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Are High End Audio Products Unreliable?

I don't know if it's just my bad luck but since I've gotten back into high end audio in the past year I have purchased several components that have developed problems that I have never experienced while owning mass produced Japanese components of the 70's and 80's.
First was my Well Tempered turntable. Granted , it was old, but the design is so simple that it should be pretty bomb proof. That one got a lot better once I got everything dialed in, but what a pain in the butt just to get it there.
Second was my Lehmann Black Cube phono preamp, which developed a bad channel. Then it was the Parasound JC-3 phono preamp that was bad out of the box, but was replaced with a new one (no issues since). Next, my Cambridge Azur 840C CD player developed issues loading CDs (no other issues but this is annoying). Then I bought a Furutech GT-40 DAC that had noise when playing computer files through the USB (replaced with a new unit which works great). Next, I bought a CARY SLI-80 amp that was physically damaged out of the box but worked fine at first, but after a couple of weeks developed an issue with the remote relay and required me to send it back for repair. I got a new unit from Upscale that is working great.
I'm not a total hamfist who is hard on equipment, I swear. I'm super careful with my stuff, I run everything through power conditioners, and know how to set up equipment. I must be unlucky. Or have others had similar experiences as mine?
128x128snackeyp
bizango1
276 posts
 
Rok2id
It's kind of nice to know I have more money than brains-makes me feel like I've arrived or something. But even if I now have more money than brains it still doesn't mean much if I don't have a lot of brains left.

Snackeyp,
I agree with other posters that you must have had an unlucky streak. My stuff has been almost flawless for many years except for one on/off switch on a Rotel amp ($4.00 part). Only other issue was a BAT preamp I sold to another member who said it had hum but worked fine in my system after we worked out a return and refund. Later sold to a happy member w/o hum.

Sorry to hear about your frustrations that must distract from your musical enjoyment. Maybe my stuff hasn't been high-end enough and I need to raise my aspirations in order to acquire dissatisfaction.
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
Bizango1

I was not speaking of you. Your system seems to be that of a man who loves music. Hell, I could afford some of your stuff. :) Love the purple wall.
Peace.
inna
7,296 posts
 
The only thing that kind of broke was Purist Audio cables that I had to refil after ten years, and I bought them used in the first place. Other than that, apart from replacing a belt in CEC cd player after thousands of play hours, nothing.
glenfihi
525 posts
 
Off hand I would suspect the higher end products too be more reliable having been built with better parts and a greater attention to detail which would be demanded by the high end buyer. At least from established firms. Even the new on the block small time maker, can little afford to put out junk.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Maybe there`s some luck involved but I`m happy to say there have been zero problems with my current system which I`ve had for a while now.
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