ruckus328
Well-known member
OK, some updates with this. Getting closer to finalizing everything. Transformer/board pricing will definately be $150. I'm still waiting on panel quotes. They will be best case the $50 I mentioned, they might be $55 but that is the highest it will be (Even still that's about half what it costs to have your own made/engraved).
Component Kits - We'll need to get at least 10 stereo units worth for me to do it, I need to go back and look at the list to see how close we are to that. I need to finish the sb4k build manual so moving as fast as I can, but I will have the component kits figured out in the next day or 2. They will be no more than it would cost to source it yourself, hopefully some bucks cheaper, but it saves on the extra shipping and hassle of getting the wrong stuff. Like mentioned, they'll be just like I'd do for myself, mica caps (no ceramics), Panasoniv FC throughout except for the main audio path (unless you guys don't want to) we'll do an Elna audiophile grade for the 470uF - they're over $2 a piece but you only need one and they're reeeally nice caps & what I used in my prototype. Wima Polypro Films in the audio path, wima or epcos polyester film for the sidechain/power supply. Will use the single turn bourns trimmers (multiturns were actually a royal PITA for this because a few of them you want to be fully clockwise or counterclockwise, and another one pretty much dead center. With the multiturns you don't know where the wiper is).
Shipping I'm still working on as well. Domestic prices won't be bad but the weight's coming in over 4lb, and closer to 5lb with the component kits, so it can't ship first class (4lb limit) and will need to ship priority mail on the internationals which is a little more expensive. Did some quick calculations and I know so far it will be at least $30 to ship the full stereo kits, but good news is with priority mail there is some trackability unlike first class, and transit times are much faster. Plus remember boxes/packing materials adds a few bucks to the total shipping price. I'll only be charging what it actually costs to ship though, so the costs will defer depending on where you're located and what you are ordering to keep it as low as possible. Shipping insurance will be available but going to be optional.
T4B's - I won't be offering them with kits for a magnitude of reasons - 1) People have their own preferences - Kenetek and Drip both make very nices one's. Ioaudio is offering thiers now and of course there's the UA originals 2) Even if I got a discount it will still be adding close to another $10,000 to my costs, and I'm already looking at very serious amounts of money as it is to do this for everyone, so I need to draw the line somewhere. 3) It will add another $200 to the kit price, making it even more difficult for alot of you guys to be able to swing this thing in 1 shot. It's easy to spend $200 3 times, every two weeks or so. But coming up with $600 in one shot can be rough though - I'm sure you know what I mean.
Payments - As I mentioned, I'm going to need to do preorders for this. There's far too much involved to not, and it worked very well for the sb4k launch. I'd love to be able to just hold them for everyone but unfortunately I had quite a bit of people ask me to hold them sb4k kits, and then either backed or I never heard form them, so with the magnitude of all of this and money involved I just can't take those kinds of risks. At this point, I'm very comfortable the needed interest is there but I'm going to let the feeler run for a little bit yet. Will be opening up for preorders soon though, as soon as shipping and kit pricing is finalized, at which point it will just be first come first served. The first run will be for around 100 channels (50 stereo units). Can't predict the future but if inital interest is any indication there's a high likelyhood it will fill up quick, but I don't want to hear about any of you hocking jewelry or selling organs for yours ;D
Timeframe - There is a 6 week lead time on the longest items, most of them will be in before then though so I can begin packaging ahead of time, but that puts the longest items here around Dec 15th. If things go well it could be sooner but I can't make any promises. I was a little too optimistic with the sb4k time frames, so 6 weeks allows for any issues that arose like it did with the panels, although I have all of my manufacturing issues addressed now from that, so expect this run to be very smooth. My goal is everyone will be building these for the holidays.
Component Kits - We'll need to get at least 10 stereo units worth for me to do it, I need to go back and look at the list to see how close we are to that. I need to finish the sb4k build manual so moving as fast as I can, but I will have the component kits figured out in the next day or 2. They will be no more than it would cost to source it yourself, hopefully some bucks cheaper, but it saves on the extra shipping and hassle of getting the wrong stuff. Like mentioned, they'll be just like I'd do for myself, mica caps (no ceramics), Panasoniv FC throughout except for the main audio path (unless you guys don't want to) we'll do an Elna audiophile grade for the 470uF - they're over $2 a piece but you only need one and they're reeeally nice caps & what I used in my prototype. Wima Polypro Films in the audio path, wima or epcos polyester film for the sidechain/power supply. Will use the single turn bourns trimmers (multiturns were actually a royal PITA for this because a few of them you want to be fully clockwise or counterclockwise, and another one pretty much dead center. With the multiturns you don't know where the wiper is).
Shipping I'm still working on as well. Domestic prices won't be bad but the weight's coming in over 4lb, and closer to 5lb with the component kits, so it can't ship first class (4lb limit) and will need to ship priority mail on the internationals which is a little more expensive. Did some quick calculations and I know so far it will be at least $30 to ship the full stereo kits, but good news is with priority mail there is some trackability unlike first class, and transit times are much faster. Plus remember boxes/packing materials adds a few bucks to the total shipping price. I'll only be charging what it actually costs to ship though, so the costs will defer depending on where you're located and what you are ordering to keep it as low as possible. Shipping insurance will be available but going to be optional.
T4B's - I won't be offering them with kits for a magnitude of reasons - 1) People have their own preferences - Kenetek and Drip both make very nices one's. Ioaudio is offering thiers now and of course there's the UA originals 2) Even if I got a discount it will still be adding close to another $10,000 to my costs, and I'm already looking at very serious amounts of money as it is to do this for everyone, so I need to draw the line somewhere. 3) It will add another $200 to the kit price, making it even more difficult for alot of you guys to be able to swing this thing in 1 shot. It's easy to spend $200 3 times, every two weeks or so. But coming up with $600 in one shot can be rough though - I'm sure you know what I mean.
Payments - As I mentioned, I'm going to need to do preorders for this. There's far too much involved to not, and it worked very well for the sb4k launch. I'd love to be able to just hold them for everyone but unfortunately I had quite a bit of people ask me to hold them sb4k kits, and then either backed or I never heard form them, so with the magnitude of all of this and money involved I just can't take those kinds of risks. At this point, I'm very comfortable the needed interest is there but I'm going to let the feeler run for a little bit yet. Will be opening up for preorders soon though, as soon as shipping and kit pricing is finalized, at which point it will just be first come first served. The first run will be for around 100 channels (50 stereo units). Can't predict the future but if inital interest is any indication there's a high likelyhood it will fill up quick, but I don't want to hear about any of you hocking jewelry or selling organs for yours ;D
Timeframe - There is a 6 week lead time on the longest items, most of them will be in before then though so I can begin packaging ahead of time, but that puts the longest items here around Dec 15th. If things go well it could be sooner but I can't make any promises. I was a little too optimistic with the sb4k time frames, so 6 weeks allows for any issues that arose like it did with the panels, although I have all of my manufacturing issues addressed now from that, so expect this run to be very smooth. My goal is everyone will be building these for the holidays.
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Carbon comps for the signal resistors and metal film for all the PSU resistors. Best quietest PSU possible with carbon comp signal goodness 
