Melos! If they had used better parts to go along with their excellent, innovative designs and treated their customers with respect instead of trying to screw them this company could have ruled the audio world.
What companies, out of Business, did you LOVE???
I had just sold my Proceed PAV/PDSD combo, with a trio of Jeff Rowland Model 7s, and EAD Theatermaster. While I was waiting for my new system (Cal Audio CL-2500 pack) to arrive, I realized I needed some tunes and went to the yard to see what was 'laying' around. What I found was not only fun, but the idea to begin this thread. Personally, I am interested in this question from a Home Theater standpoint, but welcome 2 channel responses as well.
What is the BEST systems or pieces you have heard from companies that are no longer in business!!
I went to the garage, and pulled up a Golden Theater GTX-1 I had purchased a few years back. Solo Electronics went under about a year into these units. They received rave reviews from the magazines, but they just didn't hang around for a curtain call. I then pulled out an older 5 channel amp and here is what I gathered!
The DTS/DD Golden Theater GTX-1, which is STUNNINGLY good in 2 channel (what everyone loved about this unit!) was the start, and I paired it with a Chiro 5 channel C-500 amp.
I thought, hey, this company is also out of business too!!!
This amp was also favorably reviewed and when I put this system together, I realized how good they both were, specifically in 2 channel!! These companies both had GREAT products and when matched together, WOW! Obviously this set didn't chase the Proceed/Rowland gear out of my house, but you know, it did give it a run for its money!! Here is my thoughts on the BEST OutOfBusiness Home Theater!!
Golden Theater GTX-1 (DTS, DD)
Chiro C-500 (140 x 5, THX (for whatever that is worth)
Hales Concept 5 (owned these 250 lbs monsters some time ago) and for a center channel
the Hales Rev 1!!
This system would be stellar for music and if for music, it would kick butt for Home Theater!! The Hales are fabulous speakers, require substantial power (like the Aerials I run now) but if fed properly, even the mother of 'The Fridge' would be proud!
Put your best OutOfBusiness (OOB) companies down!!!
Dan
What is the BEST systems or pieces you have heard from companies that are no longer in business!!
I went to the garage, and pulled up a Golden Theater GTX-1 I had purchased a few years back. Solo Electronics went under about a year into these units. They received rave reviews from the magazines, but they just didn't hang around for a curtain call. I then pulled out an older 5 channel amp and here is what I gathered!
The DTS/DD Golden Theater GTX-1, which is STUNNINGLY good in 2 channel (what everyone loved about this unit!) was the start, and I paired it with a Chiro 5 channel C-500 amp.
I thought, hey, this company is also out of business too!!!
This amp was also favorably reviewed and when I put this system together, I realized how good they both were, specifically in 2 channel!! These companies both had GREAT products and when matched together, WOW! Obviously this set didn't chase the Proceed/Rowland gear out of my house, but you know, it did give it a run for its money!! Here is my thoughts on the BEST OutOfBusiness Home Theater!!
Golden Theater GTX-1 (DTS, DD)
Chiro C-500 (140 x 5, THX (for whatever that is worth)
Hales Concept 5 (owned these 250 lbs monsters some time ago) and for a center channel
the Hales Rev 1!!
This system would be stellar for music and if for music, it would kick butt for Home Theater!! The Hales are fabulous speakers, require substantial power (like the Aerials I run now) but if fed properly, even the mother of 'The Fridge' would be proud!
Put your best OutOfBusiness (OOB) companies down!!!
Dan
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dynaco-the a25 spks were a SUPERIOR bargain, even if they wouldnt play loud (unless you stacked em like advents), the pas3x and st70, and dont forget the qd-1. fried and imf-lows to the center of the earth, imaging like surround sound w/2 ch. bud was a real stuffed shirt though, were i a dealer of his products, i would not have let him near my customers. rabco-st4 tt/arm-amazing at its price. SL8e arm, looked like a science project but sounded great. audio alchemy-price/perf ratio was XLNT. acoustat-1+1s and 2+2s, electrostats that played loud and had very high performance for the money. genesis-the natural successor to the old infinity line, now back in biz. nakamichi-of course. the 700 and 1000 were TRULY superior to most other cassette decks. G.A.S.-dead quiet affordable high end though not without flaws. i am sure i missed some good ones as we all did. |
Porschecab, it's so ironic that you started this thread by mentioning that you had just bought some California Audio Labs gear...as you know, they are now out of business. Bummer! Here are the companies that I miss: Counterpoint (but Michael Eliot is back in business as Altavista Audio) CAL (I can only hope that CAL gets resurrected like Counterpoint) |
Luxman Luxman Luxman...I bought the r-113 35 watt receiver in 1988 and it was so damn clear and warm sounding along with a fantastic heaphone amp built into it.To this day I miss it.One channel abruptley quit on me after 10 years of use(my fault for pushing it way too hard with two pairs of speakers).I hung onto it trying to find someone who could repair it and gave up.It's gone now.If Luxman still sold here in the States I would still buy their products.I also have a tp-114 preamp from Luxman and it sounds beautiful and works fine to this day.I opened it up to check the circuit boards and the caps are still in great shape.I can only hope it will last me 10 more years.Luxman needs to market their equipment again ! I honestly cannot think of one company that makes such great sounding equipment for reasonable prices today that compares to the 1980's/early 90's Luxman ! |
Agree with Topnikko. I owned a number of Melos products over the years. Always the best value for the bucks IMHO of any company in the business I have had dealings with. They were never really well funded (no deep pockets) or agressive at playing the politics of getting reviews (bribes, kickbacks and advertising tribute) so they ran into a lot of issues with keeping financially stable, in my limited observation. However, their current service organization through expatriate employees, Melos Audio Restoration of Las Vegas is much better at service than when the company was in business. Much of ther still excellent gear can be purchased used at fire sale prices. |
Beveridge can be reached via http://www.Beveridge-Audio.com or email at bls@cfcl.com ... I still own a pair of System 3's... Awsome speakers! They are working on some new designs as well as upgrades and repairs for older systems. In response to Melos, I had an upgrade on my MA-333 preamp and was very happy with Mellos Audio Restoration. The original tech from the get-go is working there. Paul |
a/d/s speakers- they made the L-series w/fuses, and then the m-12's and m-15's w/solid state tweeter protection instead of fuses- sounded phenominal either way, and beautiful cabinets in black, (real) walnut, rosewood...AND, then they came out w/the m-20 and m-30 transmission line speakers. i auditioned the m-20 on two separate occasions in two separate systems- totally un-impressed. they were over $2k too. and then- nada and adios. who knows what happened then? i owned l-810's and L-1590'S (rosewood). LOVED the sound- then an EVIL high-end dealer MADE me buy b&w 801's. it was then i "realised" all of my other components were @#$%@%!!! then, i got a subscription to stereophile- triple curse! |
Another vote for Dunlavy -- great sounding speakers, even if they're a little intimidating on the WAF scale. When business took me to Colorado Springs one time, I stopped in uninvited and unannounced at the Dunlavy factory, hoping to pick up some brochures. What I got was a tour and about 90 minutes of John Dunlavy's time. He definitely had his own opinions and could be a prickly SOB w/ those who disagreed with him, but he was nothing but cordial and accommodating to me. It was a great afternoon -- and of course, I bought Dunlavy speakers. |
I did a lot of business with Jim Gala...the owner and designer of the Soundwave speakers...I owned a smaller pair of Soliloquy's and then moved up to the Grand Soliloquy in the mid 90's....They've been a great speaker whether in my Krell 2 channel system or home theatre....Years ago I was all ready to walk out the door with Apogees when a friend of mine at Gala's store suggested I listen to these speakers...I quickly backtracked on my decision to buy Apogees and purchased these....been very happy ever since....I've never even had a driver problem either...too bad they're gone.... |
Apogee Acoustics made electrostatic speakers which were so far ahead of their time. They were among the best speakers I've ever owned (i.e. the Stages; though I also owned Slant 6) and I still dream about that incomparable mating of musicality, transparancy, and immediacy. Of the competitors and/or 'survivors', Sound Labs came close, Magnepans (though not a "direct" product competitor) are much loved, but not in the same league, Martin Logans just never did it for me (cold and lacking in musicality), and Innersound...hmmm don't know, but I'm willing to bet that at best, they're 'similar' to the decades-old Apogees. Other past greats: Threshold amps, Cal Audio Labs cd players, and Counterpoint amps/preamps. I also think of mentioning Well Tempered turntables, but am never sure if they're fully out of business or just very scarce... Keep on living music. |
Again, Dunlavy. Incredible speakers. I regret getting rid of mine, but that may soon change, as I am looking for a used pair. I bought my original pair used, and one of the grill fasteners was broken. Called Dunlavy for replacements, John Dunlavy himself answered the phone. He was great to talk to. Gave me equipment recommendations, talked about his speakers and audio in general, without being condescending or overbearing, and ultimately, sent me an owner's manual and a bunch of fasteners free of charge. A great guy, and a great product. I wish I had the $$ to buy the rights to his products, so that I could restore and re-manufacture his speakers. My neighbors at the beach used to come over and say that they would normally complain about how loud I played my system, but they said that it sounded so good that they couldn't complain. It sort of became a joke around the neighborhood, they would ask what I would be playing next or if I had a CD they liked. It actually interested others in hi-fi, and that alone says a lot about Dunlavy products. So, thank you, John Dunlavy, for making such great products. I hope there is some way they can be produced again, I would love the ability to buy new Dunlavy products. |
I, too would like mention Dunlavy. Great speakers, be it II, IV or V which I have experience of owning(just added IV bought from fellow Agoner.) I once hooked up my II's with my main system inplace of V's and the sound was exactly the same as my V's minus the some of the bass and subbass content. Just incredible. Even after all these years, every time I sit down to listen, the sound is still incredibly real,never,i say never ever fatiguing. Few years back I too called and John Dunlavy himself picked up the phone. My question was to ask what they could do about the rattling sound coming from lower left woofer. No sweat he said. Call me back with you serial numbers and I will send you the matched pair of woofers specific to my serial numbers free of charge of course. We chated a little about the several recording labels and cables and speakers. I have to agree he definitely was opinionated. Only his way and np other way. He disliked Reference recordings because there was, per him, too much echo in the recordings and of course thru time a;ligned speakers, like Dunlavys, it is unforgiving. They even sent me letter later to check if I was happy with the woofers!! It turned out that there was nothing wrong with that woofer, only one of felt pad was half unglued!! So Now I have matched pair just in case. I think I am going to live with The dunlavy speakers for long long time until, god forbid, they die..... |
This has been a great thread. I found an interesting website in addition. http://audiotools.com/dead.html |