@icefalkon
Stop making things so easy for companies by gladly taking unjustified price hikes up the butt.
R&D... Please. I hope I am able to articulate this nicely. But I'm sick of companies pricing their bull**** far higher than it should be. Its all marketing and hype. And we've all bought into it at some point, perpetuating this increasing price trend. Some folks must view R&D as rocket science that they use it to justify price hikes. IMO iBasso increased pricing to be more in line with the rest of the industry. Which is wrong because the INDUSTRY is wrong, largely thanks to us, and iBasso is merely trying to capitalize on that trend, contrary to iBasso's reputation. They didnt exploit us with their IT01 graphene driver because they knew they didn't need to. Its cheap. Keep in mind Uiisii CM5 has a graphene driver and lovely packaging and carrying caze for less than $10 on amazon. Profits would still be made with integrity, in volume.
I have been heavily involved in R&D in the race drone and aerial videography industry. It taught me a thing or two about how industries are exploting consumers by overpricing goods made easily, cheaply and with existing tooling and R&D. I am not speaking as a diehard fanboy with early special access to a hot, new product.
To Me, iBasso had a reputation of not only excellent products but also a very realistic pricing that reflected the work put into designing it.
This New IT04 is using a DD which already exists thanks to the IT01. I ask again, what R&D? If you mean tuning to complement the BAs, that is so subjective I find myself using an EQ and amp to tweak **** to MY preference regardless of the R&D already done.
Similar shell as IT01/03, therefore the tooling is already in a existence. Just needs a little work and minor subjective tweaks, like anything else. Cheap or pricey.
The crossover better be goddamn magical with 3+ nicely bored sound ports channeling each driver's respective frequencies into my earholes without crossing paths. Otherwise, I dont want to hear anything about crossover work.
This isnt to say I am not excited about the IT04.
Its just the sudden price hike for 1 additional BA driver and no wood that surprises the **** out of me. And everyone is cool with that?! Jeez.