Company (Brand) Loyalty- What Audio manufacturer do you like?

rockadanny · « **Reply #40 on:** 13 Dec 2008, 02:55 pm »

I disagree with windchaser completely. I think if you have gear from a certain manufacturer which proves to be quality (build, sound, service), then why wouldn't you start with them when you're in the market for something new/different? Brand loyalty does not have to mean you buy exclusively from them, but that you can start there or at least always include them in your search.

And ...

Quote

most of us who have vowed (and some on more than one occasion) "I do" but are now divorced / shacked up / married to someone else / sleeping with someone else.

Huh?

Get up on the wrong side of bed today? The topic is "What Audio manufacturer do you like?" Not, "What is your smug, cynical viewpoint of some people who enjoy audio as a hobby." Perhaps you need to start that topic as a new thread.

JLM · « **Reply #41 on:** 13 Dec 2008, 03:43 pm »

Brand loyality is an important consideration when shopping.

The house sound/built quality/philosophy should be a good starting point.

And certainly past performance should be some sort of indication of the future.

IMO a good experience deserves another purchase, all else being equal.

Brown · « **Reply #42 on:** 13 Dec 2008, 04:21 pm »

Thats an easy one for me. Audio Research. Classe and Bryston. Mapleshade.

dyohn · « **Reply #43 on:** 13 Dec 2008, 04:44 pm »

Sony and Bose.

gil99 · « **Reply #44 on:** 14 Dec 2008, 08:51 pm »

Bryston and Martin Logan. Both James Tanner and Jim Power deserve an A+ for their support.

predrag · « **Reply #45 on:** 14 Dec 2008, 09:04 pm »

Can´t help myself!
As you can read hereunder Bryston and PMC.
And a pair of monoblocks coming these days!
If I was a manufacturer that´s exactly how I would do it.
All my compliments for James Tanner! Bravo!

Wind Chaser · « **Reply #46 on:** 15 Dec 2008, 04:17 am »

Quote from: rockadanny on 13 Dec 2008, 02:55 pm

Huh? Get up on the wrong side of bed today? The topic is "What Audio manufacturer do you like?" Not, "What is your smug, cynical viewpoint of some people who enjoy audio as a hobby." Perhaps you need to start that topic as a new thread.

You don't have to agree with or even like my POV, but if want to comprehend the meaning of my words you need to consider the context. Stripping them from their context only makes you look like a bad reporter and proves you don't get their meaning.

thunderbrick · « **Reply #47 on:** 15 Dec 2008, 04:28 am »

Martin Logan. I borrowed an amp that fried my Quests. I walked in to the Lawrence KS factory (some 275 miles from my home) unannounced with the circuit boards, and they dropped everything to help me out. Hooked the boards to all kinds of equipment and told me the 'stat panels were toast. And THEN they gave me a helluva deal on new panels. Took me less than an hour to reassemble them once I got home.
Top notch in my book!

rockadanny · « **Reply #48 on:** 15 Dec 2008, 02:47 pm »

Wind - Your smug, snide comments from the peanut gallery are meaningless in or out of context as per the thread topic. You sound like you're just whining, and rather inaccurately at that about the divorce rate myth ...

Quote

Demographers say there was increased focus on divorce rates during the 1970s when the number of divorces rose, partly as a result of no-fault divorce. Divorces peaked in 1979 and articles started appearing that claimed 50 percent of American marriages were ending in divorce.

A spokesperson for the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics told me that the rumor appears to have originated from a misreading of the facts. It was true, he said, if you looked at all the marriages and divorces within a single year, you'd find that there were twice as many marriages as divorces. In 1981, for example, there were 2.4 million marriages and 1.2 million divorces. At first glance, that would seem like a 50-percent divorce rate.

Virtually none of those divorces were among the people who had married during that year, however, and the statistic failed to take into account the 54 million marriages that already existed, the majority of which would not see divorce.

Another source for the 50-percent figure could be those who were trying to predict the future of divorce. Based on known divorce records, they projected that 50 percent of newly married young people would divorce. University of Chicago sociologist and researcher Linda Waite told USA Today that the 50-percent divorce stats were based more on assumptions than facts.

So what is the divorce picture in America? Surprisingly, it's not easy to get precise figures because some states don't report divorces to the National Center for Health Statistics, including one of the largest: California.

Some researchers have relied on surveys rather than government statistics. In his book Inside America in 1984, pollster Louis Harris said that only about 11 or 12 percent of people who had ever been married had ever been divorced. Researcher George Barna's most recent survey of Americans in 2001 estimates that 34 percent of those who have ever been married have ever been divorced.

One of the latest reports about divorce was released this year by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). It is based on a 1995 federal study of nearly 11,000 women ages 15-44. It predicted that one-third of new marriages among younger people will end in divorce within 10 years and 43 percent within 15 years. That is not a death sentence, however; it's a forecast.

Perhaps you should stick to audio and leave the perpetuation of urban legends to the mass media.

woodsyi · « **Reply #49 on:** 15 Dec 2008, 03:38 pm »

I can't believe no one has mentioned ARC. Their stuff may not be sexy or cutting edge. They are not cheap either. But you can be sure their stuff will last you a life time if you want to keep them. I liked the no nonsense, unfettered house sound as well.

zacster · « **Reply #50 on:** 15 Dec 2008, 10:31 pm »

Since my amp, pre-amp and speakers are from the same manufacturer I guess that makes me the one I like. My son's system was also manufactured by that same person but he always complains about the warranty service, except when he wants money for pizza.

joc3721 · « **Reply #51 on:** 15 Dec 2008, 11:37 pm »

I've owned a lot of gear, mostly very good stuff from good companies (ARC, Rowland, Bryston, Clayton, Magnepan, thiel, vandersteen, Harbeth, Accuphase and more).
The only Company that I feel loyal to is Blue Circle. Great products all through the line, terrific support. But what really differentiates them is the willingness to customize for the customer. No other Company that I'm aware of will make you a preamp, amp, dac, etc. with exactly the features you want. They build to order and if one of the existing models does'nt meet your needs, just specify what you want and Gilbert will build it.

john1970 · « **Reply #52 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 01:31 am »

One company that I am loyal to is Bryston. My Amp (4B SST) preamp (BP25) and DAC (BDA-1) are all Bryston and I can't see changing them out anytime soon. Accurate sound, excellent service, and built to last. What more can one ask for from an audio company..

Cheers,

John

P.S. I only wish I could list the companies that I am NOT loyal to for various reasons.

Mariusz · « **Reply #53 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 03:16 am »

*Consonance ( Cyber 800, Droplet and Ref40 phono )
*RWA ....all including upcoming battery phono.
*LAT wire (speaker wire and hook-up wire)
*Morrow Audio (PC, IC)
*Do not own it anymore by I like Gary Dodd (but might go back at one point)
*Melody SET amps
*Apple
*Fostex
*Home Depot
*Denon (carts)
*Cartridge Man (carts, isolator)
*SoundSmith (carts)

Mariusz

denjo · « **Reply #54 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 03:33 am »

Company loyalty is like nationalism! You belong to a country, feel for the country and have a strong sense of belonging. Kinship to audio manufacturers is no different. I guess its a natural inclination for people to identify strongly with a product, with the loyalty and trust that follows. Honestly, I feel that way too! So, when I am with product X, everything about product X is great. Any criticism from third parties that otherwise suggests the product is no good naturally gets me on the defense.

I've since thought long and hard about this and feel that loyalty should be for the product first, company second. Let me give an example, a hypothetical one first. Product X might have excellent amplifiers but their DACs or CDPs might be less than stellar. in such circumstances, I am aboslutely ok with the fact and will not defend the company if thir DACs or CDPs are inferior (unless of course I know that the facts presented by a third party is wrong, skewed or biased).

I think we should all look beyond the company and look at the product in the first instance. Loyalty is for a fine piece of product, well designed and engineered.

Best regards
Dennis

Mariusz · « **Reply #55 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 03:41 am »

Quote from: denjo on 16 Dec 2008, 03:33 am

Company loyalty is like nationalism! You belong to a country, feel for the country and have a strong sense of belonging. Kinship to audio manufacturers is no different. I guess its a natural inclination for people to identify strongly with a product, with the loyalty and trust that follows. Honestly, I feel that way too! So, when I am with product X, everything about product X is great. Any criticism from third parties that otherwise suggests the product is no good naturally gets me on the defense.

I've since thought long and hard about this and feel that loyalty should be for the product first, company second. Let me give an example, a hypothetical one first. Product X might have excellent amplifiers but their DACs or CDPs might be less than stellar. in such circumstances, I am aboslutely ok with the fact and will not defend the company if thir DACs or CDPs are inferior (unless of course I know that the facts presented by a third party is wrong, skewed or biased).

I think we should all look beyond the company and look at the product in the first instance. Loyalty is for a fine piece of product, well designed and engineered.

Best regards
Dennis

All MAN are created equal .............not true -

some just happened to find the right way first.

Kimo · « **Reply #56 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 05:07 pm »

I have never had a bad experience with a high end manufacturer with the exception of some folks that really love wood, thin wires, and bad music. Bryston, MD, Audible Illusions, Audio Research, Cary, Eastern Electric, and Ayre have been quite good. Even Sony tried to fix my 9000es, about 9000 times, and eventually refunded my purchase.

That being said, standouts have been Omega Loudspeakers and Art Audio.

Brown · « **Reply #57 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 05:08 pm »

Quote from: woodsyi on 15 Dec 2008, 03:38 pm

I can't believe no one has mentioned ARC. Their stuff may not be sexy or cutting edge. They are not cheap either. But you can be sure their stuff will last you a life time if you want to keep them. I liked the no nonsense, unfettered house sound as well.

What Am I chopped liver. Of course they were mentioned.

woodsyi · « **Reply #58 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 05:37 pm »

Quote from: Brown on 13 Dec 2008, 04:21 pm

Thats an easy one for me. Audio Research. Classe and Bryston. Mapleshade.

I must have missed it -- it happens when I try to speed though pages.

Please accept my most sincere apology, Mr. C. Liver.

You didn't list Consonance. Any reason?

ipy · « **Reply #59 on:** 16 Dec 2008, 09:07 pm »

In no order of preference :
1) Herron - Great service from Keith himself to my local dealer in Sydney
2) Symposium Acoustics - Great service/response to my questions (Not strictly an audio manufacturer as such?).
3) Bolder Cable Company - Wayne is

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