"Don Pearce" wrote in message
...
On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 20:21:09 GMT, "Trevor Wilson"
wrote:
"Don Pearce" wrote in message
.. .
On Mon, 14 Jun 2004 08:43:02 +0100, Jim Lesurf
This problem is particularly to be found in the "high end", where
there is simply not enough time and money to develop a design
properly, which generally takes a large number of models to establish
- as you imply - criteria for tolerance sensitivity, stability etc.
The result is that every unit sold is essentially an under-designed,
under-tested prototype, which really should never have left the
premises.
**Nonsense. High end designs can be very mature, depending on the talent
of
the designer and his manufacturing team. SOME designs are as you say they
are, however.
A properly-engineered design simply never gets the chance to happen in
this market, whereas further down the food chain, not only can it
happen, but it absolutely MUST happen, or heads start rolling.
**Utter and complete ********. In a past life, I was service manager of
Marantz (Australia). Each month I received a flood of modification sheets
for many Marantz models. These ranged from relatively minor stuff, to
major
mods to various products. One of those products concerned an amplifier
which
I still own. The Marantz Model 500 power amp. An impressive beast, of
(then)
prodigious power output. The 500 was stunningly unreliable, mostly due to
the use of complementary symmetry output devices, at a time when such
devices were both unreliable and of marginal ratings. 300 amps were
manufactured by Marantz USA. They had an RRP of AUS$1,500.00 in 1974.
Three
units were imported into Australia and each amp (with the exception of
mine)
had to be serviced around 5-6 times, before head office figured out how
to
prevent them from self-destructing every few weeks. Each repair took
around
10-12 hours. Rumour has it that the entire Model 500 project cost
Superscope
inc (Marantz's owners) US$3 million, from cradle to grave (initial
design,
to the end of the warranty period). It almost sent them to the wall.
Along with mod sheets, I also had access to a fascinating document, which
outlined the reliability figures of every Marantz model (for the duration
of
the 3 year warranty period). The legendary Model 1070 enjoyed a failure
rate
of 0.5%, whilst the 4230 enjoyed a failure rate of 60%. The Model 500
enjoyed a failure rate of 100%.
I am presently a service agent for a number of large, well known brands.
Whilst chatting to the service manager of one of these brands, he
casually
mentioned that their then current DVD player enjoyed a 63% failure rate.
And
this was in 2003, not 1973!
Make no mistake: MANY designs are being produced which are incomplete
designs. It will always be that way, it seems.
And that is just the designs that have gone through a complete and
thorough development cycle.
The big difference with the "High End" stuff is that you don't get the
recall, the modification notice.
**It would be disingenuous to suggest such a thing. I know of several high
end manufacturers who not only have a very personal relationship with their
clients (try that with Pioneer), but will service their product and
incorporate updates well after any warranty period has ceased. The mass
market guys, OTOH, just tell you to buy the latest model. I know this from
personal experience. Just today, I received a new player from a
manufacturer, who no longer supplies spares for a particular product in
their line-up. The product is still within its warranty period! After the
warranty ends, tough luck. Many high end manufacturers tend to provide
support for many, many years. Well past their statuatory requirements. Here
in Australia, that requirement is 7 years. One manufacturer, I service
equipment for, still supports products manufactured back in 1976.
It just stays out there performing
like ****, with the brain damaged owners saying "Great - it really
sounds different to all that mid-fi stuff".
**Sometimes there is a good reason to say so. Some of that mid fi stuff is
pretty bad. Some of the high end stuff is pretty good. Mind you: SOME of the
mid fi stuff (Rotel, et al) is excellent and some of the high end stuff is
pretty horrible.
And of course back at base there is some engineer saying "oops!, when
I change this metal resistor to a carbon type, the sound changes -
what should I do?" At Marantz, the answer comes back "Find the problem
and issue a bulletin - get it done before end of work today, we can't
afford the ****". In other places they say "What do you mean fix it,
lets boast about it on Usenet". I name no names, of course.
**The problem with my example of Marantz, is that the bulletin came TWO FULL
YEARS into the retail cycle. By that time, owners had suffered immensely.
--
Trevor Wilson
www.rageaudio.com.au