anyone really figure cash spent

leftwinger57

I don't know if people are willing to air out on how much cash and labor one puts into modding a set in my case a pair of '87 2Bs. Now some of the figures are actual, some estimated, some w/o counting shipping and 2 because of business over the site can't be mentioned but here's my tally so far.

Purchased speakers---$50
Oxalic acid,gloves,masks--$15
Sandpaper,stain, clear poly, foam brushes---$20
Clamps and drill bit--- $9
Larry's Rings' prices are given --$60
Armaflex Gasket--$8
BH-5--$20
Dynamatt--Free
X-Overs by VR-3---?
RDO-194tweeters $102
12 gu BJC Belden 30' for both runs and new I/C--$18
Neutrik/Speakon sets- $12
I gather this comes to $307 not counting some shipping costs the x-overs again done by VR-3 and Dave doing new terminal cups, binding posts,harness, installing the Neutrik/Speakon connectors and bases.
So clearly over 5 bills for what started out as a pair of bone stock great condition '87 SDA 2bs from a moving sale to what's becoming the famous rabbit hole worth more than my car at this point. You go try figuring it out w/ the bigger sets, more labor, more every thing w/ the wives looking on in some cases. Are we nuts to do this ?????

[Deleted User]

I paid $350 for a pair of SDA SRS 2s in excellent shape before I fell down the rabbit hole. When I get them back together in a couple of weeks, I'll have around $1200 into them. I hope it's worth it.

msg

This is pretty insightful, Lew. Lots of little things here most people probably wouldn't consider before beginning these types of projects. There certainly seems to be a lot of process costs associated with this.

I haven't taken on one of these projects yet, but have started collecting parts. I've been have been meaning to do some work, myself, on a set of Monitor 10's. Even considered stripping the finish and veneering them. Some would look at this and think it's a lot to spend on old speakers. I look at it and think, this is a cost of this hobby, not so much simply another "material acquisition", as would be just going out and buying a set of speakers off the floor. The satisfaction of these types of projects for me goes beyond the cost. How can anyone put a price on that part of it, you know what I mean?

Others' answers may be different, maybe especially so in cases of onlooking wives , but I'd say, yes we are nuts, but we're all nuts together, so who cares

Toolfan66

I have over $2000 in my crossovers alone..

Here's the kicker, Ben did my upgrades on my stock boards after I purchased these, then Ray was kind enough to make sure I got a set of his custom boards, so I sold the crossovers Ben did, and by this time I was comfortable doing my own work, so I built a new set on the boards I received from Ray with Sonicaps, Mills, and Solen inductors..

Then I got a hair up my a$$ to build a point 2 point after Trey started doing his work, so I copied his idea, and built the ones I am running now with Clarity MR's, Duelund Resistors, Janzen, and Solen inductors..

So this is my third set of crossovers in my 1.2tl's

I still have the crossovers I built on Ray's boards, and will probably never let them go...

So the money I have spent in all three sets?? I am crazy!! But I am loving what I have, and the experience in doing the work has been fun..

The nice thing is if I ever decided to pick up another set, I have the crossover work already done..

11tsteve

Between crossovers and veneer, I spent well over $500, including the little things, for my Lsi9. I don't have the tally exactly, but just adding up the major components (caps, resistors, Delrin, solder, veneer and supplies) gets me most of the way.
It was a good thing I got an incredible bargain to just buy the speakers, Because total cost now puts me darned near the original retail figure.

xschop

Cheap therapy this hobby.

lightman1

I've spent a college tuition. Oooffaaa!

westmassguy

Over $600.00 in parts alone for my 2As, and about half that for my CRS+s. I've got walnut veneer already purchased for both, just don't have the time or energy at the moment.

F1nut

I don't care about what I've spent, I care about how it sounds when I listen.

Toolfan66

F1nut wrote: »

I don't care about what I've spent, I care about how it sounds when I listen.

Ha, Agreed!!!

msg

F1nut wrote: »

I don't care about what I've spent, I care about how it sounds when I listen.

I wish I could be a hippy free spirit like you Jes.
I'm more like Paul Bettany's self-flagellating Opus Dei character in the Da Vinci Code any time I get anything audio related.

ahem. sorry. that sounded dirty.

leftwinger57

Scott, I like your responses on both your posts. The 1st one not having put much thought into doing what you've done but finally getting to accounting it.Then reacting like I'm doing now w/ the f%*king cavalier attitude of Jesse who it seems could afford anything he pleases is really insulting to those who just scrape by to do this. Zero apologies here.
Now with saying all that, I like so far what are reasonable answers to a very simple question.

msg

Hehe, just kidding around up above there, Lew I think this is a good post, because a lot of the time I just get a wild hair, and go all in without really having full knowledge of what I'm getting myself into cost and time wise, and then, boom, next thing I know, I've gotten much deeper into monetary investment over the time I've involved myself in a project, but in too deep to turn back (audio in general?). Who knows, I may have decided against the project in the beginning, had I done all the work ahead of time. I may be speaking out of turn, but I think Jesse's more controlled, patient, and detailed in his research before beginning a project, so he knows what he's getting into and what to expect for results ahead of time. I'm just a spazzy opposite to that, lol

RandyCroissant

I still haven't reached the bottom of the rabbit hole but I can say I,m smilinin all the way

voltz

When I had my 10's and CRS+'s done I had Dave use the best ingredients like sonic caps, and Cardas binding post as I did not want any regret later. but been to long and I don't know how much in all I spent. To much trouble to go back and figure it up but yes for me it was worth it. I bought some dynamat xtreme & black hole 5 to do what I could on my end.

So I know the cost was up there, but hey my Baby's were worth it

tonyp063

I bought a pair of 10As for $125 & have *easily* three times that in crossover bits, Larry's rings & all the other usual suspects.

The point is, for *me*, is that I have gotten that much enjoyment, and much more, for my education & entertainment dollar.
Look at in a different way.
You take you & your squeeze out on the town for a really good night.
You could easily spend that much.

And both are worth whatever you choose to spend.
Because, frankly, it's about being happy. Ain't it?

txcoastal1

Wouldn't this thread somewhat be relevant on all audio hobbyist purchases to listen to better tunes

Can you really put a dollar figure to enjoyment....please don't tell my wife

Realistic

No way man, if I start to add it up and my wife sees it, well lets just say I would be a memory to you all.

F1nut

Lew, you missed the boat again.

pumpkinman

I've never went all out on a pair but what I've spent in the last 40 years on this hobby would probably make me sick. God only knows how much I have invested in vinyl alone.
Would I do it all over again ??
You betcha I would. I love it.

P-man

pumpkinman

F1nut wrote: »

Lew, you missed the boat again.

That's O.K. I miss that boat all the time.

gudnoyez

There goes Jesse pissin off someone again, come on Lew let Jesse spread the wealth, when you got it like he does you might as well spend it it's amazing how much money one invests in this hobby, I for one don't want to go back and recalculate the money I have spent. The problem is you always want more.

leftwinger57

Jesse, I owe you an apology. You do see from most of the answers I just wanted to get a feeling if people did/do realize how much is spent on something that can start out as a perfectly decent sounding set of vintage speakers. Addiction, absolutely not, obviously everyone here has a house,electric, tunes and all the crap in life to get by. So it's not all -encompassing and ruining lives. Just the opposite it's a freaking expensive hobby and I was kinda taking a poll on what lengths dudes/dudettes go to fill this one niche of modding speakers.
Now, me and you oil and water, I like to ramble (pretty obvious) you have the most succinct 1 line answers and delivery style from anyone I'd ever heard from and for some reason just drives me nutty. What can I say, I'll refer to you for anything if your still willing...Lew
Oh, just a reminder I was not prying to all's investment in their entire worldly possessions, just modding a set of vintage Polks period...

leftwinger57

Oh sh$t,I did forget one thing..Happy Easter for all you guys who do celebrate it.

msg

F1nut wrote: »

I don't care about what I've spent, I care about how it sounds when I listen.

MrBuhl

leftwinger57 wrote: »

Are we nuts to do this ?????

Not when I sit down to listen to them. I love my originally 2a and now converted to 2BTL's - I don't have an exact tally anymore but I'm in for $500+ on mine with the driver, crossover and inductor changes - and I'm very pleased indeed to have done the work.

I still haven't found another brand/speaker that I like as well for the $500 or so that I have in these.

boston1450

Sing along now " Ya Think My Speakers R Sexy" oh yeah
.
Ive come along way since this picture & worth every penny

F1nut

Happy Easter, Lew.

leftwinger57

Thank you...

Nightfall

Not too much. Yet. Around $550 and 26 hours of driving to get my 2B's where they are.

gimpod

Between the 3 sets of 1Cs (2 for spare parts), 4.1TLs, New Open reel tape (10.5" ATR MDS36) and vinyl I don't even want to think about it. Thank god I'm not married if I was I'm sure I would be dead or divorced by now.