| Compression Drivers [message #74146] |
Tue, 16 October 2012 19:28  |
rkeman
Messages: 78
Registered: March 2010
Location: Florida
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Viscount |
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Parts Express has just introduced a new 1" compression driver modeled after the B&C DE-250. The Dayton Audio D250P-8 1" Polyimide Compression Horn Driver costs only $50, but appears to match the B&C DE-250 specifications quite closely. If the unit-to-unit consistency is good it may be a real winner coupled to the H290C.
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 Re: Compression Drivers [message #74147 is a reply to message #74146] |
Tue, 16 October 2012 22:14  |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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I suppose it might be worth looking at but I must admit I'm not too pleased with what I think are probably Chinese copies. I'm seeing this happen a lot in audio lately, little companies springing up selling Chinese knock-offs of products from popular brands. Some of these companies are actually sponsoring this "development" in China by sending them the devices to copy.
I don't know that it is illegal to send a compression driver to China to be copied, unless it infringes on a patent. But I'm not interested in supporting that kind of thing myself. I mean, isn't there some responsibility on the part of these companies to do a little bit of R&D in order to be in the manufacturing business, or is it right that they just copy whatever they want?
If B&C wanted to shift their manufacturing to China for cost savings, that's one thing. You may or may not find that to be a good move. But for other companies to do that, to have zero R&D investment, no engineers, no technical talent at all - for them to send a device to China just to have it copied cheaply, well, I find that more than distasteful, I find it downright disgusting.
So I guess you can say I'm not going to be trying the Denovo or Parts Express driver copies. I would suggest to all other hobbyists that the best thing they could do to support ongoing development of quality hifi products is to avoid buying from companies that copy products like those. If the company has no engineering staff, avoid purchasing their "house" brand products, particularly if they have specs that match another popular model. That's my view, for what it's worth.
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| Re: Compression Drivers [message #74152 is a reply to message #74151] |
Wed, 17 October 2012 09:23 |
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Wayne Parham
Messages: 18787
Registered: January 2001
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Illuminati (33rd Degree) |
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Oh, heavens, don't apologize. There is absolutely nothing wrong with discussing new products and alternate sources here. We've shifted suppliers before, and I'm always interested in hearing about new technologies and new devices. For example, the DE250 is a fairly new part for me, I was using the JBL 2426 for years before trying out the DE250. So don't worry that I would want to discourage you or anyone else from discussing new or alternate parts here in this forum.
It's just that I find it really wrong to copy devices. That's just my personal opinion, so I jumped up on a soap box for a minute.
There has been a long legal debate on reverse-engineerng, even before overseas outsourcing was commonplace. There is legal precedence that reverse-engineering is acceptable as long as no intellectual property rights are violated. That doesn't necessarily have to be a patent violation - If a company obtains blueprints or source code or other engineering documentation, they can be in violation of copyright. But as long as none of that has happened, it is legally acceptable to reverse-engineer a product in most cases.
I still find product copying to be an ugly practice, and especially in a company that has no engineering staff, and just sends a product overseas to have it copied. Is it illegal? No, I don't think so. But will I support it? No, I will not. It's a personal choice.
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| Re: Compression Drivers [message #74167 is a reply to message #74146] |
Thu, 18 October 2012 18:13 |
blvdre
Messages: 35
Registered: April 2010
Location: Burlington, VT
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Baron |
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Believe me, I can relate to the desire for affordable drivers. But in the case of a specific driver being copied and sold cheaply, there is a downside. The eventual result of this dynamic is that R&D goes away (being driven out of business), and with it, product innovation.
Of course, that's the extreme. After all, in this example, we're only talking about one specific driver. But every little bit counts.
The other very real issue is quality control. All things may appear equal, but there may be hidden surprises in those inexpensive drivers.
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