To offer a choice of the newly upgraded faceplates in either silver or black would mean we would have to double our tooling and inventory costs of faceplates, knobs, and more. This would simply raise the prices for everyone. We can't use the standard black faceplates on the new Fet Valve equipment because the control functions have changed too and old faceplates won't match the new functions or even the new power switch and LED (and electronic on and off circuits in the power amps).
No matter what we do, someone will always object. Please - - its the sound that is most important! We offered XLR fittings and balanced line operation with only two takers in the past year. We got as many complaints as compliments regarding going to IEC plug-in power cords, and now some want a faceplate a different color than what we offer. For about $10,000 per unit, and a six month lead time, we probably can turn out the equipment with just about any color or combination of knobs and functions you might want (no satisfaction guarantee and no order cancelation allowed of course).
Of course once you hear the new Fet Valve equipment, you probably will agree that even if they were priced at $10,000 each, they still would be bargains in the world of "high end" equipment out there.
Again, remember its the music.
Frank Van Alstine
Hi Frank,
Unfortunately, i think you might have missed the point. No one here is complaining persay, but it would be a good thing to have as an option maybe on special order the pre and DAC faceplates as black. All we are talking about is color, not designing new plates. Some people don't want there stuff to stand out, "look at me!" It would be obviously easier to change out the Black plate on the amp to the silver ones. That is an option to give people. So they buy there 400R or 600R, and it's black. Then they buy the new FET Valve pre, and it's silver. No match. Maybe, as a suggestion, you might want to keep a couple of plates for the amp preamp, and DAC in black. Oh yeah, gotta have 'em buttons and knobs in black too. You shouldn't have to retool anything, just change out the color scheme. We men don't necessarily care about the looks the way wives girlfriends ETC. do. All I am saying is keep a couple of the black plates and buttons on hand. So when you do get those rare orders where someone wants black, you can just give it to them. If you handle it this way, no big deal. If you were to stock both double the black and silver plates knobs ETC. then your point would be well justified. So that's just my two sense worth.
Now as for the iEC cords, Frank you made it a major point for years that it doesn't make a damn bit of difference and that using a IEC cord versus the standard two prong cord is preferrable, tooling costs ETC. And now you change because of the times over to a IEC cord. So what do you expect. The old crowd is gonna bitch and gripe. like you said, you can't please everyone. I admire your attempt at trying.
So as for the less expensive stuff, I do understand what you wer saying. I didn't consider that when I wrote you my questions? As far as the 6SN7 tubes go, it would probably sound different with the octals anyway. The pin outs are the same, so if people can find adapters between socket types, would be interesting to see what if any the real differences would be.
Another harsh recording is the Simon and Garfunco Bridge Over Troubled Waters. That album was awful to listen to for any length of time.
So are you gonna now come out with a T9 with the complete tube pre using John's circuit in it? That would round out your tube line nicely.
Just gotta win the lotto that's all. Sure hope your new stuff just takes off like a rocket.
Ray Bronk
