Yeah, if you manage to rope in speaker-fi people in somehow, then it really won't seem so crazy to them.  If you're primarily dealing with the HF world, tougher sale.  But if enough people like it at meets, who knows.  I do agree though that there may be a certain look people expect at that price point.  The market should determine that for you.


Double blind testing on stat amps in general is a great idea.  The purported differences are so large, but in my experience (especially with headphones like the 009) they are not nearly as wide as some would have us believe.  Though they are more obvious with headphones like the 007.


It sounds like this designer has some interesting perspective/character traits.  If you are serious about it making inroads in this market, I would suggest you have him sign up here, HF, wherever, to answer questions himself.  This might also help in the inevitable case that various accusations are lobbed at its power supply, use of parts/circuit, etc from usual suspects doing this community a public service.

I'd rather get a $2K STAX amp, a $2K DAC, and a $1K USB converter, which I know will give me better sonics.

I think this is exactly what we are talking about in terms of bias, size and cost, etc.

Without having heard the final version, you already know you can buy something that sounds better for the same price.

I am not trying to give you a hard time. I am just pointing out that you evaluation is probably the norm rather than the exception. No one can believe an all-in-one box that small could possibly be as good as anything else already out there.

Even when people hear the final version, it's going to be tough since most people will go into the audition and hear what they expect to hear. They expect to hear something that isn't as good since it can't possibly be good. They will confirm their suspicions. That's natural, human nature.

I think of the Schiit Vali and the praise it receives regardless of it's size and cost. Yes, a totally different ball game when you are talking about $119 vs. $5K.

I guess we can only hope that IF (that's a big IF) somehow this Vostok box actually does sound really good compared to the competition, then some people will buy it regardless of it's size. I am not saying it's as good or better than anything else. Hopefully enough people will be able to hear it and tell me what they think.

The whole reason I am involved in this project is that the two people who designed and built this box have what I consider to be VERY good ears and have proven to me many times that they can hear differences in audiophile gear including speakers, amps, etc. So, basically I trust them when they tell me it's that good. I don't claim to have the experience or the "ear" to match them or most of you on this forum.

All I ask is that people evaluate it with an open mind.

The inclusion of a dynamic amplifier was a good move, since the market for electrostatic-focused gear is rather slim and highly impressionable.

The price hike (180% of what was estimated) was not quite as smart and will make this a tough sell, though I can imagine significantly higher margins per unit.

I appreciate the risk you've taken in making these available for sale.

Quote from: N on March 21, 2014, 09:11:10 PM

The price hike (180% of what was estimated) was not quite as smart and will make this a tough sell, though I can imagine significantly higher margins per unit.

There was never a price hike AFAIK. The only announced price was always around $5K. However, they may make this version without the high power dynamic amp retail for $4200 instead of $4900. Then the ES-31 which will have a high power dynamic amp will be $4990.

I think I may have mentioned before that the designer told me his cost for parts and labor to build was around $3K, but that was his cost, not the retail price.

Oops, my mistake.. no idea where that idea came from.