For those of you have not seen it, we recently agreed to an interview with MonoAndStereo.com
.:: Mono & Stereo ::. ... the finest in high-end audio ...: Interview with Musical Laboratory*
This gives a good introduction to who we are and what we are trying to achieve.
In terms of pricing : like some of the forum members here we started in the DIY scene, so we too know what things cost. The commercial scene is quite different : A commercial manufacturer is likely to receive 30% (40 if they are tough negotiators - which incidently we aren't) of the RRP after the middle men ( dealers and distributers) take their cut.
With web sales we have to charge the same prices, but fewer than you might think will buy something unheard - it requires an act of faith by our customers, esp. if you are not the Nelson Pass, Martin Logans, or other High St brands of this World.
But Musical Laboratory* is not really about making money, it came about as a realisation of my passion for Music, combined with a complete inability (at the time) to find anything in the High St. High End emporiums, which played music in a natural way or which were enjoyable to listen to for more than a few seconds.
We apologise if the margins in our web shop seem unreasonable for what is 'only a gainclone'. In fact it sounds illogical to say but generally it is true to say, 'no two clones sound alike'. The Rev. 2.3 Bosangwhas, as it happens, are on a completely different level of performance compared to the original 4706 Gaincard. (I can say this, firstly because we openly credit Junji's masterpiece as one of the reasons that we exist as a company. Secondly I own (and have done, for many years ) an original Humpty-powered 4706, which is still used as one of our points of reference.) Steven R Rochlin at EnjoyTheMusic.com - who wrote a seminal review of the Gaincard in 1999, 'outing' it to the West - will (I hope) corroborate this, when he publishes his review of the Rev.2.3 Bosangwhas next month.
The Rev. 2.3s are offered with a choice of two PSUs : 'Mono' which is our entry-level SMPS design, & the 'Dual' which is a more powerful - specifically audio - SMPS which we collaborated on. The cost of just one of the modules in our Dual PSU costs 200 EUR; while another in it costs 70 EUR (not USD). So when the forum member aliasing as Sherwood claims that one can build a clone for 150 USD this might, in fact, still be correct to say - however one should be wary to avoid the the trap of thinking that all Gainclones therefore cost this much to make.
Finally, forum members may be interested to learn that we are offering - for a while - our friends at AudiogoN 25% cash-back, if they mention Audiogon when they order from us. Same now applies if you mention 'Head-Case'.
Best regards, to all you Audiofreaks.
malcolm hyde, Founder of Musical Laboratory*
