass labs, so Nelson still has lost the same amout of business.
Telling DJG not to make a profit fom selling his A5 clone because of patent laws is like telling him not to record a TV show because it's against the law, or telling him not to copy a CD because it's against the law.
If you feel guilty copying a CD, don't sell your A5 clone for a profit, if you don't feel guilty copying a CD sell your A5 clone for whatever you feel is fair or whatever you can get for it. That's my take on it, but whether you make a couple hundred dollars or not, that one person is buying yours instead of a real pass labs, so Nelson still has lost the same amout of business.
JoeBob: In a way you are probably right.
I agree that most DIY'ers never get filthy rich from building and selling their gear. Maybe we others are kind of jellous that someone else is able to sell his/her constructions. I don't know. Personally, I would also be happy to sell any of my stuff. Mainly because it would give me such an ego kick, knowing I've built something somone else wants badly.
But I still believe (which seems to be your point as well) that one should not be able to buy BMW's and moon landers for the profit one makes from this (hence building a CD copying factory).
//magnus
I agree that most DIY'ers never get filthy rich from building and selling their gear. Maybe we others are kind of jellous that someone else is able to sell his/her constructions. I don't know. Personally, I would also be happy to sell any of my stuff. Mainly because it would give me such an ego kick, knowing I've built something somone else wants badly.
But I still believe (which seems to be your point as well) that one should not be able to buy BMW's and moon landers for the profit one makes from this (hence building a CD copying factory).
//magnus
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