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Where is Singlepower? Where is Mikhail? - Page 7

post #91 of 1885
6/13/08 at 2:20pm
Thread Starter 
You sent in an HE90 to Mikhail to modify??
Neil
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post #92 of 1885
6/13/08 at 2:25pm
Quote:
It is the constant missed promises that are ridiculous. Don't promise if you can't deliver!
Very good and valid points raised here, and the exact reasons I have not yet (nor plan to anytime in the future) purchased an SP amp.

If you look in the Member's Lounge section, a certain fellow from a certain cable company (coughRALcough) had plenty of missed deliveries and unfulfilled promises and is pretty much branded a thief, both here and at other sites.
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post #93 of 1885
6/13/08 at 2:35pm
I ordered an ES-1.... 9 months to-date and counting...
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post #94 of 1885
6/13/08 at 3:06pm
It appears SP is becoming very Xin-like. There comes a time when the constant tweaking for perfection ceases to be productive...if not quite there yet, Mikhail appears to be quite close.
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post #95 of 1885
6/13/08 at 3:18pm
It's funny how this description of SP has not changed much over the past couple of years.
Just my 2 cents, but reading this thread about his poor business practices, he really has no incentive to change.
Apparently, people are not canceling orders, they're not asking for their money back...they're instead waiting and waiting.
While Mikhail might be/is a nice guy (i have enjoyed speaking with him on numerous times), from a head-fier point of view, I feel that he should be accountable for his actions...
Niceness only takes things so far.
Mikhail is not stupid or naive...I think he knows he knows what he's doing.
He used to be a consultant meaning he's had alot of experience dealing with clients...
Ultimately, I'd rather not feel frustrated or cheated waiting for my amp. For me, it takes away from the head-fi experience and it helped my decision to get rid of my SP stuff and prevents me from considering buying any of his amps as long as he continues this practice.
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post #96 of 1885
6/13/08 at 3:35pm
§ 2-309. Absence of Specific Time Provisions; Notice of Termination.
(1) The time for shipment or delivery or any other action under a contract if not provided in this Article or agreed upon shall be a reasonable time.

(2) Where the contract provides for successive performances but is indefinite in duration it is valid for a reasonable time but unless otherwise agreed may be terminated at any time by either party.

(3) Termination of a contract by one party except on the happening of an agreed event requires that reasonable notification be received by the other party and an agreement dispensing with notification is invalid if its operation would be unconscionable.

found this with google...don't know if this applies.......but damn..9 month for an amp is not reasonable (is it?).
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post #97 of 1885
6/13/08 at 3:39pm
Off Topic:

The owners of arguably the 3 best headphone setups in the world are posting in this thread (neilvg, blubliss, and foo_me).

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post #98 of 1885
6/13/08 at 4:51pm
Headphone amplifier is a niche market product. Small one man firms hand build exotic products that have nonexistent market. In this context a forum like Head-Fi may create demand that is impossible to satisfy. I believe that this is what has happened to Singlepower.

Just to make an analogy, go and try to buy a this year's Ferrari.
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post #99 of 1885
6/13/08 at 5:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jahvetti View Post
Headphone amplifier is a niche market product. Small one man firms hand build exotic products that have nonexistent market. In this context a forum like Head-Fi may create demand that is impossible to satisfy. I believe that this is what has happened to Singlepower.

Just to make an analogy, go and try to buy a this year's Ferrari.
that's a good point. "reasonable time" may mean 24 month or less......that would really suck...but you all SP buyers already knew that, right?
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post #100 of 1885
6/13/08 at 5:25pm
I like how people saying Mikhail is becoming Xin-like. That's like... its just not even in the same league.

With Xin you have to what? Wait potentially a year at the worst case scenario for an amp? I think there are people that have been waiting for 4 years for a Singlepower amp.

Also I mean Xin has fairly established lines with very little if any customization. Also these are portable amps not like 18 tube customized mid 5 figure custom one offs that weigh a combined 80 pounds.

Xin's problem isn't that he is taking on crazy custom orders that are more than he can handle.

Xin's problem is that he is a habitual perfectionist/tinkerer.

The situations are NOT similar except that there are wait times involved.

As for why you should give your money to Mikhail.

1. If you want a very standard amp like an Extreme. This will work out (Generally).

2. If you are patient and want something customized and I mean really patient. Yet you have to be willing to place gentle pressure on the man.

3. If you are truly a cost no object customer. If you want to hand 20k to a man and get a really badass sounding amp. And 20k is nothing to you so you don't mind waiting. Then Mikhail is your man hands down. Will this amp be a good performance/cost ratio? Hell no. But you are a cost no object customer, and not some bean counter.

Mikhail's whole business model issue is that he overcaters to category 3 customers. Because he is an "artiste." Whatever though, while improvements can be made I bet if anyone tried to get into the same game eventually they will end up the same way.

If you want to deal with a businessman get an amp from Ray. If you want to deal with a totally crazy engineer hit up Mikhail.

Gotta say though Craig/Justin are amazing engineers that have their sh*t together. Still Justin knows better than to let you give him 20k to make a custom amp. Craig? I think he might be sweet-talked into it, but shrug it's not like thing will materialize in a month either. Look at JP#'s HD-2 while not 20k thing did NOT evolve over night.

It's not like a solid business is free from this kinda thing either. How many of you are or were waiting for Westone 3s? LOLZ. The main different is Mikhail was foolish and took even part of your money upfront

All my direct transactions with him have been payment on delivery + patience... which is why I am way less bitter! Also all my amps were bought second hand huzzah!
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post #101 of 1885
6/13/08 at 5:33pm
I honestly can't see a wait time of greater than 6 months after the amp maker has your funds. There is absolutely nothing that is inside an amp that should hold it up past 6 months. This is providing the parts were sourced prior to taking the cash and ordered once the deposit was received.

There are plenty of other audio products that have long wait times that people gladly get in line for. Galibier turntables are arguably the best value in the TT market and the wait can be 6-12 months and Schroeder tonearms are over a 2 year wait last I checked.

The primary issue here seems not to be the wait but the misleading timelines that frustrate the crap out of people. A good friend had their amp delayed multiple times even after they were told it was shipping 'today'. Best to just tell buyers or repairs what the actual time line is and then let them decide what they want to do. I can not believe SP does this with malice intent it seems more like a poor sense of linear thought.
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post #102 of 1885
6/13/08 at 5:42pm
I think a vendor with wait times greater than 6 months should give you a refund reflecting the current interest rate! With some of these high end amps, that's a lot of money to just be sitting there devaluing with inflation. For you who can put up with such wait times, more power to ya.
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post #103 of 1885
6/13/08 at 6:29pm
I am glad this topic came up at this particular time. I'm writing an article about the audiophile headphone market. I'm trying to keep the direction/theme of the article about the "product" itself; what it can do, and what it can't; or digging down deeper, can there truly be an audiophile experience with headphones? I'm not sure what the ultra-high end headphone amplifiers and headphones are capable of. When I hear about this expensive and time consuming custom work being done on headphone amplifiers; what does that mean? Are the customers in this niche market aware of what particular parts and design schemes can accomplish? Is it then collaboration between Engineer (Mikhail) and the Design Concept person (client)? If so then what is needed here is a Project Manager; someone who can take all the disjointed timelines for each project (product) that has been started, and brings them into some sense of order. Find out what realistically can be accomplished and in what time frames. Otherwise what Mikhail has here is not a thriving business per say, but instead a hobbyist enterprise that is driven by the thrill of making the hottest “hot rod”. This however puts those of us who are looking for a quality stock product at a reasonable price tag, out of luck. We’re not specifically the target audience for this. These are my thoughts, and I hope to work out in my own thinking what is the truth, and what will benefit our hobby in the long run.
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post #104 of 1885
6/13/08 at 7:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beav View Post
I'm not sure what the ultra-high end headphone amplifiers and headphones are capable of. When I hear about this expensive and time consuming custom work being done on headphone amplifiers; what does that mean? Are the customers in this niche market aware of what particular parts and design schemes can accomplish?
Headphones can absolutely produce an audio experience that can rival great speakers. What it can not do is provide that physical presence of moving air that speakers reproduce. Oddly enough with the right amp the senn 650s rival the $2k-3k headphones.
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post #105 of 1885
6/13/08 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Beav View Post
Are the customers in this niche market aware of what particular parts and design schemes can accomplish? Is it then collaboration between Engineer (Mikhail) and the Design Concept person (client)? If so then what is needed here is a Project Manager; someone who can take all the disjointed timelines for each project (product) that has been started, and brings them into some sense of order. Find out what realistically can be accomplished and in what time frames.
In my opinion, the answer to the first question is usually: Sort of. Hearing is a perception, and knowledge of what a component or design does technically, does not always translate to perception. It's not like a car, where we can see the statistics in front of our eyes. A particular amp may perform technically better, but perceived audio quality is something that can be subject to each listeners and their preferences.

Regarding a project manager - this only makes sense if the lead engineer/designer is organized. The project manager than can take that organization and help direct it efficiently. However, in the case of Mikhail, we don't know his work flow. Does he work on one amp at a time, many at once? I have my feelings, but either way, first one needs to get a better sense of organization and business structure, and then fill in the necessary roles to help create efficiency. I don't think SP is there. Again, as we have been saying, much of the issue is that realistic time frames aren't being set, or if they initially are, they aren't being held to.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beav View Post
Otherwise what Mikhail has here is not a thriving business per say, but instead a hobbyist enterprise that is driven by the thrill of making the hottest “hot rod”. This however puts those of us who are looking for a quality stock product at a reasonable price tag, out of luck. We’re not specifically the target audience for this. These are my thoughts, and I hope to work out in my own thinking what is the truth, and what will benefit our hobby in the long run.
This is definitely a hobbyists enterprise for the most part. Mikhail started out making more 'stock' type amps, but even thats not really true. They were just relatively simpler, and thus, quicker to make. What he really does spend most of his time on are these hot rods, which, for better or worse, holds up everything. The target audience for Mikhail himself, in my opinion, shouldn't even be the average customer. Those products should have been streamlined and stable enough long ago for quick production, with minimal need for Mikhail to step in. That's how it should be by now at least. The SP and SP Custom divisions. SP Customs will be the Hot Rods.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Beav View Post
I am glad this topic came up at this particular time. I'm writing an article about the audiophile headphone market. I'm trying to keep the direction/theme of the article about the "product" itself; what it can do, and what it can't; or digging down deeper, can there truly be an audiophile experience with headphones? I'm not sure what the ultra-high end headphone amplifiers and headphones are capable of. When I hear about this expensive and time consuming custom work being done on headphone amplifiers; what does that mean?
I'm glad you are coming to the Norcal Meet. You'll see quite the gamut of higher end phones. If we can get Foo_Me to bring his setup, then you'll really hear some good stuff. I'm not bringing my full setup, I've done it too many times for it's delicacy, but you'll get a glimpse. It's my opinion that high end headphones surpass speakers in the realm of detail and texture (among others) - while speakers get better depth, imaging, and presence (among other things). Most headphones never get past mid-fi, which is likely the case with speakers as well -- but a midfi speaker setup may seem to be more impressive than the mid-fi headphone setup. Fine the right headphone synergy though --- its a thing to behold.

Neil
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