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Critic's Corner Discuss a review. Provide constructive feedback. Talk to the industry. |
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In Reply to: RE: The China Tariff-For me posted by fmak on September 22, 2018 at 04:04:21:
It just seems everything is getting worse - I remember in the middle 1990s you could buy a Pioneer Elite Laserdisc player that was built like a tank - AND looked great - piano black finish - rosewood side panels, copper chassis etc.
They just released a new over $2,000 bluray player that looks cheap. Maybe it is better than I hope but I don't know.
Then if you bought any of these things and they broke you would return it to the dealer and THEY would deal with it. They would phone the manufacturer or they would fix it if the dealer was also a repair facility.
I buy things in most places now and there is a 14 day return policy if it breaks on the 15th day - the consumer has to deal with the manufacturer - pay for shipping one or both ways etc. Sure the price came down but it's a huge pain in the butt to get something fixed especially if you buy something where you have to ship something overseas.
What you note is something not mentioned enough in audio - what will happen IF it breaks. And no matter how high end or expensive or good something is - it can break.
One of the reasons I sold my Line Magnetic 219IA SET - great amplifier but the transformer can't be converted to US voltage (I live in Hong Kong) - the thing weighs 121lbs and will be very difficult to ship to the west AND I have to pay for a voltage step up/down converter and if it breaks and I am on Vancouver Island down the road - who will be able to fix it?
So I sold it off for a Kingko KA 101 integrated amp at 25lbs, that is very small - and has a selector switch on the side - flip switch - works in America - and is 1/10th the price such that if it does eventually break down it is not a killer on the wallet. Plus sonically I don't miss the 219IA - which says a LOT.
One of the reasons (among the myriad of reasons) I continue to buy Audio Note - is that most of their dealers can do on site repairs and upgrades where all of the transformers are worldwide and is a 5 minute solder job to change the tap from US to UK voltage. On all their gear not just amps. And everything is autobias.
I have not heard many stories of people having their AN piece fail either but when it has happened the stories have been pretty excellent. Same for Bryston.
One thing I do often notice in Hong Kong is that they almost always open the box and plug whatever thing you buy and make sure it works before they let you go home with it.
Back in the 1990s I bought a flagship Pioneer Elite receiver and got it home and it was DOA. But it was over an hour drive to the dealer - so I wished they would have done that open the box to check it thing back then.
Lastly, the major problem is that it is now a disposable society so there are far less repair shops. If it was 1985 you could probably take your Krell to half a dozen repair shops in the city and while not licensed Krell repair places - would likely be able to fix it all the same. Those shops are all gone because most people buy the $80 system at Walmart and if it breaks in the garbage it goes. I mean even when I was a kid there were places that repaired coffee machines and toasters.
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Follow Ups
- RE: The China Tariff-For me - RGA 09/22/1822:46:31 09/22/18 (1)
- RE: The China Tariff-For me-An? - fmak 03:56:30 09/23/18 (0)
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