Ok, a number of random thoughts on Pt 2, if only so I can keep track of it better.
Profit -- I don't find it a problem at all that people want to make a profit off this. As Chris mentioned, it will take a lot of time to make this happen. For most people, time is a precious commodity and the ability to make money off one's efforts can entice otherwise too-busy people. I guess it would've been nice if this could've come together as a type of ts.com community project, but after all this time it doesn't look like it will.
I guess related to that, Chris, I didn't take the weekend project comment at being some kind of slam. It just seems that with the time you are already investing in running your business, making your current products, and designing new products like your preamp, it doesn't seem like you'd have too much time left for this actives project save the weekends. I guess I'm assuming that for all the desire to have this product available, with no offering on the horizon, it appears to be a fairly significant development process. Someone, presumably a vendor, will need to decide if the potential market for this justifies the development effort.
On the market: Chris, you might think the $1000 price tag isn't justified in terms of added functionality, but us tapers are a loony bunch.
I loved having my jklabs AKG actives, and when I sold the jklabs system (about $900-950 not including ck61 caps and accessories I guess if I had to split out the cost), I had at least a half-dozen offers within minutes. Caps only for having the option for AKG stealth recordings, smaller profile for not quite sanctioned FOB recording, faster set-up/break-down, ability to have many active mic pairs on one stand, ability to use smaller rig bag/smaller stand, etc -- lots of reasons why people want an active capsule set up. It may seem crazy, but I think there is a decent market for this type of setup, at least within the taper community.
On the market, II: As to price, from what the jklabs sold for and compared to other active setups, I'd venture that the active active system if it replaced the mic bodies could probably sell in the $800-1000 range, if the system would still rely on the 480 bodies, probably more like $400-500.
On the market, III: I don't think there'll be consensus on a box to replace the bodies vs. keeping the bodies but developing active cables to go with the 480's, at least from what I saw in the first thread. Personally, I loved the jklabs box that replaced the 480 bodies. As to sound, the ck6x + jklabs setup sounded very much like the 480/ck61, but not exactly the same. Again, personally, I liked the jklabs sound better to my ears. But being different shouldn't mean it is pointless since you are throwing out the AKG sound. The sound is still going to be very similar due to the caps. Also, lots of people like the JWilliams modded 460s, which is also essentially throwing out the (exact) AKG sound.
On the development: It seems like with the information that has already been shared, the general schematic for the electronics is known. What seems to be needed is working on the mechanics, colletts, integration, testing.
Next steps: Is it time to give up on the AKG actives as a community project? I really don't know who the active people on this are, so I don't know, but from reading the threads it seems that way. If it is going to be done by a vendor-type, including people like the n-box folks, do they need any help or do we just need to sit tight and wait until it's ready?
Also, as I mentioned the JWilliams 460 upgrades, it makes me wonder if it is worth getting in touch with Jim to try to prod him into trying to make an offering. I'm sure he has the ability, if he thought the market justified it. I guess though this probably depends on whether our "own" folks like Chris Church or schoepsnbox don't think they'll be making a system available.
Wow -- too many thoughts. I guess that's what happens when you are away from ts.com for 10 days.
