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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
deer_creek_audio's avatar
deer_creek_audio
76 posts
 

USB cables need to be compliant with published standards (USB-IF). This way you can be assured that they will operate under all specified conditions including; multidirectional and high-speed communications. Testing for compliance requires proper resources. You can always contact the cable manufacturer directly to determine when the product is certified to bear the USB-IF logo.

 

ghdprentice
7,780 posts
 

@saugertiesbob 

 

+1

mm1tt77
197 posts
 

OP tackles at least 2 or 3 very different topics along with leaving it open for interpretation on what the title of his post means.  
 

Appears he wanted to alert the Audiogon community of potential compatibility issues you could run into with USB cables, noble. 
 

He’s frustrated with the manufacture’s customer service, response to his issue, one could also read into the title of his post as a warning about buying from the USB cable manufacture. As many have pointed out, when you buy used and I’ve bought a lot of used gear, unless specifically noted, most warranties are non transferable.  Any help he was offered was honestly more than the manufacture had to provide. 
 

OP also brings up margins, profit with the expectation broadened warranty support, customer service because of perceived margins.  For most boutique shops in this hobby the actual net back to their business is small.  Volumes are small which means they need to make large profit margins on what they do sell.  Resources are limited making it challenging to resolve issues for customers buying their products used.  Used market in generally hurts their overall business at times, helping customers circumvent buying their products new isn’t a great business model for them.  Frankly, something they likely need to avoid to try and survive, even if it goes against their instincts to stand behind their products, it’s a business reality.  
 

Interesting how a seemingly simple post touches on so many different topics. All are left open to interpretation which caused the responses to hit on a variety of topics.  

mm1tt77
197 posts
 

I should have visited Mad Scientists site, I can see the OP’s point on pricing. Just looked at their USB cable options, wow those are some insanely expensive cables.  That said, their site is transparent in this is a side hustle for an Audiophile.  One man band in regards to manufacturing and his better half taking care of the rest.  About as boutique as you can get.

foggyus91's avatar
foggyus91
53 posts
 

There are even worse when it comes to so called Audiophile USB and Ethernet Cables. I have auditioned may of these absurdly priced cables and keep coming back to NeoTech UPOCC Silver USB and Ethernet Cables. I have bought my cables in the UK and seeing how Tariffs from the UK and Taiwan are very reasonable they should be obtainable for most. 

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