I am deeply saddened after reading this news coming back to head-fi. I was one of Frank's biggest customers because I absolutely believed in his products and have always been spoiled rotten with all the fine cables he's personally made for me. The news devastated me because him and I have shared many things on a personal level and have become friends over the years...it took me days before I can even write about this. I'm having a hard drink now not only wishing Frank's surviving family members my best...but also toasting to the loss of a friend and a great guy with a real vision in this industry. Max...I don't know how to contact you but if you read this, feel free to reach out and I look forward to you possibly continuing Frank's legacy. Live your life head-fi guys...enjoy every moment with the ones you love along with great music.
Late to this news so I doubt I'll receive a reply but....
If you knew him that well and had a personal history with him:
1. Did anyone actually find out what happened to Frank?
2. Is there an obituary available (as has been the case with any death of someone I knew well and for whom I wanted a memorial record)?
3. Did you (or anyone) have Frank's personal info, as most do when they have an ongoing "personal relationship".
4. Were all your orders fulfilled (sensui123) and when was your last?
3. Do/did you know Max too?
I'm simply asking a few questions as I have a Toxic cable that needed repair. My email to
info.toxic.cables@gmail.com bounced back a couple of times yesterday and I followed the trail back to head-fi and found this news.
So,I just found out about the confusion and seeming fraudulent nature of the company shut down (and Franks apparent death) today.
I haven't been on head-fi much lately. IMO the fun kind of left the hobby when it started feeling like headphones became a status symbol competition; with companies trying to out-do each other re how much they could charge and have people keep
hearing actual improvements.
By now, for what's often charged, it seems that a couple of these companies should be sending the band itself in person (perhaps in a custom leather form-fitted pouch for each musician and his instrument)?
Anyway, the wait for a piece of "Toxic Jewelry" always seemed insane. But I was curious about all the fuss, so bought a Silver Poison cable second hand at about 1/3 the cost. I liked it fine for the $ I paid (but I wouldn't have paid more). And as it's several years now, it's no big deal with the need for a repair.
But....at least when you pay the big bucks for a cable to a company like Cardas, you actually receive the product and a lifetime warranty. Even if they do charge wayyy too much, at least you have a cable for life.
It sounds like quite a few members were badly burnt, so I'm honestly sorry to hear that people were ripped off.
But I suppose if someone has >$500 to spend on an aftermarket headphone cable, they likely have real necessities already covered...(or I hope so). So I suppose there are far worse tragedies.
Although, the breach of trust is pretty hard to swallow; and a real shame on what used to be a very friendly forum....I really
do miss the old days on this site; back when normal people could afford what was on offer at "the high end"....
still love my balanced HD650s
I do sincerely wish good luck to anyone seeking legal recourse over this mess, as it sounds like luck is what will be needed.
BTW....sorry for the rambling post. I just noticed how it's all over the place. I'll probably edit it down later or the mods can always remove it if I've crossed some PC line (it's sometimes hard to know what's okay and/or "appropriate" these day).
Maybe I should have just said....
What a weird ending to this Toxic company''s story!