swmtnbiker
Previously known as dpippel
So often we hear about the NEGATIVE dealings that most of us eventually have with audio companies while pursuing this little hobby. It's inevitable, and people tend to complain a lot more readily than they offer praise. So, let me relate a positive experience I just had with a well-respected and well-known little boutique audio outfit called Channel Islands Audio in Port Hueneme, California.
I've been using their great VDA-1/VAC-1 DAC/PS combo in my desktop headphone rig for a few years now. The VDA-1 is a very sweet little 24-bit DAC, and coupled with my Meier Headfive amplifier it's given me hours and hours of awesome headphone listening. Last week I was rearranging gear on my desk and had unplugged the 14V power cable from the VAC-1 to VDA-1 in order to move them. When I plugged the power cable back into the DAC the female receptacle inside the housing broke loose from the PCB and almost came completely off. Ouch! Needless to say, I had a big problem. The DAC was unusable.
I immediately contacted CIAudio via email and inquired about repair services, costs, etc. In less than 24 hours a gentleman by the name of Dusty Vawter replied to my email. He instructed me to send in the VDA-1 and CIAudio would "take care of me". Now that was a pleasant surprise! I carefully packaged the DAC and shipped it off. Eight days later, with the Thanksgiving holiday smack-dab in the middle of this process, my VDA-1 was repaired and returned to me in perfect working order. THIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AT NO COST TO ME!!! CIAudio did not charge me a penny to repair my DAC and they shipped it back at their expense to boot. I'm the second owner of this pair of source components but I was never asked to produce a receipt or questioned about when I had purchased them. Being "out of warranty" was never an issue. Dusty simply took care of my problem in the most exceptional way possible.
So there you have it. I wanted to give Channel Islands Audio and Dusty Vawter something in return for their absolutely awesome customer service by letting the Head-Fi community know about my happy ending. In a time when so many companies take the low road on customer service, these folks are proving there are still businesses around that not only care about their customers, they go out of their way to keep them. I can't recommend CIAudio highly enough. Thanks again Dusty!
I've been using their great VDA-1/VAC-1 DAC/PS combo in my desktop headphone rig for a few years now. The VDA-1 is a very sweet little 24-bit DAC, and coupled with my Meier Headfive amplifier it's given me hours and hours of awesome headphone listening. Last week I was rearranging gear on my desk and had unplugged the 14V power cable from the VAC-1 to VDA-1 in order to move them. When I plugged the power cable back into the DAC the female receptacle inside the housing broke loose from the PCB and almost came completely off. Ouch! Needless to say, I had a big problem. The DAC was unusable.
I immediately contacted CIAudio via email and inquired about repair services, costs, etc. In less than 24 hours a gentleman by the name of Dusty Vawter replied to my email. He instructed me to send in the VDA-1 and CIAudio would "take care of me". Now that was a pleasant surprise! I carefully packaged the DAC and shipped it off. Eight days later, with the Thanksgiving holiday smack-dab in the middle of this process, my VDA-1 was repaired and returned to me in perfect working order. THIS EXCEPTIONAL SERVICE WAS PERFORMED AT NO COST TO ME!!! CIAudio did not charge me a penny to repair my DAC and they shipped it back at their expense to boot. I'm the second owner of this pair of source components but I was never asked to produce a receipt or questioned about when I had purchased them. Being "out of warranty" was never an issue. Dusty simply took care of my problem in the most exceptional way possible.
So there you have it. I wanted to give Channel Islands Audio and Dusty Vawter something in return for their absolutely awesome customer service by letting the Head-Fi community know about my happy ending. In a time when so many companies take the low road on customer service, these folks are proving there are still businesses around that not only care about their customers, they go out of their way to keep them. I can't recommend CIAudio highly enough. Thanks again Dusty!
