tubes muffled sound

[Conan]

I sold a Puresound A10 last week and sent it via post to the buyer.
I tested the amp before I sent it and it was running marvelously connected to Rega Rs3s.
The buyer received the amp, tested it with some rega rs1s and called me back saying that the amp sounded muffled with absolutely no mids nor highs.
Now this is strange but I'm no expert with tubes.
What would cause the amp to sound muffled all of a sudden?

[istari_knight]

Sorry I can't help with your problem but your post reminded me... When I imported a "Bewitch A10" 2-3 years ago it sounded muffled with no mids or highs, I assumed it wasn't very good & promptly sold it but it sounds like something has "gone bad" in transit. Hmm :hmm:

[hifi_dave]

Might well be nothing wrong if you packed it properly. The customer, maybe, just doesn't like it.

[DSJR]

Or he's blown his tweeters?

[Conan]

Might well be nothing wrong if you packed it properly. The customer, maybe, just doesn't like it.

Well I will soon find out when I get it back.
It was sounding perfect at mines and it was very well packed

[Mr Kipling]

Did you not remove the valves before sending it?

[Conan]

Did you not remove the valves before sending it?
I removed the el84's and wrapped them in bubble wrap

[anubisgrau]

nothing in transit can make the sound as described. if it's broken than it's broken but that's no his or mids. maybe he finally heard his system as it is (speakers or sources)...

[Audioman]

Likely buyer didn't like the amp or was incompatible in his system so looking for excuse to get his money back.

[Conan]

UPDATE:

As described in first post, I was using a Puresound with Rega RS3 and last week I sold the amp. When the buyer (who owns a Brio and Rega RS1) received it, he said that the Puresound was sounding muffled with absolutely no mids/highs at all therefore he was not happy with his purchase.

After a couple of calls I suggested to reimburse him and got the Puresound back.

The Puresound arrived today.
I opened the box, plugged in the valves (which were individually wrapped in bubble wrap) connected it to my Rega RS3 and...

It sounds lovely. I have been playing it for 3h and there is absolutely nothing wrong with it!:scratch:

Well what can I say???

Although I'm no specialist in tubes, I have been playing with this hobby for more that 20 years and I can tell the difference between something that sounds good and something that sounds muffled.
This is not the case.

The last 12 months I have been using a Nait 5i (italic) and bought the Puresound to satisfy an itch I had about tubes. And to be honest, to my ears, in my room and for late night listening the Puresound wins over the Naim with its smooth and sweet presentation that appeals to my taste.
In comparison, the Nait sounds like its kicking the sound out of the speakers with a very forceful presentation and with an overpowering bass that tends to annoy me.
Unfortunately my other half does not like the Puresound looks and says that it is not child friendly so hence the reason for the sale. By the way I'm selling the Nait too...

But back to the muffled sound issue...
I'm glad that it is ok as I was fearing a service bill.

So the Puresound will be for sale again.
I got it back and reimbursed the buyer as a gesture of good will. But this makes me wonder what really happened.

The facts are quite clear:
I sold a item in perfect working order
The buyer said that it was not working well
I got it back and it is in perfect working order

:scratch:

[istari_knight]

As I said earlier in the thread I had the sister model & also found it muddy sounding. System mismatch maybe ? Like your buyer I didn't keep it long enough to find out.

[Conan]

As I said earlier in the thread I had the sister model & also found it muddy sounding. System mismatch maybe ? Like your buyer I didn't keep it long enough to find out.

We are not talking of muddy sound.

The buyer had a friend that owns a croft amp and both described the amp as having absolutely no mids/highs and agreeded that there was something wrong with the amp.

[hifi_dave]

He wanted to try a valve amp and didn't like it. There was nothing wrong with it, he just wanted his money back.

Croft has an entirely different presentation.

[istari_knight]

We are not talking of muddy sound.

The buyer had a friend that owns a croft amp and both described the amp as having absolutely no mids/highs and agreeded that there was something wrong with the amp.

As did I. I thought it was a Chinese design cock up.

[rubber duck]

Carlos, I must say you have been very accommodating and gracious here. Shame the sale didn't work out this time.

[dowser]

Without casting aspersions at all - does it still have the same valves that you originally posted it out with?

[Conan]

Yes same valves.
I listened to it last nigth.
Sweet sound and definitely not muffled.