how do you rnp & VTB1 users rate the pres?

[alba359]

Hi, On a scale of 1 to 10; 1 being common board pres like A&H or Mackie and 10 being Api and Neve. Thanks, Don

[darrin_h2000]

I really like my VTB-1 but rating it is futile because of the color of the sound is different than the others and I suggest using different colors. I have to hear more of the RMP to do a real evaluation.

Speaking of the RNP, I have a friend that has a Home recording Botique that wants to start selling the FMR stuff and I think we have a plan that will enable him to do that. We havent got the details ironed out but he is willing to give big discounts to the first ten or so people commiting to buy an RNP from him because the first order has to be a big one, If you are interested you can PM me at this site and I will fill you in on the details. I wouldnt want anyone to accuse me of spamming so personal email is good. If this works out you will get a heavy savings and he will get to sell them in his store.

I apologize in advance if anyone is offended by this.

PM me if you are interested.

[tdukex]

I'm interested, but your PM is full.

[chessrock]

Same here.

I guess that must mean that you've gotten some interest.

As for the question at hand, I would probably rate the ART Tube MP a 2 as a mic pre (just a step above a Mackie), and a 7 as a bass DI.

[darrin_h2000]

Ill try to clear that out if I can. so you all can email me.

thanks

Wayne

[darrin_h2000]

I have cleared that out so now you should be able to PM me , If you cant for any reason just post it here.

[tubedude]

According to transamerica marketing about two weeks ago, FMR is not looking for any more retailers so I doubt this happens.

[darrin_h2000]

This has allready been checked out tubedude, so Its just a matter of my friend getting his investment back. They may not have to look for anymore vendors, but they cant turn down an order, especially from someone who has sold a small quantity of them. There are minimum requirements to get in and that involves a big investment, without commitments hes not willing to risk it now.

Is transamerica the firm that sold you your RNP?

If you are interested PM me below. We will try to hammer this out this weekend

By the way tubedude, how was Your RNP?

[Bowisc]

Huge discounts?

I doubt it.

There is not a large mark-up on the RNP to begin with. I know this from talking to Jake at Humbucker. So I doubt that anyone will be selling it for even $10 - $15 less without making almost zero $ on it.

Bowisc

[darrin_h2000]

Nothing goes for just a 2-3% markup that is just common sense.(10 dollars into $500 is just 2%). If that was the case nobody would sell it no matter how good it is. It would take too long to see any profit, they would literally have to sell fifty just before they see $500 of pure profit, and then they have to pay overhead. and that is reality.

[ozraves]

well, my scale would be mackie 1 and gordon audio 10.

you'd see a vtb1 at maybe a 2 or 3.

[BasPer]

OT:

Originally posted by darrin_h2000
Nothing goes for just a 2-3% markup that is just common sense.

In audio no. But check out the margins in the computer market! (Which is a completely different ballgame thanks to the enormous volumes... I'm just trying to get to 100 posts...)

[alba359]

Ozraves, I like the reviews you post on Mojo, on your scale how do you rate the Sytek, Grace and RNP. Thanks, Don

[RSM]

darrin_h2000-i'm interested in you friends RNP deal.Your box is still full.Can you email me at rsm121470@dslextreme.com ?
Thanks

[alanhyatt]

Originally posted by darrin_h2000
Speaking of the RNP, I have a friend that has a Home recording Botique that wants to start selling the FMR stuff and I think we have a plan that will enable him to do that.
PM me if you are interested.

There are only three RNP dealers in the country! Mercenary, Humbucker Music, and FMR. You will not be able to become a dealer no matter how many you offer to buy.

Now, ask yourself why?

[ozraves]

i haven't used or heard the grace enough to give it a rating.

all this is kind of unfair b/c the gordon sounds incredible but it costs a big bucket of $$$ compared to anything else. the vtb1 performs very good and is worth the money.

to me, 1 means good sound that you can make a commercial recording with. 10 means the best damn preamp on the planet.

on the sytek and the fmr, i think it depends on what you want. i'd maybe put them somewhere in the 5-7 area.

[alanhyatt]

Originally posted by Bowisc
Huge discounts?

I doubt it.

There is not a large mark-up on the RNP to begin with. I know this from talking to Jake at Humbucker. So I doubt that anyone will be selling it for even $10 - $15 less without making almost zero $ on it.

Bowisc

I have a bridge I want to sell you..

All due respect Bowsic. I am not busting your balls here. You have been a good supporter for me and I will would not dis you...You know me better than that, but I know the business.

This is a way to keep the selling price high by not having more than two dealers. Plus when FMR sells it, they don't loose the dealer discounts that are passed on to the dealer for stocking them. So in fact, FMR makes a killing when they do sell direct at retail.

The profit points are good to the dealer...If they were not, the dealer would not invest their money and stock them. At 10% profit, a dealer looses money just based on the overhead costs they have like rent, lights, phone, and all the other expenses involved with running a business. At 20%, a dealer maybe breaks even, especially on an under $500.00 unit. At 30%, a dealer can live with it, and at 40%, they will kiss your ass.

Either way, a dealer is entitled to make money...end of story. They invest a good deal of money and expense to stock, advertise, service and sell these products.

So, this is just a monolopy for the two dealers right now, which is why it is in their best interest not to like any other mic amp in the low cost arena. If I had an exclusive on a hot product...its competition would sound like shit to me! For the record, Jake did not say that.

So if you believe the two RNP dealers are not making any money of the RNP...I have a bridge to sell you.

[chessrock]

Originally posted by alanhyatt
So, this is just a monolopy for the two dealers right now, which is why it is in their best interest not to like any other mic amp in the low cost arena. If I had an exclusive on a hot product...its competition would sound like shit to me! For the record, Jake did not say that.

Why would he? They carry both. Mercenary could have carried both if he wanted. Your argument doesn't hold a lot of weight. I think you're kinda' reaching on this one.

[alba359]

I'm just curious about more experienced opinions on the sound quality of the newer batch of lower cost preamps. If what I've been seeing on the forums is true, the gap between the lower priced mikes and pres is somewhat closer than it was 5 years ago. Thanks, Don

[darrin_h2000]

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by alanhyatt
So, this is just a monolopy for the two dealers right now, which is why it is in their best interest not to like any other mic amp in the low cost arena. If I had an exclusive on a hot product...its competition would sound like shit to me! For the record, Jake did not say that.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You may find that there are over ten different dealers selling the RNC on ebay right now. So its not really an exclusive club, I was checking the market here for our friend to see if FMRs requirements for a first order can be sold right away. and I do beleive Tubedude mentioned another firm that sold him his. Actually Im really curious about that toft audio pre as well and may consider that over the great river but 1 grand is a price point that Ill have to wait untill January 2003 to take advantage of.

As soon as they are ready I would love to hear from the beta testers on how it sounds.

Wayne

[darrin_h2000]

I have talked to my dealer and Alan is right about one thing, the RNP is being sold through just the 3 dealers, but that is only temporary untill after January. But there is quite a wait on them now.

The VTB-1 is a bargain at twice the price, dont worry about getting your moneys worth there, I am very pleased with mine so far.

[Bowisc]

Originally posted by alanhyatt


I have a bridge I want to sell you..

All due respect Bowsic. I am not busting your balls here. You have been a good supporter for me and I will would not dis you...You know me better than that, but I know the business.

This is a way to keep the selling price high by not having more than two dealers. Plus when FMR sells it, they don't loose the dealer discounts that are passed on to the dealer for stocking them. So in fact, FMR makes a killing when they do sell direct at retail.

The profit points are good to the dealer...If they were not, the dealer would not invest their money and stock them. At 10% profit, a dealer looses money just based on the overhead costs they have like rent, lights, phone, and all the other expenses involved with running a business. At 20%, a dealer maybe breaks even, especially on an under $500.00 unit. At 30%, a dealer can live with it, and at 40%, they will kiss your ass.

Either way, a dealer is entitled to make money...end of story. They invest a good deal of money and expense to stock, advertise, service and sell these products.

So, this is just a monolopy for the two dealers right now, which is why it is in their best interest not to like any other mic amp in the low cost arena. If I had an exclusive on a hot product...its competition would sound like shit to me! For the record, Jake did not say that.

So if you believe the two RNP dealers are not making any money of the RNP...I have a bridge to sell you.

Alan,

No need to apologize in advance. I know you can be very forward sometimes- I don't take it personal. Believe me, I am totally cool about learning how things work "behind the scenes", and have no problems being corrected... but let me clarify something that I should have emphasized (to all): My post was based on information from an RNP dealer. As far as I'm concerned, he was frank about it.

Here some background...

The impression I got from a dealer about the RNP was that they weren't making a whole lot on 'em. This was as a result of my trying to negotiate free 2nd-Day shipping on the unit and the dealer went into how he couldn't do it 'cause he was already offering free ground shipping and stretching a bit by even offering that (not exact words). I'm not complaining at all here; as it was, I was fortunate to be hooked-up with the unit through an arrangement he made, so I said, "no problem" and moved on. I wanted my RNP. Period. Very briefly, a comment was made on how there wasn't much of a profit margin on the RNP, which was why 2nd-Day was not do-able. A general figure was thrown out, which I won't be specific on... but it was close to the figures in my post. I feel a bit uncomfortable even going into it, but I feel the need to clarify this... it's quite obvious by now.

Alan, your point is quite interesting, but it would be good to hear the other side as well. This thread could turn very interesting. I'm sure there are many other reasons why, so far, Jake and Fletcher alone carry the FMR line. I would be careful about associating that with "monopolizing" and stopping there.

Some questions: So who really knows for sure what the mark-ups really are on the RNP, other than dealers? Does it really matter? It sure can, especially to its competitors.

In the long-run, consumers (us) will pay money for products for whatever reason, whether it's Neumann, Stephen Paul, RNP, or heck... even Mackie, even if marked-up big-time. For some, these reasons are justified. For others, it isn't.

You've shed some light here, Alan.

Tread carefully on this one, friends.


Bowisc

P. S. You said you had a T3 to sell me at cost... (was I hearing right)?

[tubedude]

I was talking about www.transaudiogroup.com they are the actual FMR distributor. Most likely you have to go through them since manufacturers rarely screw thier main distributor that way. If you email them, they will tell you that FMR is not interested in further dealerships.

[ozraves]

Originally posted by alanhyatt


If I had an exclusive on a hot product...its competition would sound like shit to me! For the record, Jake did not say that.

You're not talking about the Mackie with a Big Muff comment are you?

Most buyers are more sophisticated than to buy into a comment like that.

BTW, I just reviewed the weekly stats for Mojo Pie. The four most requested pages are: 1. FMR RNP, 2. SP VTB1, 3. Soundelux U195, 4. Sytek MPX-4Aii.

steve
www.mojopie.com

[alanhyatt]

Originally posted by tubedude
I was talking about www.transaudiogroup.com they are the actual FMR distributor. Most likely you have to go through them since manufacturers rarely screw thier main distributor that way. If you email them, they will tell you that FMR is not interested in further dealerships.

Actually, they are not a distributor for them. They are a rep. There is a big difference. A distributor services and sells to all the dealers. TransAudio Group just arranges the dealers for FMR and gets a commission.

Of course if I am wrong and Brad wan'ts to shed some light on his involvement, that is cool.