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Showing 1 of 43 conversations about:
SpeleoFool
675
Apr 1, 2020
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Agonized over joining this drop, and in the end let it go. Discount on the Classic was not deep enough (taxes ate up all the savings), and the higher-end models are too pricy to buy w/o prior listening, especially since there are so many higher-end models (which one to choose?).
But the main thing that turned me off was Audeze's response to the whole matter--not because of doubt in Drop's offer to extend their own warranty, but because Audeze is so overprotective of their fixed prices that they're willing to punish people who end up owning a "tainted serial number" (and no doubt whomever supplied them to Drop) rather than stand by their products. I'm not feeling eager to do business with them.
I had my own run-in with Audeze a couple years ago when I bought an LCD-2 Classic at Amazon for $599 (new) only to have them cancel the order, claiming the item was "no longer in stock." Well, the seller was Audeze, and upon reaching out to their customer service they explained that $599 is their B-stock price, leading me to the conclusion that the Amazon posting was probably a pricing mistake (should not have been advertised for new headphones). If it really was simply "out of stock," why not put me on backorder, or at least give me the option to cancel instead of canceling out from under me? And if it was a pricing mistake, why not own up to that instead of making up some other excuse?
I've no doubt their products are good. I own an LCD-GX that I use for gaming, and I really enjoy it; I'm intrigued and would like to expand my collection of Audeze headphones. But I've dealt with combative companies before, and I'm not eager to get into a relationship with one who's more concerned with their revenue stream than with my purchase and ownership experiences, particularly for such premium products.
Sorry, Audeze, but your response to this drop suggests a troubling trend to me. I'm gonna toss my LCD budget towards some closed Verites--my 3rd pair of ZMFs--to help one of the most customer friendly companies in audio weather this storm.
(Edited)
Khronus
79
Apr 3, 2020
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SpeleoFoolGood for you. The ZMF VCs slay the LCD-4s and are far easier to drive. I'm sure you will fall in love with them.
SpeleoFool
675
Apr 9, 2020
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SpeleoFoolJust a brief follow-up to confirm what a perfect decision this was:
My order is in--I've got not only a very special VC coming, but also a Pendant amp. I ended up emailing ZMF support with a couple minor questions about things like choosing the splitter color on my upgrade cable and availability of t-shirts. That turned into a very warm, personal conversation with Zach, who threw in some extras for me, including a t-shirt for my wife (his idea) since he remembered us from CANJAM and RMAF last year. My wife was overjoyed that Zach remembered her.
Pay attention, Audeze: this is how you win at customer experience.
It's not about discounts or freebies, but rather how while chatting with Zach @ CANJAM about my own love of wood & woodworking I could sense a shared passion. It's about how Bevin's reaction to my first impressions after listening to a variety of ZMF headphones felt like I'd just told her that hers were the loveliest cookies at the bake sale. It's about smiles and waves in the hallways when we crossed paths during the shows. And, yeah, it's also about how ZMF's magic pixie dust makes my Eikons my single most favorite headphones for vocal tracks, even over Utopia and Stellia.
I do believe that both ZMF and Audeze make beautiful products that deserve the praise they so widely receive. But it feels like Audeze is in the game purely for the business, whereas Zach applies his considerable artistic talent to pay homage to the musical experience that makes this hobby worthwhile. If I'd stuck with my plan to pick up some higher-end LCDs, no doubt I'd have fed my intellectual curiosity about what planars-done-well can do for a quality listening experience. What I did instead feels like keeping the soul of HiFi alive.
Parting thought: Drop's story about helping out Audeze dealers who are in a bind due to lack of foot traffic was a bit of a PR coup. I wonder what Audeze could (still) do to help its troubled dealers and show some goodwill to people stuck at home who may be fortunate enough to afford some really nice planars....
SpeleoFool
675
Sep 18, 2020
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KhronusYou've got no idea. :-)
While placing my order, Zach offered to upgrade me to a stabilized set. I've been sitting on that particular detail since April, not wishing to stir up hype before stabilized sets come to market. I do believe they're coming "soonish," though I have not heard an official target date yet and don't know exactly how they'll be sold (I have seen a handful show up at specific retailers, but nothing yet about purchasing through ZMF directly).
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