Buyer Beware


This is my first post on Audiogon Forum but I have been a audiophile for almost fifty years. I like to buy and sell used equipment because it gives a chance to try a much wider range of products. Recently I wanted to try different USB cables and in that process I purchased two products from Mad Scientist Audio. One was their Black Magic and the other was the Ultra version. Both were purchased used from different sellers. I own two systems and decided to keep both. In both systems I use a AMR DP-777SE dac. In the system using the standard Black Magic USB the system was not using the built in volume control. About 2 month after purchasing the cable I tried using the internal volume control in the dac and it only worked at full volume. Thinking the dac was faulty I sent it back to TMR (great company) for evaluation. They tested it for 2 weeks in every configuration possible and determined it was working as it should. When i got the unit back (after a cost of approx. $200) I determined that the problem was the Black Magic USB cable. I contacted Bob at Mad Scientist Audio by email multiple times and he replied that his cable is incompatible with 1 in 50 produces and mine must be the 1. I then tried it in two other systems and also had the same results. Either the volume control didn't work or  I would get cracking noises. after many emails back and forth Bob would not exchange the cable for a working one and only offered to sell me a Ultra cable at a discount. I don't know what his profit margin or warranty policy is but I have never experienced this especially with a cable manufacture, I offered to send it back to him so that he could access the problem but in the end his last email read "Therefore I don't think it's worth you wasting anymore money trying to fix or exchange your cable." Very disappointing. The cable is now in the trash. I know that this is a small boutique manufacture but with the controversy regarding cable costs and  if expensive cable are necessary I thought that buy telling my story maybe it would alleviate this situation with this company. 

sdorfman58

@sdorfman58 The only thing at issue is you've not been clear about use of the one Black Magic cable. In your original post  you seem to state it worked for two months then suddenly stopped working when you decided to use volume control. This makes all the difference as to whether cable defective or not. Casting false aspersions on cable maker not warranted if cable is not defective.

 

@mitch2 This seems correct, if it was handshake issue dac would have not worked with or without dac volume control.

@richardbrand ...Thanks for the short course on USB pedigrees...  I'm sure most have noticed the panoply of types, but now we've a better grip as to why...  👍+10

Having been around 'puters and such near an epicenter of such and the related programs they run, there's always seems to be a story of what 'works great with A through Z with exception of Q' regardless of how many times one reboots or gets pissed enough to wipe all and start over @ 0....

..to no avail. *L*

Looking forward to a future argument with an AI, I remain dedicated to creating long sentences (such as the above) to confuse a potential digital dork. ;)

There was a bit on how generative programing of AI's has developed a kink that was unexpected by geekdom.....

The later groups ( 4~5th gens) forget....what, varies....

No wonder they occasionally giggle at night....in the dark.....😏🙄👀

If I'm reading the thread correctly the OP confirms he bought the cables used and not from the manufacturer. Why would he think that somehow the manufacturer has an obligation to exchange or service or refund his cables? There's no warranty obligation whatsoever when buying a used product. Virtually all warranties are only valid with proof of purchase from an authorized dealer and specifically, valid for the original purchaser. If the OP bought a used Parasound amp that he believes has an issue is he expecting Parasound to cover any repair costs? 

I agree 100% saugertiesbob. I think he got the message judging from his last post above.

Or maybe he is trying to make others aware this cable has a compatibility issue.