Smyth Research Realiser A16
Jan 11, 2020 at 11:11 PM Post #7,831 of 15,951
I
When my A16 was going through the UPS system in August, I had to deal with the same thing. It didn’t delay anything at all as they emailed me saying they needed additional info and to call them. I did so right away, gave them my social, and the A16 immediately cleared customs. I did get a bill for like $37 a few weeks after my unit was delivered for the fees that UPS covered for me for customs and duty.
It sounds like it’s no big deal except for the somewhat unsettling issue of giving your social security number over the phone to a total stranger(albeit a UPS employee).
 
Jan 11, 2020 at 11:42 PM Post #7,832 of 15,951
US-Customs-Clearances.jpg
Mine had a declared value of $3995 I think. Some portion of that $37 was a “UPS warehousing fee” (which is kind of funny since it probably sat in their warehouse for about an hour or two while I contacted to give them their required info to clear customs). I want to say the breakdown was like $27 in duty and $10 in that warehousing fee.

If the shipment is worth over $2,500, it will be subject to possible delays as it goes through Customs Formal Clearance.
 
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Jan 11, 2020 at 11:45 PM Post #7,833 of 15,951
It would not deter me from buying just wanted US prospective buyer to be aware. Once you receive your shipping details be sure to check your email for the two follow up emails from UPS Quantum View. One was from FDA Specialist and the second was from a Hold Specialist. Both came from the “agent name”@ups.com
 
Jan 11, 2020 at 11:48 PM Post #7,834 of 15,951


If the shipment is worth over $2,500, it will be subject to possible delays as it goes through Customs Formal Clearance.

Mine luckily didn’t end up with any real delay. It hit U.S. soil at something like 8pm and by 10:00 that same night was through customs and continued on its way. I did call them to give them the EIN as shortly after they emailed me.
 
Jan 12, 2020 at 12:01 AM Post #7,835 of 15,951


If the shipment is worth over $2,500, it will be subject to possible delays as it goes through Customs Formal Clearance.
I'm gonna find out all about this. Just got my quote from James yesterday. Went to my bank and they told me they couldn't do a draft until Monday. So I'll be down there at 9am and be getting shipping details a day or so later at most. Customs hold sounds like a real PIA.
 
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Jan 12, 2020 at 12:24 AM Post #7,836 of 15,951
Thanks. It looks like that they are charging 4% duty on A16.
Mine had a declared value of $3995 I think. Some portion of that $37 was a “UPS warehousing fee” (which is kind of funny since it probably sat in their warehouse for about an hour or two while I contacted to give them their required info to clear customs). I want to say the breakdown was like $27 in duty and $10 in that warehousing fee.
A 4% duty would be $169 on $3995, the most anyone is reporting is $37 which is like a 0.9 percent duty.
 
Jan 12, 2020 at 12:26 AM Post #7,837 of 15,951
A 4% duty would be $169 on $3995, the most anyone is reporting is $37 which is like a 0.9 percent duty.

Im about to go to bed, but I’ll see if I can find the invoice from UPS that breaks down the charges tomorrow.
 
Jan 12, 2020 at 2:22 AM Post #7,838 of 15,951
Jesus christ... I hope the declaration value isn't the MSRP and what was paid on Kickstarter.

Tax here in BC Canada is 12%... that's gonna be like $400 to receive this thing.... What?
 
Jan 12, 2020 at 9:01 AM Post #7,839 of 15,951
Ok. I found my invoice that UPS mailed me after delivery of my A16 last summer. The charges broke down like this:

US Customs Duties 0.00
Govt Charges Other Than Duties 26.12
Brokerages Charges 11.00
Total Charges 37.22
 
Jan 12, 2020 at 1:28 PM Post #7,841 of 15,951
Strange, I didn't have to jump through any of these hoops with my UPS delivery in California, no extra payment, no customs stuff.
I had to pay UPS $33, in hand with a check, when they finally delivered it to my door (in Los Angeles) a day later, after lots of phone calls to find out why it never got delivered on the day originally promised.

Not one of the several emails I was sent by UPS advising me of impending delivery (by World Options LTD) advised me of any fee due which was the issue. But they ended up never actually delivering it on the day originally promised, instead leaving a door tag which said money was due. Actually they didn't actually leave the door tag at my door, and in fact never actually even knocked on my door, because I was there the whole day waiting since I assumed I'd have to at least sign for it. Instead for some reason they just put the door tag (advising that money was due) on my mailbox downstairs in the garage, and even that notice didn't tell me how much!

I obviously was very annoyed when I discovered this at 8PM that night, long after I knew the UPS guy had been in the building hours earlier and hadn't actually come to my door. I phoned UPS and only then discovered that $33 was due, by check which I had to give the guy when he returned the next day. As it turned out I had to go out before he arrived the next day so I placed the check in an envelope taped to the front door for him to take in my absence. When I got home the envelope was gone and the A16 carton was sitting at the door.
 
Jan 12, 2020 at 2:12 PM Post #7,842 of 15,951
I had to pay UPS $33, in hand with a check, when they finally delivered it to my door (in Los Angeles) a day later, after lots of phone calls to find out why it never got delivered on the day originally promised.

Not one of the several emails I was sent by UPS advising me of impending delivery (by World Options LTD) advised me of any fee due which was the issue. But they ended up never actually delivering it on the day originally promised, instead leaving a door tag which said money was due. Actually they didn't actually leave the door tag at my door, and in fact never actually even knocked on my door, because I was there the whole day waiting since I assumed I'd have to at least sign for it. Instead for some reason they just put the door tag (advising that money was due) on my mailbox downstairs in the garage, and even that notice didn't tell me how much!

I obviously was very annoyed when I discovered this at 8PM that night, long after I knew the UPS guy had been in the building hours earlier and hadn't actually come to my door. I phoned UPS and only then discovered that $33 was due, by check which I had to give the guy when he returned the next day. As it turned out I had to go out before he arrived the next day so I placed the check in an envelope taped to the front door for him to take in my absence. When I got home the envelope was gone and the A16 carton was sitting at the door.

I was never told of any fees either in any email I received. In fact when I went to pick up my A16 at the UPS hub I was having it held at I specifically asked if I owed them anything and was told no. Then an invoice for $37 shows up a few weeks later:
 
Jan 13, 2020 at 6:43 PM Post #7,843 of 15,951
All righty then! Just sent a bank draft to Smyth LTD. Anyone know how long it takes to ship to the States?
 
Jan 13, 2020 at 7:00 PM Post #7,844 of 15,951
All righty then! Just sent a bank draft to Smyth LTD. Anyone know how long it takes to ship to the States?

Mine only took 2-3 days business days to get here. Think it shipped on a Thursday and delivered Monday.
 
Jan 14, 2020 at 2:01 PM Post #7,845 of 15,951
Hi All,
I am new to this forum and hope to get some help with decision making on the a16 realizer. I am interested to buy a headphone stand version of the a16. I will try to test a system first (hopefully in the coming weeks/months) and I expect that it will live up to it's expectations.

However I would like to hear from the people who got one already if it meets expectations, if not what could have been changed?

I already know that the Sennheiser hd 800 s is often recommended as a good headphone for the system. I tried them out and do like the sound but I have a hard time getting over the lack of bass (especially when watching movies). What are other recommendations? I heard the meze empyrean and that sounded great, does it do ok with the A16, would be great to hear from someone using that combination. Also my second headphone should be another than the first, so what are other headphones you recommend? I like a somewhat more relaxed sound that's also able to deliver bass in a good way. For me that's more important than superb distinction in the higher range. I like the sound of the audeze LCD2, LCD3 and LCDX, but the LCD C and to lesser extent the LCD2 are harder to drive.....

And that leads to the last question: what is a good headphone amp that can drive both headphones (for instance LCD2 fazor and empyrean) and has a separate volume settings for both headphones. On the topic of the headphone amp, where in the "soundchain" do you place the amp when using the amp with the A16.

Apologies if I am asking questions that seem silly, I am not really an audiophile, not an expert at all,
Many thanks,

Razza
 

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