MBL Insolvent


I apologize if someone else has started a thread I missed, but reports indicate that MBL has initiated insolvency proceedings under German law. Not all businesses succeed- its a feature not a bug in a free enterprise system- but hopefully new investors will come in and save the company. This seems to be following the way of Audio Research (fortunately saved) and others-lots of uncertainty surrounding Dartzeel, Krell, etc, which is unfortunate. So many of these manufacturers are small businesses, obviously without huge capital reserves and sometimes without a good succession plan when the founders move on. I hope MBL successfully restructures, it makes great products. I think we all benefit from a healthy, vibrant group at the top end that has the resources to create and innovate. Good luck MBL.

kerrybh

@kerrybh 

Not to get off topic but I have noticed two interesting products in your amazing system….Schnerzinger EMI & Grid Protector’s. Do you find them indispensable in your system? More specifically, if one has dedicated circuit to audio room, would you still recommend Schnerzinger Grid Protector? 

Companies like MBL make products that only the 1% can buy. I wouldn't shed a tear for them!

@lalitk Thank you. I don't think these products are indispensable, I do think they make a subtle but discernible improvement-a bit more clarity and presence. When I've removed them, its not as good but certainly not night and day. The better power you have, I suspect the less advantage derived from the grid protector. The dealer taking me through this (last I suspect) significant upgrade cycle wanted me to try them and others who I know that use them are big fans. I think my dealer is excellent, and I hear a positive difference with these in my system

I'm a bit of a cynic about some of this-I couldn't hear a difference with audiophile switches for example, not to say that others don't-not for me to judge, but I hear a difference with these. If someone says its a placebo, well, I'd say maybe so, that's a real thing, No reason to be dogmatic. I just know my experience.

Most improvements I've made produce incremental, not night and day gains to my ears. The exceptions are moving up in speakers-always rendered substantial gains-mechanical devices with moving parts. The other is room treatments which change the way actual sound waves interact with physical structures. For me-only speaking for me-improving electronics produces positive results but not on the same scale. We all hear differently.

I had an interest in the speakers for a while but they look too weird.  Every time people come to my home they would seem to provide a distraction and I don't wanna break out into conversation every time someone steps into the room about the speaker.  That was kind of annoying to deal with the speaker if I did buy it.

Speakers kind of weird maybe that's why they're not doing very well despite how good they might sound. 

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