Hostility from manufacturers

OHM Acoustics has teh best model in teh industry IMHO.

They provide support and many upgrade options for every model they ever sold. Of course they will gladly sell you new speakers as well, but they also offer trade-ins of older models so they can refurb teh cabinets and offer the latest and greatest drivers mounted in refurbed cabinets for a discount.

Their business model is built mostly around word of mouth from existing owners so their business model is built around providing many options and having all the bases covered for existing owners, no matter what.

So stick with a company that focuses on customer satisfaction and not selling the latest and greatest expensive gear alone and things will probably work out.

In my limited experience the 'elite' brands are some of the worst offenders. My most recent experience: I wrote to a cable manufacturer, asking him if I could pay him to shorten and reterminate a pair of expensive interconnects that I was thinking of buying on the secondhand market. His answer was, of course, 'no'. This is a tiny company that has no dealer representation in my state.

I'm surprised the maker wouldn't at least quote you a price for the work. He's throwing money away IMO.

I've dealt with Bel Canto, PS Audio and Resolution Audio concerning used pieces I've owned. All three have given exemplary service knowing full well I was not the original owner of their equipment.

Upgrade once a year.

Manufacturers are short sighted in this business and it will bite them in the ass.