Are we the most stupid mofo's on the planet

[Johnny nocash]

I've got the most basic midi system that has always played without fault despite the total lack of respect I treated it with.
On the other hand I've handled my 'Better stuff' with kid gloves & got repaid by the fuckin expensive boxes capsizing. Forums are littered with examples of Hifi kit (often hi-end) breaking & owners seeking advice on how to fix it.
These things aren't formula 1 cars where designers have to balance ultimate performance against longevity over 60 odd laps.
I'm looking for owners of Hifi equipment to name what kit let them down with regards to reliability.
God save the Que.... No, Hifi

[southall-1998_mk2]

Audio Note Meishu. Always kept blowing it's fuse when switching on, despite getting checked over at AN.
Audio Note Oto SE Silver Signature on loan. The next day both channels stopped working. When AN got the unit, they said it worked fine. Sounds like fecking BS!
Pink Triangle Turntable, can't recall which model. Useless build quality. Wouldn't trust anyone sneezing next to one.

Can't think of anything else really.

S.

[Johnny nocash]

That's a great start Shane,.... Audionote..... Well fuckeroo we're off & running.

[gninnam]

Sorry but can't add anything as all the high end shizle i have had has not let me down long term :scratch:

[Roy S]

Sorry but can't add anything as all the high end shizle i have had has not let me down long term :scratch:

+1, and there's always the warranty to fall back on

[Johnny nocash]

Sorry but can't add anything as all the high end shizle i have had has not let me down long term :scratch:

Fair do's Andy, but I reckon Shilze should be spelt Shindo

[Smegger68]

Rotel RA820BX amplifier that blew both it's main power caps. Replaced them myself so no biggie really.

Exposure XXVRS remote chip went faulty, would randomly go into mute for no reason. £85 & shipping for Exposure to fit a new one.

Audion Sterling amp that just blew up. £100 to Tube Distinctions to repair.

Think that's been everything actually.

[walpurgis]

If you have a list of everlasting Hi-Fi we'd love to hear about it. Otherwise I think most of us accept that equipment will fail eventually.

[Macca]

I've got shelves full of faulty equipment but as Geoff says nothing lasts forever and most of it was bought used and some of it arrived in none-working state. I bought a Denon PMA250SEUK the other week to revisit the past (my old one developed a fault). The one I bought is also faulty (but a different fault). It is 30 odd years old though. My Krell KSA50S is currently in the shop being fixed, again it is over 30 years old.


Technics SLP1200 CD players, I've had 3, all have gone faulty. But they are from the 1980s so again pretty old. The only bit of kit I bought brand new that has failed was a Sony CD player and that had tens of thousands of hours on it when it failed. My fault for leaving it switched on all the time. Don't do that! It was easily fixed, just a little ribbon connector had gone bad.


Not really whether it goes bad or not that is the problem it is whether it can be fixed. I've had a load of stuff repaired, it's an ongoing process. Some really recent kit you've got no chance of getting fixed as parts are not kept and as soon as an IC chip fails that's it. Kit using surface mount components also very difficult if not impossible to repair, at least according to the EE who is currently working on my collection of tat. He's already fixed about half a dozen items for me. I've enough to keep him busy well into next year.

[Pieoftheday]

If you have a list of everlasting Hi-Fi we'd love to hear about it. Otherwise I think most of us accept that equipment will fail eventually.

Castle Knight 3 speakers, lovely little speakers that died within 6months, returned for repair only to be told just one was faulty.when they came back they both died within 2 weeks!! Arcam cd 73t ,2 repaires within 2 months then died within 4years, I was told on the phone by arcam it was probably the laser and I'd done well it lasted that long!!

[nutteronthebus]

I have just updated a Quad 33/303 from the late 60's early 70's ( serial No 5999 and 2922 ) both worked when they arrived even though they were tatty . A quick recap and paint ( power coat ) and they sound good as new ( may be better as Quad 33 had poor bottom end due to low value input caps ( 0.68uf) . There are a lot of Quads out there still working even though they are over 40 years old


Dave

[perlogalism]

Actually the only bit of kit of mine which has failed was a Valhalla power supply in an LP12. Mind you, it was a good 30 years old and I did leave it powered on all the time:rolleyes: Replacing it with a Hercules was a step up anyway!

[Pigmy Pony]

The Valhalla on my LP12 failed after I'd had it about three years. Linn replaced it with a new one free of charge even though I had bought the deck secondhand from a private seller. I'd say that was pretty good service. How a company/manufacturer deals with problems is important, and it would be nice to hear of any who have gone 'the extra mile'.

[alphaGT]

As a young man, I marveled over a friend’s older brother’s Sansui amp! A Sansui 9090, if memory serves. It was huge! Heavy, beautiful tuner dial in the front.

So, in the mid 80’s, I bought a matching rack system of Sansui, a 100w integrated amp, tuner, linear tracking turntable, cassette deck, speakers, and CD player! That’s one of the reasons I bought it, CD players were rare at the time, back when there were only a few CD’s by the register at the record store. I paid extra for the 5 year warranty.

Within that 5 years, every single piece of it wound up in the shop! It blew a channel in the amp. The speakers always had a rattle, they never could fix, the tuner went dark, the turntable never did work worth a darn. The linear motor and belt was always locking up, jumping off, I’m not sure. And eventually the CD player wouldn’t read discs, they kept it for 6 months before they would confess they couldn’t fix it, and gave me store credit and I bought a Sony. It was a major pile of crap, cheap, shrill, I never could listen for more than an hour at a time. And it seemed every few months something was broken, and believe me, I take very good care of my gear. When the warranty ran out, I got it all working and sold it for whatever I could get. Was so glad to see it go.

I then got an Adcom 555 and Adcom tuner/preamp, Sony ES CD, Denon turntable, and Vandersteen 2Ci’s, and that system lasted over 30 years without a single fault! And, was pretty amazing if I do say so.

Russell

[alphaGT]

Oh! I forgot to mention, I saved up my money and bought me a new VPI 16.5 RCM! It was very nice, I bragged on it all the time. But, one month past it’s warranty, it developed a serious leak in the motor! Water coming out of the electric pump. So, I contacted VPI, instead of talking to a tech, I spoke with the President of the company. He was rather short, I had to email him 3 times to get the mailing address and everything I needed to know to send it in for repair.

They lost it! I never got it back! I had a receipt from UPS showing they signed for it. They just did nothing, I was out my $600 RCM and they didn’t even apologize! Just screwed me royally! Bad form, seriously bad form. Apparently they don’t have a regular repair department? As I couldn’t figure why I was dealing with their president? This leak was a well documented flaw in their early models, so I know they knew what was wrong with it.

Now, I’ve got a VPI Scout record player, that I bought before this happened. I love this record player, best I’ve ever had! But you can bet if it ever needs service, I won’t be sending it to them! I’ve considered selling it and buying another brand, because I hate to represent their company! Sad. It’s been 8 years so I’m not seething with rage as I was when it happened, but I’m still shocked anyone could have such horrible customer service. I bought a Project to replace it, and it really is a much better machine.

Russell

[Minstrel SE]

Nothing that I have bought has let me down...that needs mentioning because buying well does pay off in the world of budget hifi.

I felt a bit down when a Creek 3040 Tuner failed after 35 years...35 Years!! :) That will probably be capacitors and I will take a look at it.

My Marantz equipment has been going strong for 15 years and thats in Class A mode.. Ive got still Duals going strong after a normal servicing.

The only thing I wouldnt buy are the cheaper all in one sytems. In my experience the cheap convenience stuff fails...you buy better and it reaps rewards over time.

I cant imagine high end stuff being unreliable but I read this thread with interest...didnt enough Musical Fidelity A1s fry up?

[Floyddroid]

Nothing that I have bought has let me down...that needs mentioning because buying well does pay off in the world of budget hifi.

I felt a bit down when a Creek 3040 Tuner failed after 35 years...35 Years!! :) That will probably be capacitors and I will take a look at it.

My Marantz equipment has been going strong for 15 years and thats in Class A mode.. Ive got still Duals going strong after a normal servicing.

The only thing I wouldnt buy are the cheaper all in one sytems. In my experience the cheap convenience stuff fails...you buy better and it reaps rewards over time.

I cant imagine high end stuff being unreliable but I read this thread with interest...didnt enough Musical Fidelity A1s fry up?

Good thread this and one i am in total agreement with. I own thousands of pounds worth of amps and i am using a thirty odd year old Naim whilst my others are being repaired. Thinking of buying an integrated amp

[Pharos]

In '75, a BC 107 went intermittent and noisy in my Nelson-Jones 10+10, a manufactured fault, and I changed it

When I sold my Tannoy Gold Lancasters to The Vintage Wireless Company, I squeaked them only to find a serious tweeter resonance at about 14k.

I've had Alps pots fail on an AVI and an ATC pre, both prior to the redesign with larger diameter motors.

[dave2010]

Very disappointed with Logitech Squeezebox Boom, Classic, Touch etc. Originally seemed a good idea, but Logitech gave up on the system too early. Particularly disappointing is the large “radio” Boom version, which still powers up, but forgets its settings regularly, and also also has been “infected” with a nasty stickiness (well documented elsewhere I think) which makes the knobs and buttons unpleasant to handle. Very poor show. I liked the concept. I think my Classic and Touch do still work though, and the server software does still work, but now maintained by an army of volunteers. I like these when I get the servers running, but that’s not too often nowadays.

I have other kit which is “centuries” old which is still good and working. The Logitech stuff was a real bummer, with a very short effective lifespan.

[brucew268]

Classe Audio amp and preamp: solid for more than 25 years. I did change out electrolytics preemptively. Oh yeah, preamp became problematic and non-functional due to too much mucking about inside.
Muse DAC: no faults.
Audio Research CD: no faults.
Theta transport: laser stopped tracking correctly after 5 years, part no longer available
Von Schweikert Research VR4 speakers: no faults
Proac Response 1SC spkrs: no faults

...so I've done very well except for the transport.

[Johnny nocash]

Thanks for all the responses folks.
When we buy 2nd hand, of course we have to accept that further costs may be involved. What I find bewildering is 'Hifi enthusiasts' acceptance of really expensive kit failing.
My original post mentioned a midi system that has never gone wrong. Average sound but obviously stable. I cannot say that about loads of components that cost a shit load more. Amps that keep blowing valves, capacitors failing, CD players that fuck up reading discs or their mechanisms just don't function properly. The longevity of a lot (not all) is a fucking disgrace considering the money that was paid.
I've got a shitty old kettle that's asked to boil water probably 20-30 times a day. It still does the job as well as ever after prob 20 years. No repair whatsoever.
I think it cost about £20.

[Macca]

My kettle is 20 and still going. The microwave I've had 30 years and still works and I got that second hand.


I've got a Harmon Kardon 930 receiver that is almost as old as me, that's still going. Although maybe it was repaired before I bought it, I don't know. Someone upgraded the speaker connections so maybe.

[Pigmy Pony]

Is it just a case if things becoming more complicated, in an attempt to improve things which were fine to start with? Like they do with cars - some things are too clver for their own good.

I've had a hammer for over 20 years, cost a fiver, and never fails to knock a nail in. I do sometimes hit my thumb though, so maybe I should look at upgrading to one with "lane assist".

[Macca]

A hammer with built in laser targeting pointer maybe?

[willbewill]

A hammer with built in laser targeting pointer maybe?And lane guidance.

[Pigmy Pony]

The laser probably wouldn't survive more than a few strikes, although that wouldn't stop the manufacturers making them. Or some idiot buying one. How about a hammer and gloves 'kit', with magnets fitted (opposing polarities) so that the hammer cannot strike the glove. That might work. Or one with a built in metal detector, so it will only hit something made of steel. With an override switch for workmen with prosthetic hands.

[alphaGT]

The laser probably wouldn't survive more than a few strikes, although that wouldn't stop the manufacturers making them. Or some idiot buying one. How about a hammer and gloves 'kit', with magnets fitted (opposing polarities) so that the hammer cannot strike the glove. That might work. Or one with a built in metal detector, so it will only hit something made of steel. With an override switch for workmen with prosthetic hands.

That is a genius idea! Honestly, a glove that prevents the hammer from hitting your finger! Or perhaps you could sell nails that were magnetized, to attract the head of the hammer?

Probably a day late and a Pound short, since most contractors use nail guns these days. I witnessed a contractor who came to make a tiny repair, he unloaded his small air compressor, unrolled an extension cord and plugged it in, unrolled an air hose, hooked up his nail gun, held a small piece of trim over the door, shot two nails, rolled it all up and left. I could have grabbed a hammer and fixed the trim 10 times before he did. So the magnetic hammer would have done him no good at all!

And lasers are pretty tough, I’ve got one on my 38 Special, and after many shots it’s still alive and dead on the mark. My old eyesight takes too long to focus on the sights, and target, so I opted for the laser.

Russell

[realysm42]

I had a Sanders Magtech that had leaky caps and cooked an amp board inside.

Roger Sanders is a real gentleman and sent me replacement parts out for everything, as well as detailed instructions on how to fix it all if I wanted to do it myself. Superb service.

All of the other gear I’ve owned has worked fine.

I think the OP is unrealistic in his expectation of ‘really expensive’ gear lasting forever. Nothing lasts forever and his midi system isn’t exactly a significant sample size to back up his argument. If my gear broke, I’m supported by the original company. If his midi system broke, it’s game over.

[Stratmangler]

..... and the server software does still work, but now maintained by an army of volunteers. I like these when I get the servers running, but that’s not too often nowadays......

I have other kit which is “centuries” old which is still good and working. The Logitech stuff was a real bummer, with a very short effective lifespan.

The server software has always been opensource.
Slim Devices didn't own it, and neither did Logitech.
The army of volunteers has been there from the start.

As to a short effective lifespan - my Squeezebox Touch is used daily, as is my son's.
We don't do stupid things like unplugging the power supply at the player end - I have heard a few sob stories where someone has unplugged at the player, and had a number of plug ends loose(different PSUs), didn't check before plugging in the first one to hand, and experienced the acrid smell of the magic smoke.

I expect to be running my Squeezebox Touch for a good many years to come.

[Jazid]

If you have a list of everlasting Hi-Fi we'd love to hear about it. Otherwise I think most of us accept that equipment will fail eventually.My mother's quad qc/2 and vitavox bitone continue to work without issue. Amps are still on original valves, but that's only from the early 1950s?

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk

[Jazid]

Oh, and a 100% original Chicago wire recorder from 1934 that works without fault or repair. Mind you I've got plenty of crappy stuff that has given up before it should as well, especially 1990s and 2000s equipment.

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk

[alphaGT]

Oh, and a 100% original Chicago wire recorder from 1934 that works without fault or repair. Mind you I've got plenty of crappy stuff that has given up before it should as well, especially 1990s and 2000s equipment.

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A ‘34 wire recorder! That I’d love to see! Do you have any pictures?

Russell

[struth]

Used them during war to fool the Germans etc that we had armies etc, that never were. Couldn't use discs incase of a stick spot giving game away.

[Haselsh1]

Croft Series 7 power amp.

[alphaGT]

Used them during war to fool the Germans etc that we had armies etc, that never were. Couldn't use discs incase of a stick spot giving game away.

The story I have always heard, and I know in fact I saw it on a TV history show, that the wire recorder was invented by Telefunken, during the years Germany was under Nazi control, and that’s why the US never got magnetic recording until after the war. I wonder why they would say such things if the Allies had wire recorders? I swear, as an old man once told me, “don’t believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see”.

Russell

[Macca]

In 1944-1945, the 3132 Signal Service Company Special of the U.S. Army's top secret Ghost Army used wire recorders to create sonic deception on the Western Front in the Second World War. Multiple battlefield scenarios were recreated using military sounds recorded at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The wire-recorded audio, which was played back through powerful amplifiers and speakers mounted on vehicles, was used to conceal real Allied deployments, locations and operations

Also

The first magnetic recorder to be made commercially available anywhere was the Telegraphone, manufactured by the American Telegraphone Company, Springfield, Massachusetts.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wire_recording

I know, Wikipedia, but it tends to be pretty accurate for anything non-controversial.

[Jazid]

Here's the beastie. I'll add some internals later, Full copper chassis, the idler is about an inch thick [emoji15].

I like how it's made under armour patents.

I read that they were originally aimed at eg. CEOs of large organisations for use as dictaphones. The 'electronic memory' suggests that?

Interesting their use in the battlefield, they may not jump a groove but the wire is prone to snapping, its very thin! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/60856acbdec19846558b86ba2f79dca6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/abf3f81fbdce1d224135767f4f0ca4f8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/5984b8ad838d30cd30e943bd9e6ee246.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/21c44b574b210c4042a814dbb49ceb4d.jpg

Sent from my BLA-L09 using Tapatalk

[struth]

The story I have always heard, and I know in fact I saw it on a TV history show, that the wire recorder was invented by Telefunken, during the years Germany was under Nazi control, and that’s why the US never got magnetic recording until after the war. I wonder why they would say such things if the Allies had wire recorders? I swear, as an old man once told me, “don’t believe anything you hear, and only half of what you see”.

Russell

Thats the other way round. first magnetic tape was made in Germany by AEG and BASF in the 30's. they were all based on Fritz Pfleumer's 1928 paper tape version

[alphaGT]

Here's the beastie. I'll add some internals later, Full copper chassis, the idler is about an inch thick [emoji15].

I like how it's made under armour patents.

I read that they were originally aimed at eg. CEOs of large organisations for use as dictaphones. The 'electronic memory' suggests that?

Interesting their use in the battlefield, they may not jump a groove but the wire is prone to snapping, its very thin! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/60856acbdec19846558b86ba2f79dca6.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/abf3f81fbdce1d224135767f4f0ca4f8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/5984b8ad838d30cd30e943bd9e6ee246.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190716/21c44b574b210c4042a814dbb49ceb4d.jpg

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That is amazing! I bet that device is worth a mint! Any museum would love to have it on display. It is much more compact than I expected.

Russell

[Macca]

Great bit of kit. Built them to last in those days.

[alphaGT]

Thats the other way round. first magnetic tape was made in Germany by AEG and BASF in the 30's. they were all based on Fritz Pfleumer's 1928 paper tape version

1928 is going back 10 full years before this so called Telefunken that was talked about on this, “Documentary”. I swear, the History channel used to talk about ancient history, world history, wars, etc. but now all they do is talk about Ancient Aliens and other pseudo science crap, they’ve lost all credibility.

The show was about the recording industry, so I guess they breezed over that stuff so they could fast forward to the Beatles and the Stones. To hear them tell it, the reel to reel wasn’t around before the Beatles tried to 4 track.

Russell