Wilson Audio paint problems

Mw_chen,
With all due respect, how do you know there is "absolutely no sonic effect"? If the cabinet is cracked, the joint must have moved, and pressure inside the unit may be compromised. I don't believe your cabinets are sealed, but if this were a sealed design, I would expect some sonic change. I don't know about a ported design.

If it was not cracked when you bought it, and it is now cracked, then I gather you didn't notice a change. That doesn't mean there is no sonic effect, just that you can't hear it. The perception of an effect, real or not, is enough to effect the resale value. I certainly don't know, but I would consider the possibility that the issue is not just cosmetic. The forces in these enclosures can be huge. I suppose that is why it cracked in the first place.

Peter

You are right, there is no way I would know if there is any minor effect to the sound. The reason why i'm putting the post on this site is to get input from different people who has had this problem or know of someone who has had this problem. Obviously I'm worried about the the resell value as well. But as I mentioned at the beginning I have to pay for shipping to and from Thailand and pay for the repair which is expensive so i'm thinking about what I should do.

>>That doesn't mean there is no sonic effect, just that you can't hear it. <<

Peter: How would you detect a sonic effect you cannot hear? How did you get to a crack in the cabinet from what is described as a crack in the paint?

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This thread is a bit of a slippery slope.

The issue is probably no different for any molded speakers such as those from Vivid or Rockport - the facilities for repair may be limited to the factory. What would you do if you found a crack in the paint of your B&W Nautilus and you lived in Tiera del Fuego?

If after 37 months you found a crack in the aluminum of your now expired warranty Magico Q5 that you bought as a demo from an overseas seller via an on-line ad, what should happen? Its easy to create scenarios when one has no stake in the issue.

Shipping cost is a fact of life for purchases one chooses to make from a distance - I don't see how this enters into the equation.

Based on what I know about their customer service, if the speaker head is returned to Wilson there is a very high probability they will send back a unit indistinguishable from new. I suggest calling Wilson and talking to them (not e-mail) - you may be surprised.

I spoke with Trent workman already very nice guy I offered to take to dinner the next time he is in Bangkok. But still he wasn't willing to contribute more to my situation. I was hoping that they might pay for the repair at least or if going the extra mile pay for the return shipping. I think it's pretty fair that I would pickup the tab for the shipping back to the factory.

jtimothya makes good sense. It is an unfortunate situation but if you buy used or gray-market it's one you have to anticipate is likely to happen, if you need a repair. If the paint crack indicates a problem w the underlying cabinet, then I think that this would result in a big hit on re-sale value.