Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis?

Posted by SRMcGee (A) on September 21, 2005 at 10:22:38

Folks:

I am considering starting up a new business importing high quality audio chassis for sale in the U.S. and Canada. I am not selling those chassis today. I am negotiating with a company that has been producing a variety of very attractive enclosures for DIYâ€™ers in its local market for years. While they offer a broad range of products, I would likely start off by importing only 5 or 6 chassis styles. Additional chassis styles would be added as demand grows.

Par-Metal, Bud, Hammond and the other brands sell decent-looking enclosures, but no one would confuse them with commercial grade boxes. Thicker metal (including 0.25â€ thick faceplates), fewer seams and a beautiful anodized finish all cost more than the stuff that is currently available to the DIY community. These chassis designs look like they could be used by the big name high end manufacturers. Although nothing is firm at this point, I would expect that a rack mount-style enclosure (interior dimensions of 15.75w * 11.75d * 3.75h) would sell for about $110; a heavy duty tube amp chassis (12.5w * 16d * 2.75h) for about $100 and a 2-box preamp chassis (each box 10w * 11.75d * 3.7 h) for about $140.

My question is this: is the market for great-looking high quality chassis designs large enough to justify my making the substantial investment required to get this business off of the ground?

Yea or nay, please post your thoughts.

Thank you,
Scott

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Topic - Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - SRMcGee 10:22:38 09/21/05 (16)

Thats Nice .. But are you Guys that Lazy? - Bare 20:44:16 09/22/05 (0)

Can they be had in higher heights? - Russ57 08:13:51 09/22/05 (1)

Re: Can they be had in higher heights? - SRMcGee 10:28:22 09/22/05 (0)

The DIY market - Chris_F 05:06:15 09/22/05 (3)

Re: The DIY market - pkell44 06:22:35 09/22/05 (2)

Depends on the skills of the DIY'er - Chris_F 11:44:48 09/22/05 (0)

Re: The DIY market - SRMcGee 06:55:05 09/22/05 (0)

Ho yeah...! - lowebyrrd 23:48:51 09/21/05 (0)

Absolutely - badman 14:36:42 09/21/05 (0)

Re: Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - Pars 11:36:24 09/21/05 (2)

Re: Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - SRMcGee 11:42:59 09/21/05 (1)

Re: Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - Pars 10:46:47 09/22/05 (0)

Re: Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - Dave Garretson 11:22:51 09/21/05 (3)

Re: Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - SRMcGee 11:48:27 09/21/05 (2)

Re: Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - pkell44 08:03:56 09/22/05 (1)

Re: Survey: Is there a demand for high quality DIY chassis? - SRMcGee 10:40:57 09/22/05 (0)

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