Are High End Audio Products Unreliable?


I don't know if it's just my bad luck but since I've gotten back into high end audio in the past year I have purchased several components that have developed problems that I have never experienced while owning mass produced Japanese components of the 70's and 80's.
First was my Well Tempered turntable. Granted , it was old, but the design is so simple that it should be pretty bomb proof. That one got a lot better once I got everything dialed in, but what a pain in the butt just to get it there.
Second was my Lehmann Black Cube phono preamp, which developed a bad channel. Then it was the Parasound JC-3 phono preamp that was bad out of the box, but was replaced with a new one (no issues since). Next, my Cambridge Azur 840C CD player developed issues loading CDs (no other issues but this is annoying). Then I bought a Furutech GT-40 DAC that had noise when playing computer files through the USB (replaced with a new unit which works great). Next, I bought a CARY SLI-80 amp that was physically damaged out of the box but worked fine at first, but after a couple of weeks developed an issue with the remote relay and required me to send it back for repair. I got a new unit from Upscale that is working great.
I'm not a total hamfist who is hard on equipment, I swear. I'm super careful with my stuff, I run everything through power conditioners, and know how to set up equipment. I must be unlucky. Or have others had similar experiences as mine?
128x128snackeyp

Showing 4 responses by snackeyp

Sabai, why not name names? This is the kind of info the rest of us would like to know, otherwise you are not holding the manufacturers accountable. Their greatest motivation to make better products is consumers speak out.

Thanks
Update: In my original post I mentioned the CARY SLI-80 that was bad and got replaced. The replacement WAS working good but now has developed the same problem as the one it replaces. Guess I'll be sending this one back and will be without an amp for a month. :(
I'm told it is the relay board that controls the remote that is bad. The problem varies between turning the amp on and the sound not working to the remote control not working. I guess it is a known issue and also a simple fix, but it does require me boxing it up and sending it in, which is expensive and time consuming. I will get it fixed and then look forward to many years of trouble-free listening, but I'm frustrated to say the least.
Quick update. I bought a Music Hall A15.2 integrated amp about two months ago. I hardly used it until a few nights ago. I was listening to my ipod through the mini jack on the front when the left channel went dead. Testing it showed that it was dead through and through, regardless of the source. So, it's in for repair now. Yet another product that I have had trouble with. The good news is that my local dealer is super easy to deal with and is taking care of it.
Because of all my bad luck I have started to buy only new products and mostly buying them locally. In the future I am considering mostly buying products from local companies in fact. I live in the Minneapolis area where there are many high end companies to choose from: Magnepan, Audio Research, Atmasphere, Bel Canto, to name a few.