How Is Pathos Audio Service After The Sale In The US?


I'm searching for a new hybrid integrated amp. One that is on my radar is a new Classic One Mk III. Another is a McIntosh MA252. There are local McIntosh dealers. There are no Pathos dealers. So I'd probably end up ordering one from Upscale Audio if I were to get a Classic One.

Sound, of course, is the number one priority. I'm going to audition the MA252 with my speakers. But I am curious about the Classic One. I may end up preferring it to the MA252 (as some in this forum have said they do).

But I'm concerned about after-sales service. It's obvious that getting service on a McIntosh shouldn't be an issue (even though I'm a little leery of how long the OLED panel will last, and getting service on that in the future, if need be). But Pathos??

I'm coming from a Unison Research Unico that recently died. A really good tech spent 12 hours on it and couldn't figure out how to revive it. And what matters worse was the breaking down of support from Unison Research in Italy. The original owner and designer of the brand died last year, and since the son took over, communication to the US importer hasn't been good, so the importer dropped the brand.

If I were to get a Pathos Classic One and decide to keep it, I'm wondering how good service will be, with the need to ship it back to Upscale Audio (The importer had been Musical Surroundings for a while, and now it's Upscale Audio). I'd hate to have a problem with the unit, and then have an issue with support.

Can anyone share their experience(s) with after-sales support in the US.

analogj

@jim5559 I concur that we are both probably good guys with differing views. I was just trying to ask that you state the case for your conclusion. I will go first if that helps.

 

I grew up in an agrarian rural community. Family farms and associated operations were our bread and butter. I wanted nothing more than to follow in the footsteps. Parents advised against it, got to college and do something different. Graduated, started a company and sold it ten years later. The irony: the places where the jobs were when I was getting out of school were some of the same places I imagine you were lamenting their fate…Pittsburgh, Chicago, Detroit, even Buffalo. Those very cities led the way when industrialization displaced so many from agrigulture 125 or so years ago. I didn’t whine about it, I just adapted…you roll with the punches and change with the times. Its been that way since recorded history and will be that way long after we are all gone.

 

Should we fault a company like Timken for building a state of the art bearing factory in China? I don’t believe so but you may feel differently. That’s cool. The fact remains that much of the raw goods to make a world class bearing are in that part of the world, some of their largest customers are base in that part of the world and the cost to ship a bearing from the USA to them would exceed the cost to make it.


 

Why is it a big deal for the OP to buy an Italian product? Would you be upset if an Italian bought an American made product?

 

Should we fault a company like Timken for building a state of the art bearing factory in China? I don’t believe so but you may feel differently.

 

Timken's 3 plants in China only build product for domestic consumption in China. Their are Anti Dumping Laws in the US and Timken as the only US based manufacturer of TRB's is paid a percentage of the tariff's paid paid by NTN, NSK, SKF, National, FM Drive, STEMCO as they all import China Bearings to the US.

Timken has plants in the USA (8), Plants in India, China, France, Romania, and all Timken Steel (sister company) has all of their steel plants in the USA. Timken is a 135 year old AMERICAN company.

Want to know more about Timken?

Sure would like to know who pulled Timken out of the air @ghasley 

 

@jerryg123 

 

I’ve known the Ambassador for many years. A great company and a great family.

Ambassador?

Kyle, Conners, Cofflin?

John or Tim, Timken?

I know them all.

William was the Ambassador to Germany.

Indeed, William “Tim” Timken…(the father) we met in Indian Wells, CA…they have a winter home there. Please re-read my post. Your posture seems to indicate that I was being critical of Timken when, in fact, my posture was that great companies like Timken, those that continue to thrive, (rather than “rust” like many others) change with the times. Ambassador Timken is a gentleman’s gentleman and a fine American as are his children who now lead the company.