What would be the down side to selling to both sales channels (pre-built and dyi market) at the same time? It seems to me that you have two distinct customers: (1) The audiophile with money and no technical skills, who would only buy the pre-built unit and (2) The engineer, who wants the challenge of making it himself and is too cheap/poor to ever buy off the shelf. I can't see either customer cannibalizing sales from the other. My $0.02 worth.
Downside is people/companies would build clones for commercial purposes which would steal sales while the F7 is still available. Also, the divide is not as clean as you claim. I am not an engineer or technical person by any stretch of the imagination but I know how to solder, read a schematic, and therefore build a kit if the PCB is available. I have owned Pass Labs commercial products and currently own multiple commercial tube amps that sell for more than the FW commercial amps even though I have built 3 FW clones. I have built my own FW amps because (1) it is an enjoyable pass time and (2) allows me to try different amps that I would probably not try if I had to pay the retail price.
First, I think you overestimate the size of the Firstwatt market, it's not Apple and not likely on anyone's radar. Also, If I wanted to steal sales, I would buy a commercial unit and have it reverse engineered in an afternoon. I am just saying that they are missing out on cash flow from DIY'ers by waiting to release.
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Certainly not. I suspect FW's, as well as every other high end audio company's, revenue would be a rounding error for each monthly close at the company I work at. But that's the point. A few lost sales mean nothing to a company like Apple. A few lost sales mean more for a company like FW (though that is my assumption as I know nothing about FW's financials and it may just be a matter of principle versus revenue). Anyway, this is kind of why I asked if FW has ever considered full commercial kits. Would have broader appeal than strictly DIY PCB offerings (my first real amp was a Hafler kit in college), though it also might be more work than its worth in time and financial return.
I can't speak for NP, but if you look at the history of all this, I don't think he ever indicated that level of fulfillment. NP has encouraged self-sourced DIY (pcb's withstanding) as an intellectual and physical effort, for the shear joy and entertainment of doing so. A man simply sharing good data among kindred spirits, if you will, another DIYer, without pooping too much in his trough. And for that many thanks have been given.
I can't speak for NP, but if you look at the history of all this, I don't think he ever indicated that level of fulfillment. NP has encouraged self-sourced DIY (pcb's withstanding) as an intellectual and physical effort, for the shear joy and entertainment of doing so. A man simply sharing good data among kindred spirits, if you will, another DIYer, without pooping too much in his trough. And for that many thanks have been given.
That is basically what I expect the response would/will be. I asked from a purely selfish perspective.
I've lurked here since around 2002, purchased various boards in past group buys, etc. But just never got around to building one of the FW amps. When I added up the time and effort it took to find heat sinks, tap the heat sinks, order the parts for a chassis, build a chassis, etc., I always concluded my time is more valuable than any savings I would get building versus just buying a commercial product. Now that the DIY Store offers the Deluxe chassis the equation changed so I took the plunge. Call me lazy, but between other hobbies, interests, work obligations, etc. it never added up previously. Of course, I am probably not the primary target of what Nelson provides here and I am sure he is more than happy to have people like me just buy his commercial products. That said, I do think commercial kits would be a potential way to draw new people into high end audio but I could be wrong.
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Kits can be a real problem for the mfr because of assembly errors, and unauthorized
"improvements." With the diyAudio store, what amounts to a kit will be available,
but without the warranty problems for NP and Pass Labs. Just one problem with a kit
would likely negate most of the profit from it. Also, you would have guys building
kits and reselling them, at lower cost than the factory could sell assembled units.
Remember that these are simple amps, and the assembly cost is relatively low,
just a few tech hours at most.
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That is basically what I expect the response would/will be. I asked from a purely selfish perspective.
it wouldn't be uncommon for a person to mull for a YEAR around the parts and actuation to complete a project. The diyaudio store has attempted to lesson this endeavor by offering a universal build method. Being an obstinate person myself, I own screw taps and source my own aluminum in order to be creative. In many respects, the engineering delves beyond just stuffing a PCB. And that's what makes it yours. It exists for any amp, the parts are just a little bigger. Go for it.
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Points to consider:
On the downside -
PL and FW work through established distribution worldwide. Distributors
have been tolerant of DIY efforts to date, but have made it clear that
they don't like PL and FW stuff as kits or public schematics.
This is partly because of cloners and partly because it reduces the
appeal of commercial product as they see it.
Also, complete technical information gives the competition something to
badmouth, and/or copy...
Not to mention there is very little money and lots of support in selling kits.
On the upside -
I like doing DIY. It gives me a great outlet for creative efforts that don't
fit my commercial agenda.
I like DIYers - they are the happiest audiophiles I know, and are
remarkably nice and self-sufficient.
So what's not to like?
On the downside -
PL and FW work through established distribution worldwide. Distributors
have been tolerant of DIY efforts to date, but have made it clear that
they don't like PL and FW stuff as kits or public schematics.
This is partly because of cloners and partly because it reduces the
appeal of commercial product as they see it.
Also, complete technical information gives the competition something to
badmouth, and/or copy...
Not to mention there is very little money and lots of support in selling kits.
On the upside -
I like doing DIY. It gives me a great outlet for creative efforts that don't
fit my commercial agenda.
I like DIYers - they are the happiest audiophiles I know, and are
remarkably nice and self-sufficient.
So what's not to like?
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It seems to me that a very good strategy has played out here already - the smart DIYers that have worked out how to explore and make something before the official schematic is available have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge and the fame. The enthusiasm and mystery thus created may have generated some 'free marketing' for the F7 distributors to leverage off when selling the commercial version. The rest of us that are too thick & lazy to work it out for ourselves will still be delighted once the official version is released. Kind of a win win win.
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