Reliability - what’s your experience been?

I have owned and upgraded a high end audio system since the early 1970s. Marantz at the beginning and getting better. Amber, AR turntable, Nakimachi, VPI, Threshold, Pass, Audio Research, Sony CD player (in the very beginning) and Sonic Frontiers, and Linn.

I only remember one failure… three times… the Sonic Frontiers CD player had the transport go out three times. They replaced it for free each time.

1.  Cary has been the absolute worst cr*p I've ever owned.

2.  BAT has been the absolute best gear I've ever owned ... great sound and built like a tank..

Had to replace a motor on a Nottingham Spacedeck

Bad output transformer on a Music Reference RM9. Luckily Roger had a spare even though the amp was out of production 

Bad output transformer on a Canary CA-160. These were monoblocks and the cost to repair was more than their value. I sold the pair back to Canary. Was not impressed with their customer service

Blown tweeter on a Silverline Sonata. Replaced with no drama

Bass driver went out on a Von Schweikert VR4. Albert sent one out promptly and a UPS label for the bad driver. Great customer service, RIP Albert 

The highest reliability electronics tend to come out of the island nation called Japan....which is what i tend to stick with. If i buy stuff that gets into the high end price bracket, i play it safe with such Japanese things.

I buy some cheaper American products like Schiit Audio and other Chifi things. If it fell apart, well...it didn’t cost that much (to begin with).

European stuff...nope, pass bro...i don’t feel like shipping transatlantic just to get your "high end" unreliable crap fixed...not to mention your miserable customer service!

Ok, maybe some German made stuff is an exception, the German engrs seemed to have learned a thing or two about design for reliability...

(Many lessons learned the hard way over the years...)

Whoa. If you think I’m going to jinx my stellar record by responding…

😉

Happy listening.