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Thread: Audio Grail 301, Bob Cusworth plinth & Graham Phantom Elite ...a glimpse

  1. #21
    Join Date: Aug 2018

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    Quote Originally Posted by REXTON View Post
    I think I got quoted £3K for a plinth last time I spoke to Bob.
    Last time I enquired I was told different prices depending on timber used, and if one wanted a simplified version without the metal work using wood instead. The top ones like this were in the region of 5 to 6k I think starting at £3k. The options of timber seemed endless.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  2. #22
    Join Date: Nov 2008

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    Its made of wood, and resin, its well made but it is a £1500 item, not 3000 or 6000 thats unjustifiable imho.
    Regards Neil

  3. #23
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spectral Morn View Post
    Its made of wood, and resin, its well made but it is a £1500 item, not 3000 or 6000 thats unjustifiable imho.
    Find someone to make me one to that leval of finish I will give you 2k so you get a £500 drink out of it. Its certainly not cheap but neither is it expensive for that leval of craftsmanship, imagine each plinth has 250 plus hours of skilled labour that goes into it. The seeing the thing in the flesh is a thing is a real eye opener, the attention to detail is simply stunning. Sme are going to charge a whopping 20k for there rebuilt 301 and plinth to be honest this is simply in another class. There are wonderful plinths one can buy for from 300 to 1000 but this is truly special. How does one justify £30k for the shindo 301 well some obviously do I know which offers better vfm and incredible performance.
    Last edited by Vrajbasi; 09-07-2019 at 20:23.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  4. #24
    Join Date: Nov 2008

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    Quote Originally Posted by Vrajbasi View Post
    Find someone to make me one to that leval of finish I will give you 2k so you get a £500 drink out of it.
    Nari I know you have seen one, but I think its over priced. I get it that some rare woods can be rare and expensive. But bar that the plinth should be doable for much less money imho.
    Regards Neil

  5. #25
    Join Date: Mar 2016

    Location: Barnet, london UK

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    Quote Originally Posted by Spectral Morn View Post
    Its made of wood, and resin, its well made but it is a £1500 item, not 3000 or 6000 thats unjustifiable imho.
    Sorry
    I too thought that until I saw what this thing actually is
    If I had the dough. I would. It’s worth it. Imho
    It’s unlike the other plinths that put these preconceived values in the head
    "lack of passion is fatal"


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  6. #26
    Join Date: Aug 2018

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    Niel I get your point but say £5k for the dearer plinths with 250 say skilled man hours thats like 20 a hour not taking into account materials for a skilled craftsmen its hardly worth bothering with. If sme were to even to consider a plinth like this it would be four times the price at least.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  7. #27
    Join Date: Nov 2008

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    Quote Originally Posted by Vrajbasi View Post
    Niel I get your point but say £5k for the dearer plinths with 250 say skilled man hours thats like 20 a hour not taking into account materials for a skilled craftsmen its hardly worth bothering with. If sme were to even to consider a plinth like this it would be four times the price at least.
    SME prices these days are a rip off, so that would not surprise me.

    There is no way that takes 250 hours to make, its a plinth, not a fighter jet. I am not convinced, sorry. Maybe seeing one, and getting the inside track on what is in it, how its made, might change my mind a little, but at the minute I just can't see it.
    Regards Neil

  8. #28
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    Quote Originally Posted by Spectral Morn View Post
    SME prices these days are a rip off, so that would not surprise me.

    There is no way that takes 250 hours to make, its a plinth, not a fighter jet. I am not convinced, sorry. Maybe seeing one, and getting the inside track on what is in it, how its made, might change my mind a little, but at the minute I just can't see it.
    Exactly seeing one in the flesh and hearing one makes all the difference.
    Most important and used Walker Black Diamond Etsuro Gold, Micro Seiki 8000mk2 Kondo special V12 Tiger Eye, Fidelity Research FR 66 Shindo spu, EMT 927, sme 312 aluminium. Fidelity research fr66, Sme 3012 mk1, Sme V, Ikeda 407 IT Sme Model 30/2/Dynavector 507 Kodo Beat Turntable Airtangent 10B modified Fidelity fr66s Etsuro Cartridge . Kondo Gakuoh Mk1 powers G70 Pre,Audio Tekne TFA-8695PCS pre Audio Tekne TEA 8695 Phono. Lfd Battery Phono Stage heavily custom rebuilt by Dr Richard Bews, Tharx Phono Stage. Lfd Master Dual Biamp power amp, Lfd Anniversary master preamp. Shindo Latour Field Coil. Rockport Cygnus Biamped, Voigt Domestic Corner Horns/ Feastex Fildcoils. LFD Custom silver Ribbons. LFD Diamond Vipor Mk2 interconnects, Lfd Golden Cobra interconnect. Koetsu blue lace mono special order, Koetsu burma jade mono special order.

  9. #29
    montesquieu Guest

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    Quote Originally Posted by WESTLOWER View Post
    Sorry
    I too thought that until I saw what this thing actually is
    If I had the dough. I would. It’s worth it. Imho
    It’s unlike the other plinths that put these preconceived values in the head
    I have to say I agree here and I'm a bit of a tight git about these sorts of things that are at least on the surface more visual than auditory.

  10. #30
    Join Date: Jun 2010

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    Interesting thread. A few notes re the Cuswoth plinth.

    The resin is mixed and molded by RJC, drying times, tooling etc have all been arrived at by experimentation and testing - This caries with it a cost and a value. Similarly the metal work (Multi piece metal motor cage detachment device is precision made and isolated on it's own platform, as is the arm pod and bevel - Both have taken a great deal of time / expertise to create (The pod and bevel are made bespoke for your arm of choice.)
    All woods are hand selected and again bespoke to the clients choice (As is the physical design), these are not thin or iron on veneers but saw cut solid pieces.
    There is also: the material selection (Bob travels far and wide for his fetish!) Measuring / fitting / flatting and painstaking finishing to consider. As noted above 200 hrs at £20 an hr (Many trade carpenters are on more than this) would be be £4K. Of course this would not account for materials, years of specialist expertise, previous expenses in R&D, tooling, lengthy consultations, relationships with suppliers or indeed brand reputation (In this case well earned IMHO). £4K is a lot of money certainly, for something as unique and bespoke executed to this level I believe they are wonderful looking and sounding things.

    Last edited by A.Grail; 10-07-2019 at 07:04.
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