jpm@bonnie.UUCP (Jay Morreale) (11/06/85)
Greetings. I have been shopping around for a stereo system for almost a year. By now, I have subscribed to a number of audio magazines (Audio, Stereo Review, Amateur Audio, and Stereophile). These magazines are my source for technical specification and performance reviews. I also read this net regularly (daily almost) for reviews, tips, and purchasing experiences. I, thus, feel somewhat obligated in describing my experiences in finding a stereo system. Perhaps someone will find some benefit. Tuner experiences: I ordered a Carver TX-11 tuner from AMERI-SOUND,Inc (Jacksonville Florida), for $489. They charge my credit card the day I made the telephone order. The sales person could not tell me for sure if the item was stock (he though it was) since the shipping department was ~60 miles away. He also stated that they usually ship in about two weeks but a one month shipping time is store policy and that I would receive the full three year Carver warranty. Four week pass. The sales person directs me to the shipping person - Ed. I told Ed that I have not received my Tuner. Ed replies something like: They all blew up and Carver isn't making them anymore. What? This guy must be a pro. His technique knocked down my defenses (Scotty the shields). Ed then said, just kidding and that my order was due out tomorrow but my Tuner was back ordered. Two weeks later I receive my Tuner! Something strange. The box was opened. Amerisound left a note saying that my warranty card was sent to Carver for me and that if service is required call a 213 area code number. This Tuner better not break!! I am very please with the tuner! The noise reduction circuitry works best on stations that have clear signal but has a high S/N. A push of a button a the hiss goes away! Well almost. Pre-amp experiences: I was pleased enough with the tuner to order a Carver C-1 Pre-amp but from Audio Advisor in Michigan. I thought they would be faster. Ha! The order was placed on July 3. My Mastercard was charged July 8 for $465 plus $7 shipping. Also, when I inquired about Carver's M-500t power Amp. The salesman, Corey, ask what type of speakers I had. "Speaker Lab .1s, but will upgrade to something large sometime in the future," I said. He informed me that Carver's amps don't handle low impedance loads - such speakers included Magnepan, Infinity, Quad, JSE, Vandersteen, Thiel. Is this true? He,in addition, preferred amps such as the Moscode ?? or Hafler (and felt that Hafler was a good 'mass market' amp). Here it is three months later and still no Pre-amp! September 12, 1985, Corey returns my call and leaves the following message: The 'dealer' has received a shipment of Pre-amps, and that I should get one in a week. September 24, 1985, Corey assures me that the Pre-amp should arrive this week - by Friday. October 3 1985, to find out when my pre-amp was shipped from the 'dealer', Corey said he must call the dealer after 5:30 pm (est ??) and he would call me back (I got the impression that he goes home around 5 or 5:30pm from previous calls). October 4, 1985, Corey does not call back and I can't get through - busy. October 7, 1985, "Could I speak to Corey?" I said. "One moment please", the unidentified voice said (but I thought it sounded like Corey). "Hello," another voice said moments later. "Corey," I said. "No. This is Wayne - Corey's boss. He's busy can I help you." "Yes, my name is ... and I haven't received my Caver C1 Pre-amp...I ordered it ... the dealer got a shipment but I didn't...," I said - well close enough. Is this getting to long? "A new record for C1's. Hold a moment while I call the 'dealer'," Wayne said. A few moments later Wayne informs me that the 'dealer' only got one unit and that unit was sent to the person who placed an order two days before mine. AUGH! Wayne, in addition, told me that he would call other dealers and see if he could find another Pre-amp. The next day and first try too, Wayne tells me that another dealer had one and he guarantees shipment by Friday. Where have I heard that before? Do you get the felling someone lied to me? Anyway, on November 24,1985 it arrives via UPS Blue Label but no one is home at my apartment so UPS drops it off to my neighbor. It was quite late by the time I got home from scuba lessons that day so I did not have the pre-amp in my hot little hands until Friday evening. Needless to say, I am very happy with it. The Sonic Holography feature, however, will requires some speaker setup time to get a good results. By now this letter is getting a little long so I will (when I get a chance) write up some comments, observations and my experiences with the pre-amp. Numerous calls yielded the following tidbits of information (as best as I can remember them): - Caver gets his boards from Japan; "Designed and assembled in the USA" is printed on the TX-11. - Caver's pre-amps and M500t power amp are back ordered due to late board deliveries from Japan. - Caver is also putting priority on the new CD player and car power amp. - Caver's car power amp has the same problem in driving low impedance load as his home amps. - Caver's CD uses Yamaha's transport mechanisms. - The largest Caver Dealer has 11 stores. Amplifier Choices: At sometime in the future (hopefully before Christmas) I will acquire an Amp. My list of possibilities so far include: -ADCOM GFA-555 -B&K ST140 -Carver M-500t -Eagle 2 -NAD 2200 Any comments, suggestions, and experiences are welcome. Jay Morreale.
ark@alice.UucP (Andrew Koenig) (11/06/85)
When you order something by phone to be shipped, FTC regulations require the seller to get the merchandise to you within 30 days after you placed the order. If they can't, they must so inform you within the 30 days and give you a way of canceling the order without penalty, and without having to pay for postage or for a telephone call. If you don't tell them whether to cancel the order, and they can't ship within a second 30 days, they must cancel it and refund your money. In practice, I'm not sure what you can do to someone who violates these regs, but I expect that a certified letter to them with a copy to the FTC would work wonders.
seifert@hammer.UUCP (Snoopy) (11/06/85)
In article <606@bonnie.UUCP> jpm@bonnie.UUCP (Jay Morreale) writes: > - Caver gets his boards from Japan; "Designed and > assembled in the USA" is printed on the TX-11. "Designed and assembled in the USA" does not imply that every component (or even any component) is built in the USA. It means that the design was done here, and the assembly was done here. If Carver gets *populated* boards from Japan, the claim of "assembled in the USA" would be a little shakey, since populating the boards is a significant fraction of the assembly process. The Hafler is a very good amplifier. If you want to call it a "mass market" amp simply because it doesn't cost $5000, fine. I prefer to think of it as a good value. Give it a fair audition before you dismiss it. Snoopy tektronix!tekecs!doghouse.TEK!snoopy