[groucho69]

Just to have vent a little. What has happened to pure customer service? What happened to the days where companies were actually concerned about losing clientele and more importantly, losing potential repeat customers?

I have had a couple run-ins this past week with manufacturers and been totally turned off from their brand. VW is the biggest sore spot for me lately. Weren't the slightest bit troubled that I would never buy their brand again and be vociferous in my displeasure of them to whomever would listen. That seems wrong. It's too long a story, suffice it to say that I am just outside their perceived warranty and they refuse to even meet me part way towards repairs. The worst part was that after them saying 'oh too bad for you' they want to send me a survey and want me to fill in all 5 out of 5 stars due their assisting me. I said if you don't want negative survey results, don't send it to me. They were actually more agitated that I wouldn't give them good grades for not even lifting a finger to help me.

Why has it come to this? I vote with my money and those that can't work with me, won't get any of my hard-earned dollars. Of course they won't attribute loss of sales to their practices, they'll write it off to fringe one-offs who are outside their demographics.

Makes me angry and sad.
I'll get off my podium and put down the revolution flyers.
Thank you kind readers. I'll put my headphones back on now...

Find out who the district service manger is for your area and let him know what happened. And keep going up. Call your local TV station with a consumer advocate. And, find an independent VW service center. Everything will cost considerably less than at VW for the same parts and service.

 

[jerick70]

Find out who the district service manger is for your area and let him know what happened. And keep going up. Call your local TV station with a consumer advocate. And, find an independent VW service center. Everything will cost considerably less than at VW for the same parts and service.

And if that doesn't work contact the CEO.

https://www.ceoemail.com/s.php?id=ceo-10253

 

[DBaldock9]

For those who still have vinyl albums and turntables - are any of you using a phono stage that you built from a kit?
Is it solid state, or vacuum tubes?
Would you recommend it, and is it still available?
.
Or - Is there a reasonably priced (less than $200) assembled phono stage that y'all would recommend?
.
Thanks,
David B.

 

[jerick70]

For those who still have vinyl albums and turntables - are any of you using a phono stage that you built from a kit?
Is it solid state, or vacuum tubes?
Would you recommend it, and is it still available?
.
Or - Is there a reasonably priced (less than $200) assembled phono stage that y'all would recommend?
.
Thanks,
David B.

I don't use a turntable anymore. I've gone all digital. But I can give you some good recommendations for phono pres.

Vincent Audio makes really nice affordable phono pres. The PHO 8 is outstanding and in your price range. Their PHO 701 is even better but a bit more expensive.

https://www.audioadvisor.com/mobile/prodinfo.asp?number=VIPHO8

I love my Elekit TU-8500 preamp and the Phono stage gets top notch reviews. I'm sure you would be happy with it but it is a bit more than you want to spend.

https://diyaudiostore.com/collections/kits/products/elekit-tu-8500

 

[jerick70]

If anyone likes a more neutral sound with a lot of detail Drop is offering the Empire Ears Zeus for $750 right now....

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-empire-ears-zeus-universal-iems/details#details

 

[Jackpot77]

If anyone likes a more neutral sound with a lot of detail Drop is offering the Empire Ears Zeus for $750 right now....

https://drop.com/buy/massdrop-x-empire-ears-zeus-universal-iems/details#details

While it's still a big chunk of cash, that is an insanely good price for IEMs that were well over $2000 just two years ago.

I have a custom Zeus-XR and it still comfortably competes right at the top of the TOTL tree in terms of clarity, resolution and just overall quality, even compared to more recent flagships. Bass is snappy but roughly neutral, so not the ideal monitor for dyed in the wool bass heads, but the sheer detail this thing spits out while not artificially sharpening the sound or sacrificing thickness and body in the mids is pretty special. There's a reason EE were known for their midrange before the Legend X and Phantom came along...

Sorry, will get off my soap box now. Suffice to say, I really like these IEMs.

 

[Richsvt]

For those who still have vinyl albums and turntables - are any of you using a phono stage that you built from a kit?
Is it solid state, or vacuum tubes?
Would you recommend it, and is it still available?
.
Or - Is there a reasonably priced (less than $200) assembled phono stage that y'all would recommend?
.
Thanks,
David B.

I got my table from U-Turn Audio- using their built-in phono stage as it was just easier and sounds decent enough. They make an outboard one too...
Don't know any tube ones to suggest but have heard the Schiit one and is a nice piece for the price.

 

[OldDude04]

I've got a set of Hyla TE5B's coming in tomorrow, really looking forward to them. Has anyone heard the Hylas? I'd be curious to know what you thought.

 

[DBaldock9]

I don't use a turntable anymore. I've gone all digital. But I can give you some good recommendations for phono pres.

Vincent Audio makes really nice affordable phono pres. The PHO 8 is outstanding and in your price range. Their PHO 701 is even better but a bit more expensive.

https://www.audioadvisor.com/mobile/prodinfo.asp?number=VIPHO8

I love my Elekit TU-8500 preamp and the Phono stage gets top notch reviews. I'm sure you would be happy with it but it is a bit more than you want to spend.

https://diyaudiostore.com/collections/kits/products/elekit-tu-8500

I haven't used my AR "The Turntable" in years, but I would like to record some of the several hundred albums that I collected during the 1970s - 2000s, and some Big Band 45s that I got from my Dad. In one of my PCs, I've got an M-Audio Delta 1010LT audio card to use for the recording.

 

[jerick70]

I haven't used my AR "The Turntable" in years, but I would like to record some of the several hundred albums that I collected during the 1970s - 2000s, and some Big Band 45s that I got from my Dad. In one of my PCs, I've got an M-Audio Delta 1010LT audio card to use for the recording.

Vincent kit is really nice. Just read some of the reviews on build quality and sound quality. They beat some of the $$$$$ kit and cost a pittance.

 

[Podster]

I haven't used my AR "The Turntable" in years, but I would like to record some of the several hundred albums that I collected during the 1970s - 2000s, and some Big Band 45s that I got from my Dad. In one of my PCs, I've got an M-Audio Delta 1010LT audio card to use for the recording.

I can vouch for the Vincent PHO 8 which I'm now using in my secondary rig (Rega RP8 w/Hana green) Another is the MoFi Studio around the same price but if Audio Advisor is still offering the PHO 8 for $295 the build and materials are worth it alone the awesome SQ is just a bonus

 

[boblauer]

For those who still have vinyl albums and turntables - are any of you using a phono stage that you built from a kit?
Is it solid state, or vacuum tubes?
Would you recommend it, and is it still available?
.
Or - Is there a reasonably priced (less than $200) assembled phono stage that y'all would recommend?
.
Thanks,
David B.

I am currently using the built in phono stage on my Rogue Audio Integrated, previously I used a Schiit Mani which was a really nice outboard phone stage and not that expensive. Look for a used one, I sold mine for $75 and it was pristine sat in a cabinet for a year untouched. Finding one that mates well with your cartridge, load and type, is far more critical than tube or ss. Project makes an expensive one that's well received as well.
https://www.schiit.com/products/mani
https://www.amazon.com/Pro-Ject-Pho...ocphy=9031531&hvtargid=pla-561848323826&psc=1

 

[Whazzzup]

better tune

 

[Podster]

@DBaldock9 , David if you are just wanting to get yourself running with a Phono Stage you can have my outgoing (What the PHO 8 replaced) Edwards Apprentice (Basically Talk Audio) for $50 + shipping to Houston to get you going. Check it here: https://www.whathifi.com/us/edwards-audio/apprentice-mm/review or https://talkelectronics.com/edwards-audio-apprentice-mm-phono-stage/

Seen here in this comical shot since it has a pair of Synergistic Looking Glass cables https://positive-feedback.com/Issue56/synergistic_research.htm on it, diminutive in size it does a great job with MM cartridges. If your interested just PM me

I'm not a big fan of the Project or NAD's little PP2 but Bob's suggestion on the Mani is a good one if you want new but like Bob's sold unit mine is also pristineI mean it is the Shiit man

 

[Dobrescu George]

Time for another full in-depth review from me, this time about the A5+ Wireless speakers from Audioengine

https://www.audiophile-heaven.com/2...onitors-audioengine-a5-wireless-speakers.html

Also, new video is live, this time abou the little mighty Rapture from Fischer AMPs