Originally Posted by
Archaea 
I don't think you guys are understanding my point.
monoprice is associated (for the most part) with a very high quality product at an unbeatably low price.
If monoprice starts introducing cheaper audio products that don't even sound as good as other tradionally known "cheap" products on the market that tarnishes their brand recognition.
There is a reason VOIT shoes at wal-mart have a bad reputation even though they only cost $20. It doesn't matter that there are no other shoes that cost a mere $20, everybody who sees a VOIT shoe immediately thinks that they are junk. Why? Because the air pockets are made of plastic, the soles are made of hard rubber, they have no arch support and are full of many compromises. Ultimately they are terribly uncomfortable and not worth the price - even for $20. If I saw a VOIT product in another product category after knowing how incredibly crappy their shoes are -- I'd not hold the slightest interest. Why does monoprice want to risk dilluting their brand in this way?
In my opinion do it right or don't do it.
They should hire Dr. HSU to create a sub under the monoprice monkier and sell it at an appropriate discount, minus a bit of the flash, or warranty, or cosmetics.
Then they'd STILL MAKE A SUPERIOR PRODUCT to other typically known comparably priced similar items on the market, so that somebody who had a sony sub, or a onkyo HTIB sub, or a AIWA sub could still experience a noteworthy upgrade at a reduced cost.
It seems with an $80 12 inch subwoofer they are just trying to create a new price category with no competition but the product will likely be inferior to every other 12" subwoofer product on the market. (I hope I'm wrong here.)
Having just completed a marketing class for my MBA - this subwoofer sale plan goes against everything we learned. If they want to enter another arena and take on the risks I'm pointing out - typically they should attempt to do so under a different brand name. So far monoprice has been associated with cheap, but not junk. Establishing a new product line name/family, even break out company would allow the company to not tarnish their established and respected image, but still allow them to enter this market.
