Eight Audio, Hyderabad

[jmascreen]

Will there be any tube based integrated in pipeline under this scheme?

 

[keith_correa]

And you WANT me to work with him??

Cheers

I realized that later and wondered when you'd catch on.

 

[venkatcr]

Will there be any tube based integrated in pipeline under this scheme?

Certainly. But I want to start with something easily doable and then move forward. Though a tube system has lesser circuit, Tubes have issues in terms of choosing the correct tubes and making spares available. More important, tubes may not sound good with all speakers. You may need to look at single drivers with high sensitivity. Pushes the ownership costs high. I am looking at keeping a complete system including speakers between 200-300$ delivered.

Let us see.

Thanks

 

[afj]

@Afj, PNReddy,

Thank you so much for offering to help out. What I want done initially is quite simple.

1. Visit Eight Audio, and listen to their amps. Please take you own music across multiple genres. You might need to check with them what players they have and take music accordingly.

2. I have few audiophile tracks that I will lend to you.

3. Check with them if they are ready for some changes to the components based on our inputs. Check with them what kind of numbers they are looking for to be ready to make these changes.

4. Check with them if they are ready to insert a Android based remote control. I will provide the complete circuitry for that.

5. Check with them if they are ready to service the products. I am looking at at least a ten year agreement.

6. If they ask for numbers, talk to them about the game plane I have explained below.

7. Tell them to see if they can explain some of the issues raised by stereoboyindia, in particular to the genuineness of the components.

8. In general get a feel of the company. Are they in for the long haul? Do they have a passion for what they are doing? Do they understand what music is and do they really like music?

My Business Plan
-------------------

What I am looking at is a simple 2 channel amp+speaker that can come at low prices but one that provide genuine quality and excellent sound. The system must by plug and play, look well made, and we must provide absolute trust to the buyer for 10 years. He must be able to use it without worries and enjoy music.

I want to extend the initial products to have the following features:

1. Be easy to use for whole home audio using something like the Chromecast Audio.
2. Deliver a low cost DAC that can be used.
3. Maybe insert a low cost DAC that will become part of the amp.
4. Insert a phono premap later.
5. Be capable of getting music from inside a network.
6. Have a Internet tuner.
7. Be controllable from a Android / Apple ecosystem.

Cheers

sounds good venkat. will pm you my email id and mobile number and we can take it from there

i have had good experiences with chinese setups. very good value. i dont have any experience / knowledge with amplifier kits, but am sure there are some good ones out there. are we looking at those as well?

ps. i could stand corrected here

 

[greenhorn]

+1 to that. a TPA3112+a 90W adapter will come in at <3K INR.
another 2.5K adds a 6N3 tube buffer - this combo is the current budget champion at a lot of forums

 

[venkatcr]

i have had good experiences with chinese setups. very good value. i dont have any experience / knowledge with amplifier kits, but am sure there are some good ones out there. are we looking at those as well?

I am sure there are lots of Chinese options. But I am not looking for that.

Couple of reasons:

1. I want to have the confidence to support the user for minimum 10 years.
2. I want a back up engineering firm that I can depend upon.
3. I have a number of product ideas, and I don't want the Chinese to steal them.
4. If I go to the Chinese, they will look for large numbers. Too much capital outlay.
5. I want someone or a company with easy reach. Can't keep flying to HK or Peking, or wherever. Costs, costs, costs!
6. I am fairly certain we can do a good job.

If things work out well, I want to provide some home grown competition to the Chinese. :lol:

Cheers

 

[rikhav]

Sorry venkat
Never mean to discourage you

But let's keep the discussion of competition with Chinese at later stage

But how can you be so sure eight audio won't copy your product ?

Is eight audio capable of doing manufacturing at such large qty because you also know lesser quantities willl take you no where. Again let's keep marketing for separate discussion

Most important how can you be so sure eight audio would be operating even after few years, forget 10

Give it a thought

DNM and norge are struggling when they are pioneers in India atleast. Don't you think shyam bajaj did not get such ideas?
By shyam bajaj I mean owner of dnm. I get confused between late owner of Norge and owner of dnm

I know him since very long as he purchased my neighbours place at ansa estate from where he operates. He is pakka businessman and won't leave a stone unturned when he sees an opportunity to earn

He does know contract manufactures in China, some who do for Yamaha. So he has all the contacts and resources

Also am confused about one more thing

Is this project only for hifivision members ? If yes, does one need some qualifications like number of posts to order the amp

Or its your personal project you are undertaking

Am happy both ways , but was just confused

 

[venkatcr]

Never mean to discourage you

Don't worry. I do like discussions and that is the way to clear your (my) mind. I am like a bulldog. Once I latch on to something, I don't let go.

But how can you be so sure eight audio won't copy your product ?

I will get into a legal agreement with them.

Is eight audio capable of doing manufacturing at such large qty because you also know lesser quantities will take you no where.

In the beginning, I am not looking at large quantity. I want the concept to catch on with HFV members (first). If that works, I will see how to move forward. It will most be through the Net.

Most important how can you be so sure eight audio would be operating even after few years, forget 10

I am using Eight Audio only in the beginning. Later on when things work out, I will either tie up with multiple vendors, or open our own R&D, and assembly unit.

DNM and norge are struggling when they are pioneers in India at least. Don't you think shyam bajaj did not get such ideas?

There is a difference between Shyam and DNM. Norge and Shyam did not WANT to grow. He was happy doing what he did. It was more like a hobby with him. DNM is successful in the commercial market. DNM is not interested in the two channel market. In either case, I think both Norge and DNM did not, and do not, understand the strength of the Internet.

There are others - Sonodyne and a large number of small players in each city.

Is this project only for hifivision members ? If yes, does one need some qualifications like number of posts to order the amp.

In the beginning I plan to make the amps available for demos across people in multiple cities. I am hoping HFV members will work with me to popularize the concept. In terms of actual sale. I will work with the SuperMod to make it available from HifiMart. When we sell a good quantity, we will explore other ways.

Or its your personal project you are undertaking

In a way it is trying to fulfill what I see is the market need. Today most manufacturers are moving away from 2-in-1s. MP3 is getting popular. I see a lot of people earning to listen to good music. I am hoping to see if I can make good music available to the common man. I am also hoping to see if I can popularize the concept of who home audio for the slightly upper end who have Wifi and router at home. Essentially take a CCA or a Raspberry and make it plug and play. There are lot of ideas, and have to see what will work.

I am confident if you can get good music at a reasonable price, people will not hesitate to buy. And I plan to deliver exceptional service. No questions asked. If the system does not work, give it back to me. That is all. I know some people will take advantage - buy a system, misuse it and demand a replacement. But that is something I am confident of handling. In India I see only a few companies do that.

 

[rikhav]

Hi venkatcr

Thanks for replying to all my queries
Will surely like to listen to the amp as soon as possible

Best of luck with the venture

 

[pnreddy]

Hi Venkatcr,

As promised, I visited the Eight Audio set up couple of days ago and talked to Mr. Shravan. It seems to be a one man show and operating out of his house. He is importing most of his components and assembling them as per orders. I asked him about the 30 watt system for Rs.5,000. He says he can assemble it with standard modules and offer it for audition. If you order it then he can put it in a proper cabinet for the final version. The amp cabinet that he showed me was of 290 X 370 X 95 mm. This was meant for an order of 200 Watts amp. The 30 watt amp will come in a cabinet half the size (290X185X95).

He is willing to work on a developmental model, if the order will be for about 10 pcs. He also wanted to know if the 30 watt system that you wanted is to have ICs or MOSFETs. I feel that you can work with him to get the developmental model going. If you can give me the detailed specs for the amp you want to test, please let me have your specs and I don't mind liasioning with him.

 

[afj]

hi venkat
wanted some clarity

the amp that you intend to develop -

are you looking at doing the entire design yourself and just getting it manufactured by a company or

do you have a design that you want a company that has experience in design and manufacture of amplifiers to vet / tweak your own design

do you want to approach a manufacturer that has a design and tweak it to suit needs

 

[venkatcr]

do you want to approach a manufacturer that has a design and tweak it to suit needs

I am looking for a ready made design that can be tweaked to suit our needs. I am looking for good quality sound and longevity. Nothing else matters.

Thanks

 

[afj]

I am looking for a ready made design that can be tweaked to suit our needs. I am looking for good quality sound and longevity. Nothing else matters.

Thanks

perhaps you have already considered - theres a lot more kits and designs coming out of china / hong kong. they supply to most of the diyers across the world. we can pick up on a well received kit and then tweak it ourselves. we dont need an 'amplifier manufacturer' per se - anyones that does pcb assembly / printing etc will do. not saying that we wont find this sort of solution in india, but going with chinese kits will give us a lot more options that have already been tried, tested, tweaked, reviewed etc

 

[sathiamoorthy]

Good initiative Venkat sir.

 

[venkatcr]

perhaps you have already considered - theres a lot more kits and designs coming out of china / hong kong. they supply to most of the diyers across the world. we can pick up on a well received kit and then tweak it ourselves. we dont need an 'amplifier manufacturer' per se - anyones that does pcb assembly / printing etc will do. not saying that we wont find this sort of solution in india, but going with chinese kits will give us a lot more options that have already been tried, tested, tweaked, reviewed etc

I don't like the Chinese business model. If nothing works, I will get someone in Europe or US to design a circuit for me and assemble it in India. I think we really should move out of the Chinese (low low cost) mind set.

Thanks

 

[afj]

I don't like the Chinese business model. If nothing works, I will get someone in Europe or US to design a circuit for me and assemble it in India. I think we really should move out of the Chinese (low low cost) mind set.

Thanks

not that im forcing you to pursue this avenue, but some of the chinese kits are pretty good quality. esp the diy kits. its when you start getting it mass manufactured there and dont have quality checks in place / squeeze for extremely low pricing that they use lower quality components.

 

[venkatcr]

not that im forcing you to pursue this avenue, but some of the chinese kits are pretty good quality. esp the diy kits. its when you start getting it mass manufactured there and dont have quality checks in place / squeeze for extremely low pricing that they use lower quality components.

I dont have a issue with that. If you (or any other member) have good designs that are available in mind, please do let me know. We can get the designs and try them out here. I have a small shop who is excited to work with me. So assembling the parts and trying out prototypes is not a problem.

He is also ready to hand assemble the first 20-25 sets that we can distribute.

Thanks

 

[keith_correa]

There is no such thing as a Chinese business model. They manufacture and assemble at a low cost because they can. That's not to be termed a "business model". If manufacturing in the US or Germany is expensive - one would not term that a "business model" would they?

 

[venkatcr]

There is no such thing as a Chinese business model. They manufacture and assemble at a low cost because they can.

Essentially what I dont like about the Chinese are the following:

1. Cutting corners for lower costs.
2. Displaying / demoing something and delivering something else.
3. Short life span or interest span of the companies.
4. Ownership of companies. Most of them, other than a choice few, have no passion for audio. They do no have an objective.

That is what I meant by 'business plan'.

My objectives is simple. (1) Deliver good quality integrated amplifier for as low a cost as possible. (2) Support the user for 10 years minimum (3) Innovate and deliver new products on a continuous basis.

I will not work with someone I am not comfortable with.

Thanks

 

[sureshkn]

Hi Venkat,
How is your progress going on ? Just curious.

Regards,
Suresh.