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Underwood Hifi / Underwood Wally...

I sometimes receive e-mail blasts from this seller/retailer.  This online retailer seem to handle many brands of various audio components, some with some name recognition, some with none.  All products are advertised with screaming discounts and cable giveaways (is this a red flag?). 

Some of the brands like GAS and LSA, seem to go back quite some years.  I am trying to understand how this business works and whether it is reputable for selling solid gear.  Or is this like some retailers that buy up old defunct trademarks then sources gear from cheap contract suppliers that make stuff at low cost, cutting corners with quality?

Would appreciate any insight or customer experiences.  There are a number of items that could be of interest to me as I upgrade my two channel system but I can't help but be somewhat wary.
troidelover1499
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,205 posts
 
His new line of Audio GD ,this new totally upgraded line up especially 
digital for spring 2021 the mk2 line is special only R2R dacs.
I bought the R8- MK2  with only 1/2 way runin already beat several products 
that were more money I own,or owned and very well known from Schiit Audio, Denafrips and Holo springs for just under $2k and compete with anything well known at $3 k 
especially in bass dynamics and realism ,and being a R2R dac and have 5 true  
user adjustment controls to Taylor to your Audi system, the others donot,And their amps, preamps are exceptional buys 
new to the U.S but have a big following in Europe ,Underwood Wally 
is  now the distributor and service center for North America.
Post removed 
twoch
429 posts
 
 Carl, My guess is
 The Man can list 500 products.   When a customer calls and wants something.  The Man just calls the maker.  Maker then ships it off to customer.   But Do what ever you can to Dodge shipping back anything to the man with the 500 item's  
char2
23 posts
 
Walter is a wonderful old school salesman. What I mean by that is that he is honest and he has integrity. In other words if he describes a product as having specific characteristics it does. I contacted him a few years ago when i was doing some CD reviews for PBS and asked him for a educational discount. He was such a gentleman and said of course. I would not hesitate to purchase any gear form him. One point aside he is also fun to talk to about audio history!!!!

pwdmark's avatar
pwdmark
33 posts
 
I'm sorry, this subject goes through my head every night in bed. It isn't Underwood HiFi you need worry about, it's some of these vultures right here on Agon. Mid to late 2000's, purchased a Bel Canto DAC that I had spoken to Wally about. I don't even know if he still does his mod's, but back then he thought a lot of that little Bel Canto piece and had 4 levels of upgrades. So I bought it and sent it to Wally. Sent it back ASAP and WOW, this was a different piece of equipment.... Well done!
So that was during a buy, sell, buy period; so I listed it here on Agon for I think a whopping $400. Guy buys it and contacts me and says did you open this at anytime.... there is a screw loose and I'm letting you know before I open it. 
Long story short, there was a loose screw, and he railed at me... Do you know what could happen????? I offered his money back, but he just acted like I had purposely sent him a Dirty Bomb???? 
I told him I apologized and told him I was refunding his money AND he could keep the DAC as well.
Conclusion? Don't believe all you read here.
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