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Most helpful audio companies

I don't think I saw this thread before, if it already exists: cover my head with ashes.

A few days ago I spit my gall at Vibex as one of the most customer unfriendly companies I have ever encountered. (I consider not giving any information on the products the epitome of customer unfriendliness; meanwhile, even the Austrian/German distributor admitted that Vibex never tells them anything and never will). And whilst I am at it, allow me to lambast Wireworld and Audio Physic as well.

More importantly, though, why not reward the guys that will bend over backwards to try and help their customers, by which I don't mean attempting to sell their products but genuinely give advice (which may mean advice not to purchase one or the other product) and let us share their knowledge and experience. Keeping to manufacturers only, my nominees are:

Tidal Audio (Joern Janczak and Lothar Braeun)
Audioplan (Thomas Kuehn)
AMR (Vince Luke)
VooDoo Cable (Bruce Richardson)
PS Audio (Paul McGowan)
Townshend (Max and Sue Townshend)

Alright then, here are a few non-manufacturers as well (non-exhaustive!): special thanks to Tomasso Piemontese, Alex Loth, Albert Porter, Ed Doggen, John Potis et al.

Three cheers to all of them!

karelfd
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Audience world class service and support.
david12
1,454 posts
 
Is'nt it intersting that most of the replies envolve small companies. There is another thread about buying from different size companies at the moment, but one advantage of small ones, does seem to be a more personal, friendly service. May I confirm and add:
Lou hinckley at Daedalus Audio
Dan at Modwright
It may just be you tend to get to speak to the boss, not a 20 year old receptionist.

I am sure you get people on a bad day too. I spoke to someone at Cary audio about a UK supplier, there had been one. He just said there was'nt one and put the phone down.
lacee
811 posts
 
I would like to add Grand Prix audio to the list and again thank Mr. Alvin Lloyd for answering all my questions about a LeMans audio rack that I recently acquired.

Even though The stand was not purchased new, Alvin never hesitated to help me.

In the course of ironing out an anomaly(the stand was incapable of taking the 64 lbs of lead shot it was said to be able to hold)I discovered that I had the only LeMans SE ever made and that it is truly something special.
No wonder I was so bowled over with the improvement in sound the stand made in my system.

Again, Mr Lloyd was always prompt with his responses, and I would say ranks at the top of my list of audio manufacturers who give a darn about their products and the customers who use them.
Right next to Alvin I would place Eve Anna Manley who also makes you feel like you are valued in spite of not buying the product brand new.
1markr
594 posts
 
In no particular order.... Modwright, Art Audio, DCCA, and Audio Surroundings.
__troy
10 posts
 
Another vote for Zu Audio!!! Everyone owes it to themselves, at some point in time, to call or email Sean Casey at Zu (sorry Sean) - even if you don't want his products. Not only is he extremely knowledgable about using his products (and others) in "real world" applications, but he exudes passion about this crazy hobby that makes you even more exited about it than before you called. And, his customer service is something you will be comparing everyone else to years down the road.
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