You like to point out that if things like this make a difference you should sent the designer back to the drawing board as there is a problem in the end unit 🙂
Happened to Al Shugart too. When he was fired after Xerox bought Shugart Associates, Al co-founded a new company, Seagate, to compete with Shugart (!). Imagine competing against a company named after yourself.
Rupert Neve had the same issue.
Rupert Neve had the same issue.
It happened to my father also.
He set up a new business 1000m down the road.
Broadcast industry alleigence moved with him and he prospered.
The original company with his name wilted and evaporated without him.
Dan.
Herb thought it was wonderful. He describes it just like I did. It's not the last authority in everything but it can't be beat at the price point for low fatigue, good, sound.
It could easily be your last stereo component you need besides a source. For those that want to just stop fooling around and settle so they can cycle more music than gear, it's a winner. That's the goal. And this is from me, whom is going to release at least one product that'll be in the price range.
I wish Bill would stop saying no one has heard of him. Having no experience with a product isn't not hearing about it. He's everywhere. That doesn't mean people won't still buy other products because they feel more comfortable with them. Sure, in time he'll be much better known, for better or worse; especially on a much more personable level and empirical experience.
And by the way many years ago Vinnie was extremely nice and helped me work through some electronic work on an item he had experience with. So whether you've eaten so many LIO's you're shitting them left and right or not, at least know he's a good guy with a very pure customer care history.
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Ah, um, hm... "everywhere" is a *bit* of a stretch. Possibly known in a niche among a niche among a niche.
So lets look at that
Stereophile
TAS
6 loons
DAR (never heard of that)
The audiophiliac (never heard of that either)
3 more web blogs I'd never heard of.
So no european or asian reviews or distribution.
Everywhere? I think not. But I wish him luck. He has a USP and the reviews are buying the line. Good for him. I am not the target market and never will be. For $8k I would at least want flat frequency response. But I'm fussy like that.
Well that's nice to know. However I don't think there is any excuse for various of the deficiencies JA found. And based on other HR reviews, I suspect there are some severe hearing irregularities going on. This is not uncommon among professional audio reviewers.
But to each his own. Wanda Landowska's quip comes to mind.
Sounds perverse, he's right here in MA and I have never seen mention of his stuff not that that means anything. Nice build quality, why some of the shortcomings at 8K or so for 25W/ch? I'm sure he might be a great guy with his own vision. BTW that review reeks of the usual audio rag hubris that is painful to read, "make sure you're seated and have a clean pair of skivvies before you listen to this." 🙄
BTW do you buy equipment based on JA's measurements? His measurements and "issues" are with piles of gear; and a lot of it is gear that sell in big numbers with high praise. JA liked listening to it, even though he has "issues" with a few things. The RMS is a matter of debate; I don't know or care who's correct on that one since different people get different measurements.
The internet reviews are a huge deal. People buy based on forum talk, all day long. You should know there's 10x the lurkers on forums, as posters; hell it could be 100's-1000's.
Let's not argue about the fact audiophile is a niche market. DUH.
I can't speak for international orders, or reviews for VR's LIO. But I'd like to point out - that I do know - Salk Audio sells more to Asia/South Pacific than English speaking countries but there's no reviews; and he's not alone with the trend. If you think it's weird that people read some "obscure" blogs in English (for me it's only 2 I don't know off hand), you don't want to get into the Asian world of audio blogs... we're talking about things like cult followings that are on e-mail list serves, once you go there. So the point is I wouldn't assume the LIO hasn't gone beyond the US border, or that anything written about it in places you don't know about aren't driving sales.
The internet reviews are a huge deal. People buy based on forum talk, all day long. You should know there's 10x the lurkers on forums, as posters; hell it could be 100's-1000's.
Let's not argue about the fact audiophile is a niche market. DUH.
I can't speak for international orders, or reviews for VR's LIO. But I'd like to point out - that I do know - Salk Audio sells more to Asia/South Pacific than English speaking countries but there's no reviews; and he's not alone with the trend. If you think it's weird that people read some "obscure" blogs in English (for me it's only 2 I don't know off hand), you don't want to get into the Asian world of audio blogs... we're talking about things like cult followings that are on e-mail list serves, once you go there. So the point is I wouldn't assume the LIO hasn't gone beyond the US border, or that anything written about it in places you don't know about aren't driving sales.
I've been thinking of getting an OKI Metcal PS-900. I found some posts from a few years ago saying positive things about them. I looked on ebay and most have some Chinese writing and made in China printed on the back label.
I don't know if they might be clones so I called OKI Metcal today and spoke with a sales rep and later a technician. I asked about the made in China stations and that I'd seen made in the USA labels on a very few used ones on ebay.
They both told me that all Metcal stations have been made in their China factories for years and if you buy from OKI or an authorized distributor you would never get a clone. They also said they hadn't heard of any clones. Both reps said the used ones with made in the USA are probably 15 years old.
They said the China made stations have been very good and have the same warranty that the made in the USA stations had.
I'm still a little Leary buying something made in China. I would appreciate any feedback from Metcal users, especially the PS-900, that have the Chinese made units.
Thanks,
henrylrjr
I don't know if they might be clones so I called OKI Metcal today and spoke with a sales rep and later a technician. I asked about the made in China stations and that I'd seen made in the USA labels on a very few used ones on ebay.
They both told me that all Metcal stations have been made in their China factories for years and if you buy from OKI or an authorized distributor you would never get a clone. They also said they hadn't heard of any clones. Both reps said the used ones with made in the USA are probably 15 years old.
They said the China made stations have been very good and have the same warranty that the made in the USA stations had.
I'm still a little Leary buying something made in China. I would appreciate any feedback from Metcal users, especially the PS-900, that have the Chinese made units.
Thanks,
henrylrjr
OS, what are we discussing here, marketing strategies and - succes or objective performance? I feel you'r more interested in the former, but I don't think there is any correlation between the two.
Jan
Jan
I don't know anything about the PS series, but we use MX-5000 series units at work and they are fantastic. They are about a year or two old, so probably Chinese made.
Honestly I feel like I'm running circles around Bill being unwilling to admit his remark was a bit brash and not necessary.
My quote from you is about the statement someone else made towards power conditioning... I'm unfamiliar just like you, with this "common" knowledge.
Probably because I've said a few times that if you switch on your DAC, and the preamp starts buzzing, get a good DAC and/or preamp.
It's like this. Suppose you drive along the road listening to your music and all of a sudden the street lights come on - and you car radio starts buzzing.
What do you do: a) drag the car radio manu into court and demand a $1M damage claim; b) buy a new, better screened car.
In audio it goes like this: your are sitting in your living listening to your music and your SO switches on his/her reading light, and your stereo starts buzzing.
What do you do: a) drag the stereo manu into court demanding a $1M damage claim, or b) go out happily and buy a $800 boutique mains cord hoping the problem will disappear.
Jan
It's like this. Suppose you drive along the road listening to your music and all of a sudden the street lights come on - and you car radio starts buzzing.
What do you do: a) drag the car radio manu into court and demand a $1M damage claim; b) buy a new, better screened car.
In audio it goes like this: your are sitting in your living listening to your music and your SO switches on his/her reading light, and your stereo starts buzzing.
What do you do: a) drag the stereo manu into court demanding a $1M damage claim, or b) go out happily and buy a $800 boutique mains cord hoping the problem will disappear.
Jan
In 10 years time Vinnie will have earned his chops. Right now IMHO he does not have the track record to be considered along with JC,NP, BP et al. I don't see the contention in that.
I've not bought a new piece of audio equipment for 17 years. I read the measurements to laugh when something measures horrendously and the reviewer loves it.
Option C : aliens are landing nearby, and the 1st order of business is to get the Helsinki outta there
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