Tag McLaren's market position?

[John Beavers]

Hey Buzz,

Fancy meeting you here It's interesting that Tag has a processor that is appropriately positioned, price-wise, to compete in the $5K processor market (i.e. Casa Nova, Meridian 568, MC-1, etc.), yet Tag has a 5-ch amp that is only rated at 100 wpc and is above the $5K level (Though wpc is a highly overrated quality indicator I think you would find it hard to sell a 100 wpc multichannel amp at that price point), and your DVD player and especially your speakers are in the "extremely" expensive area. Since Tag gear is engineered to work together "as a team", so to speak, it would seem these price variances would isolate your market to the upper high end. Your thoughts on this?

[Lexman]

John, I brought up a similar point with Buzz about the fact that the amp doesn't double in wattage. However, I will point out that the Proceed AMP5 at 5K is only 125 watts per channel. But it does double wattage when the amp goes from 8 to 4 ohms. The Tag doesn't.

Granted, it does have some other features though, like a remote, which the Proceed doesn't. Perhaps there are others. But I agree that a company that builds 30K speakers, should have a more upscale amp option. Like 250 watts per channel X 2, that doubles wattage to 500. Hmmm, sounds like an HPA-2. I would also like to see the necessary power supply upgrade to generate doubled wattage. Of course, a monolith such as the Theta Dreadnaught type amp would also be a desirable option.

Lex

[Buzz Goddard]

The F1 speakers will be joined next year by complimentary amplifiers


Power Output
300W rms
8· (up to ± 60 deg phase)

600W rms
4· (up to ± 60 deg phase)

1000W rms
2· (up to ±30 deg phase)

>1700W IHF burst
1· (resistive)

Peak current
>80A

Unconditionally Stable into all combinations of resistance and reactance

Dimensions (WxHxD)
560x240x480mm

Weight approx.
40 kg

[Buzz Goddard]

Hi John,
As you well know, specs don't mean everything. The multi-channel 100x, spec looks more like
5x145 watts into 8 ohms, respectively 5 x 235 watts into 4 ohms, according to
audiovision - May 2000

And unlike the Proceed it has a transformer for each channel. It also has lots of smarts and can do some very cool tricks when mated with our AV32R via the TAGtronic bus.

Our pricing is dictated more by cost then by market. A really good 5 channel amplifier is expensive to build. 5 big toroids, lots of metal...
The AV32R should cost more considering its technology and construction, but because we can do so much in house, from R&D right through the nitrogen-filled infrared re-flow ovens, the cost is very competitive. It is already the dominant processor in Europe.

[John Beavers]

Buzz,

You are correct on specs; though it's hard to get that across to the buying public, including us enthusiasts that are overly wow'd by big numbers Speaking of big numbers, nice new amp you got there! I would love to hear a full boat Tag system one day. F1 speakers and F1 amps along with your pre-pro and DVD player should kick some serious sonics into the atmosphere Affording a matched Tag system like that though, is beyond most average HT enthusiasts budgets I'm afraid. Though it's good to have a Mount HT Olympus to dream about!

[Lexman]

Oh yeah, I think I saw that amp on the Starship Enterprise back a few years ago. Nice design. Now, that's the horsepower we were looking for!

John, thanks for dropping in. Next time, please close the door after you though, I feel a draft.

Isn't this cool guys, pre-release product info! Right cheer at htguide!

:B

Lex

[Buzz Goddard]

Yes, if you're looking at the F1 speakers and amps, you're not in "normal" leagues. Eventually there will be a companion F1 AV processor as well.
The current AV32R and DVD32R are our low end drek
TAG McLaren Group is not afraid to shoot for the stars. Witness the F1 road car at >$1,000,000 per car. And they all sold out.