Acoustic Reality eAR 1001

jermmd · « **on:** 24 Nov 2004, 01:05 am »

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1106102442

I saw this mentioned in another thread and am intrigued. Having heard George's 201's many times I can't help but be curious. I am fully aware of Peter's reputation and have read many of his posts but THE PRICE. Forget personality issues if possible and give me your thoughts on quality and reliability. Shall we give Peter another chance to prove himself?

Joe M.

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 01:24 am »

Quote from: jermmd

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstran&1106102442

I saw this mentioned in another thread and am intrigued. Having heard George's 201's many times I can't help but be curious. I am fully aware of Peter's reputation and have read many of his posts but THE PRICE. Forget personality issues if possible and give me your thoughts on quality and reliability. Shall we give Peter another chance to prove himself?

Joe M.

Based on how Peter has conducted himself and the quality control issues of his past products, I wouldn't touch these with a 10' pole. Not interested at ANY price.

George

jermmd · « **Reply #2 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 01:30 am »

George,

Common sense tells me the exact same thing. And I really don't need a new amp=even if these might make good Sub amps if they're not great. It's the bargain lover in me that makes it tempting.

Joe M.

wshuff · « **Reply #3 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 01:32 am »

Wasn't somebody who frequents this board working on his own Ice amp for about $1000.00 or so? I don't remember who, though. Maybe it was one of the Ric's.

Anyway, very intriguing price, although you always have to factor in that the amp has to be shipped across the Atlantic.

Marbles · « **Reply #4 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 01:36 am »

I have a friend who is very familiar with Peter and AR, so I sent him that link on 11/20.

His reply was interesting, but the most interesting thing was that he has a broken AR amp. He has been emailing Peter for the last 8 weeks about repairing the amp, and has yet to get a response.

Caveat Emptor really does apply here.

Rocket · « **Reply #5 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 01:38 am »

Hi,

Reading between the lines i think it actually costs $1400us. For that price you can purchase an closeout sale pass labs aleph 30 including delivery in the states.

At least you can get local support from the factory.

regards

rod

cjr888 · « **Reply #6 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 12:43 pm »

Been eyeing the news page a lot in the last week -- what I'm even more intrigued by is the 202:

http://www.acoustic-reality.com/news/site9.htm

Stereo Unit for $599 (!)

Rocket · « **Reply #7 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 01:15 pm »

Hi,

Now that is a cheap price, unfortunately i frequented harmonic discord and read his posts which turned me off his company.

regards

rod

rosconey · « **Reply #8 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 04:51 pm »

yeh he did come across as a #$%%@#%

kristian85 · « **Reply #9 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 10:26 pm »

While I cannot comment on others' specific experiences, I can say I have had several very pleasant conversations with the man, who does appear to be the real deal with regard to audio engineering. He is certainly shaking things up and attempting to create fresh, new products at real-world prices. I am likely to become a customer, escpecially as an ex-pat Dane.

Don't forget that folks who feel they've been slighted or otherwise wronged are much more likely to be vociferous in their comments, and that in such cases, you do not know how those folks came across to Peter. It could well be that some of these folks with complaints were unfair or outright unreasonable in their dealings with him, causing Peter to become aggravated etc. It takes two to tango.

Knowing how weird and plain silly some audiophiles are (having worked in the industry selling gear for nine years until 1995), I can empathize with the idea that some audiophiles are knobs with unreasonable demands/expectations.

Peter likely has 100 happy campers for every two unhappy ones.

Rob Babcock · « **Reply #10 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 10:36 pm »

I dunno, kristian85. His track record is well documented, and his own words speaker bizarre volumes. Several have said he can come across as a nice guy when you speak to him, but almost inevitably he "goes off his meds."

Do let us know if you decide to give him a shot. God knows he's brought enough negative word of mouth upon himself- it's only fair he get to turn it around. If the experience is good let us know.

Marbles · « **Reply #11 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 11:05 pm »

Quote from: kristian85

While I cannot comment on others' specific experiences, I can say I have had several very pleasant conversations with the man, who does appear to be the real deal with regard to audio engineering. He is certainly shaking things up and attempting to create fresh, new products at real-world prices. I am likely to become a customer, escpecially as an ex-pat Dane.
....

There is no doubt in my mind that Peter is manic depressive. When he is in a "manic" state he comes up with ideas that truely border on the genius side of things. I don't know anyone who has ever said anything negative about his products.

All negativity has been because of his (lack of) interpersonal skills or lack of customer support.

I have had Peter to my house, and he is a very likeable fellow. I have never bought anything from him.

If you have never needed a product repaired by him, my guess is that you think very highly of him. If you have had a product repaired by him, or one that needs to be repaired by him, or you tried to sell a product of his, you may have different feelings towards him.

Marbles · « **Reply #12 on:** 24 Nov 2004, 11:12 pm »

I think that some of my fondest memories of posts at HD and here were about Peter.

Here is one where Roop was selling his amp on Agon.

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=2009&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

Copy of the auctual ad text is on page four..in one of my posts.

Part of the ad reads:"Description
For sale is my eAR MKII stereo amp. Peter of Acoustic Reality has been absolutely worthless regarding service and support, and I loathe to own a product from his name. I have no problems regarding sonic quality, but I refuse to own a product from a manufacturer as flaky and irresponsible as Peter Thomsen. If you're willing to put up with his bullshit, here's an opportunity to own his amplifier at a fraction of the cost of a new one. I guatantee the amp in perfect operating condition, with a few minor scratches. "

I broke out in laughter when I read Nathan's post in the middle of page 6.

Quote from: Nathanm

You know you're rocking when the amp catches on FIRE!

Great stuff!

Here is another Post when JohnR was selling his Avinci speakers.

http://www.harmonicdiscord.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5593&postdays=0&postorder=asc&highlight=avinci&start=0

Here is a good one, and it has reference to a few others threads...

http://www.harmonicdiscord.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=6880&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

jermmd · « **Reply #13 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 03:38 am »

Marbles,

Very funny stuff. Are there any links to discussions involving Peter and AZRyan? Now that would be funny.

I personally could care less about personality at this price if the amp was really comparable to the JR 501's as advertised. Unfortunately, support and reliability are very important to me-especially when considering items from other countries.

Joe M.

JohnR · « **Reply #14 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 11:20 am »

I remember that night very well...

JLM · « **Reply #15 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 12:38 pm »

Peter is the definitive "mad genius". Like Newton or Einstein (or even the guy from "A Beautiful Mind") he has developed several wonderful products in a short time. But his business sense leaves much to be desired with prices jumping all over the place, erratic personal behavior, and poor service.

I can appreciate the problems associated with new technologies, business start up, language barriers, monetary exchange rates, and ego/pride getting in the way. What Peter needed/still needs is a good business manager to be the company face, be his personal manager, and smooth out operational issues. Certainly he has already paid for his keep for a lifetime with the stuff he's come out with in just a couple of years. Just keep him in the lab and out of the public eye.

The amps are tempting, but the business/service aspects need to be worked out before I'd consider buying. What a shame.

Marbles · « **Reply #16 on:** 25 Nov 2004, 02:54 pm »

Quote from: JLM

What Peter needed/still needs is a good business manager to be the company face, be his personal manager, and smooth out operational issues. ...

He had a wonderful guy in the US to do that (Eric Hider), in fact, I can't think of a better guy than the one he had. Unfortunately, Peter was Peter and they had a falling out.

patslab · « **Reply #17 on:** 27 Nov 2004, 03:14 pm »

Do I have this right:

He takes 2 op-amps, a stereo pot, a rotary switch, RCA jacks, shoves it into some strange little box, powered by a wall wart............

And then gets people to give him $1000 for it?

Yep, he must be a genius.

cjr888 · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 Nov 2004, 03:29 pm »

Quote from: patslab

Do I have this right:

He takes 2 op-amps, a stereo pot, a rotary switch, RCA jacks, shoves it into some strange little box, powered by a wall wart............

And then gets people to give him $1000 for it?

Yep, he must be a genius.

Uh, which amplifier are you talking about? This doesn't describe anything he markets that I am aware of.

patslab · « **Reply #19 on:** 27 Nov 2004, 04:28 pm »

I guess you have never seen his preamp.