Sd; I can add a few to your list:
1. The whole gang at Bradford's Hi-fi, Eugene, Or.
2. Stewart Marcantoni, A Sanctuary of Sound, Seattle area and an Audiogon dealer.
3. Michael Rice at Progressive Audio, Columbus, Ohio.
4. Steve McCormack at SMc Audio.
5. I agree on Richard Vandersteen at Vandersteen Audio.
6. Nick Platsis at Sonic Frontiers International, Toronto, Canada.
7. Todd Sutherland at Madrigal Audio, Conn.
8. Scott Novak at Synergistic Reasearch, Calif.
9. Audio Advisor. |
This is a nice thread.
Mine are in no particular order, just great people I have come across in my travels.
John Adams. Community Audio. Philadelphia, PA
Mike Leschner. The Stereo Trading Outlet. Jenkintown, PA
Israel Blume. Coincident Loudspeaker Technology
Kevin Walsh. HomeGrown Audio
AudioAdvisor
The Cable Company
Scott Heiner. SonicWeld Speakers
Kimon Bellas. OrcaDesign(US parts division of JMlabs)
Eggleston Audio |
Hmm: Looks like I have some of the same favorites. Here they are in no particular order.
Richard @ Vantage Audio, UK
Brian @ BMI
Ken @ Neuance
Kevin @ Homegrown Audio
Israel @ Coincident Technology, Canada
Castle Acoustics, UK and May Audio Marketing (the US rep)
Scott (known as Disco @ this site)
John @ Audio Odyssey
Harmonic Technology (may have been Ken, but I'm not sure)
Pierre and Eldon @ Mapleshade
John @ Studio Tech - received parts in under 24 hours - Wow!
Also everyone that I have dealt with through the classified ads at this site, both buying and selling.
There is one dealer mentioned in the above posts that I will never do business with again, but I'll leave them for the "other" thread. |
In no particular order - just great full service dealers
Holm Audio - Woodbridge IL.
England Audio - Eugene OR
Accent Sound - Overland Park KS
Audio Video Environments - Franklin, TN
Audio Arts - Youngstown, OH
Nicholson Audio - Nashville, TN
A pleasure to deal with all of them |
Here are the best for me, not a long list, there are others, these are just outstanding:
As Dekay mentions: Scott also known as Disco on this site, full service, excellent deals on cables and lots of other stuff too. Bends over backwards.
Mel Schilling of Camelot Technology.
I second Trelja on the Cable Company.
I second Garfish on Steve McCormack of SMc Audio. |
Favorite Retailers:
Kurt Doslu at Echo Audio (echohifi.com), Portland, OR
Chambers Audio, Portland, OR
Advanced Audio in Tacoma, WA
John Rutan at Audio Connection, NJ
Manufacturers:
Steve Mccormack
Pass Labs (these guys DEFINE perfect customer service)
Audio Research |
First on my list are Jeff and his crew at jeffssoundvalues.com. It's the place where you get great stuff for very reasonable prices and no bs. These guys are honest, they know what they're doing and they stand behind their products. |
I called Vandersteen Audio asking a question about a used subwoofer and they gave me his cell#. Turns out he was on a family trip (hope the receptionist didn't get fired), but was gracious enough to interrupt his personal time and answer a brief question which ended up saving me from a wasted purchase. I own my own business, but is going way beyond the call of duty. |
Richard Vandersteen, that is. |
Some additional names of people or companies who have been outstanding to work with in my experience:
Tim Harrison, Audio Art, Richmond VA
Ralph Karsten, Atma-Sphere
Bridget Davis, Music Direct
Jim White, Aesthetix
Vu, Deja Vu Audio, McLean, VA |
In addition:
Bill Parish www.gttgroup.com/av.htm
Max www.silveraudio.com |
Richard at Vantage Audio, UK, (www.vantageaudio.com)
Bruce Hirsch at Audio Consultants, Hinsdale IL, (www.audioconsultants.com)
Bill Parish at GTT audio/video, (www.gttgroup.com/av.htm) |
Interesting thread. I'll add a few.
Alan Shaw, md of Harbeth Audio (I think that's their name now).
Alastair Gardner, proprietor of Signals in England. Alastair sells Harbeth loudspeakers over the web and a lot of other stuff and gives great advice and handholding. Welcome to stay at my house anytime he comes to Southern Cal.
Ray Kimber (not a recommendation of his products (good stuff - just don't know what anyone might be comparing it to) just that he's a really good guy.
Jeff Joseph (ditto).
Everyone at Reference Audio Video.
One of my favorites, no longer in business in SoCal, Mel Murakami. I think he moved to New York. |
Scott (Disco) is fantastic. Goes out of his way to take care of you and has the time to talk with you about your system and make recommendations without any hard sell at all. |
In no particular order:
Jim and everyone at Thiel
Paul and everyone at P.S.Audio
Ken and the gang at Progressive Audio
Tim and the gang at Overture
Mike Leschner @ The Stereo Trading Outlet
Cable Company
Audio Advisor.
Someone should start a thread on BAD dealers? |
I've got to mention both C.C. Poon of Monarchy Audio and Bobby Palkovic of Merlin. Both are very helpful, generous and kind gentleman.
I have only been to one dealer who hasn't treated me like crap, and that is Progressive Audio in Columbus, OH. Everyone there seems to be very kind and knowledgeable. |
