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Most helpful audio companies

I don't think I saw this thread before, if it already exists: cover my head with ashes.

A few days ago I spit my gall at Vibex as one of the most customer unfriendly companies I have ever encountered. (I consider not giving any information on the products the epitome of customer unfriendliness; meanwhile, even the Austrian/German distributor admitted that Vibex never tells them anything and never will). And whilst I am at it, allow me to lambast Wireworld and Audio Physic as well.

More importantly, though, why not reward the guys that will bend over backwards to try and help their customers, by which I don't mean attempting to sell their products but genuinely give advice (which may mean advice not to purchase one or the other product) and let us share their knowledge and experience. Keeping to manufacturers only, my nominees are:

Tidal Audio (Joern Janczak and Lothar Braeun)
Audioplan (Thomas Kuehn)
AMR (Vince Luke)
VooDoo Cable (Bruce Richardson)
PS Audio (Paul McGowan)
Townshend (Max and Sue Townshend)

Alright then, here are a few non-manufacturers as well (non-exhaustive!): special thanks to Tomasso Piemontese, Alex Loth, Albert Porter, Ed Doggen, John Potis et al.

Three cheers to all of them!

karelfd
chadnliz
3,736 posts
 
Best store experience by far:
Audio Connection in Verona NJ

Some company owners who are great:

Bruce Thigpen
Roger Sanders
Richard Vandersteen

Some companies service and staff are:

Classe
AudioQuest
SOTA
Magnepan
Musical Surroundings
VPI
Just a few I have dealt with, I have some bad things to say about more then a few others but no need to waste time.
musicman07
126 posts
 
Some direct Internet manufacturers will top lists for many people. Namely MLS and company at AV123.com, Mike D and ACI, Rick Craig of Selah Audio, among others.
deecee's avatar
deecee
58 posts
 
I have had excellent luck in that I have not had *ANY* issue with service from any of the companies I dealt with; in fact bend over backwards service from the following:

Aerial Acoustics (met and phoned Mike Kelly)
Sonic Euphoria
AV123 (Perpetual Technologies)
ASC (room treatment)

(Mostly in regard to information, one manufacturer had an issue - cold solder joint - and it was settled right away).

These I have not purchased from but had VERY good service in regard to their product use and (in a few cases) helpful suggestions in regard to *general audio set up*:

Green Mountain Audio
FT Audio

... and a few more that I am unable to remember (sorry folks!).

Others were either neutral or I had no reason to contact.
donshoemaker
38 posts
 
Jason Bloom of Apogee Acoustics (sadly now defunct)
Sheila Weisfield of VPI
Kirk and Donna of Sota
Bang and Olufsen (once you finally get through to the right person)
Paul McGowan of PS Audio (for his spirited and well written newsletters)
And believe it or not- SONY! They goodwilled a processor repair for a unit I bought used that had not been manufactured for as long as the warranty period.
SHURE- Sent me a new type V stylus after I bent it flipping up the guard (WAAAY too close!)and admitted doing so.
Nitty Gritty
Any company willing to send you an owners manual for free or one that takes the trouble to archive past product manual downloads on their website.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
Most accomidating is Gilbert Yeung at Blue Circle.

He will custom build anything he makes to order whether electronically or cosmetically.

You want a purple preamp with lime green volume knobs, and a specific power cord hard wired. Ok with him.
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