What's after Supratek

I have received emails from an individual who has heard both the Exemplar and the H-Cat and he said he had never heard such garbage (I'm paraphrasing). I have no dog in this fight, but I trust and respect the opinion of the source.

Tbg (Norm) are you still a dealer for Exemplar? (I know you were listed as a dealer on their website at one time). I am sure very few are aware of that fact! As I recall, an AA board member warned you to register as a dealer and to stop saleshacking for Exemplar on the Asylum.

And do you have any financial or personal arrangement with Roger (H-Cat)?

Several "good ears" who have heard both the Exemplar and H-Cat have had wildly varying experiences (bad) as compared to yours. As I said in an earlier post, maybe some people may prefer another preamp over the Supratek, but I don't ever remember anyone saying a Supratek sounded, weird, strange, unnatural, etc. as some have described the H-Cat. But then again, I suspect they have no "incentive" to report anything other than the facts.

Tbg, one minute its, "You guys should seek out the Exemplar Revelation II, $2500, line stage", the next minute everyone should own an H-Cat.

Either disclose all of your ties to these companies or please stop the saleshacking.

Usually I don't give a rat's patootie about dealers not disclosing their affiliations here, but your non-stop saleshacking is just annoying.

Norm, I haven't "willfully ignored" the back and forth about the H-Cat.

Who could possibly ignore it! You are like a broken record.

The fact that you were listed as a dealer for Exemplar; combined with your constant drum-beat for the Exemplar and H-Cat products, have lead many to suspect that you have more than a casual interest in these products.

I would be curious to know if you have paid for all of the products you have received from these two companies?

And I see no one "saleshacking" AGAINST the H-Cat. Some who have heard it and thought it was terrible have merely given an alternative viewpoint to your over-zealousness. Others have simply asked some tough questions after reading some of your outlandish claims. Do you think all of your saleshacking will get a free pass here?

The only person I see "consistently" saleshacking AGAINST other preamps is you. Every time someone asked about a specific preamp, you're the only one that that immediately jumps in and promotes another product; specifically the Exemplar or the H-Cat.

If either of these products were as good as you contend, many others would be joining the choir. You claim there are several others who have found the H-Cat to be world-class and cutting-edge, especially with imaging, but they don't seem show up here very often to extoll the H-Cat virtues. Unlike the Supratek, where the experience of one or two exuberant customers lead to 3 or 4 more, which lead to 10 to 20, 40-50, etc.

Things simply don't add up, Norm. Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door. As evidenced by these forums, no one seems to be "beating a path" to the Exemplar or H-Cat door. I wonder why?

To the ocntrary, people have lined up in droves for a six month wait to buy a preamp half-way around the world without ever hearing it and then they come back here and rave about it. Hmmmmm?

And BTW, why the (SIC)? There is no error.

Tbg,

There is a such a word as "saleshacking" that is used in the forums at AA and you are fully aware of its meaning. To refresh your memory, here is a post from an AA board member to you, I quote:

"RTF'n rules:

Dealers register : All "members of the trade" (manufacturers, dealers, distributors, manufacturer's reps, importers, magazine and e-zine writers and others) shall identify themselves as such in the login profile that posters can access by the "i" link. That way any reader who wants to know if the poster has any special expertise - or vested interest - in the subject of the post can find that information.

Saleshacking prohibited: A member of the trade may not volunteer any information about a specific product that he is selling or making, in response to a general request for information about a type of product or in any other discussion.

E-O-S "

End quote.

Norm, I understand it is easier to feign naivete than address the issue at hand, but when you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, it is hard to explain.

And I notice that you never addressed the issue as to whether you have paid for all of the products you have received from Exemplar and H-Cat. Have you gotten any equipment free or at cost? That's a rhetorical question, as I don't expect you to answer it. (Or at least with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!)

If you aren't getting compensated monetarily for haranguing the rest of us about these two products, you certainly should be. (But I have my suspicions that you have and do receive benefits for your efforts.)

Norm, do the right thing and explain your affiliations and/or benefits. This, "Oh, is only friendship and I am just a satisfied owner", smells really badly.

Norm, no one has a vendetta against you. Why are you so paranoid? And this has nothing to do with the fact that I own a Supratek. My beef is you saleshacking the Exemplar and H-Cat anytime anyone mentions another preamp. We all know that you think the Exemplar and H-Cat products are world-class. Just give it a rest.

I have received emails from four different individuals on the 'Gon and AA (who have thousands of posts between them) that gave me big high-fives for someone finally addressing your saleshacking. The problem isn't your choice of components; it’s your constant attempt to ram them down everyone else's throat. It's just old.

And Joperfi, no one has it out for Norm. Many here are just tired of the same old antics about Exemplar and H-Cat, over and over (roll eyes). Especially quotes like, "I am firmly of the opinion that the H-Cat line stage is unrivaled".

That's Norm's opinion and he's entitled to it. But that leaves out the likes of CAT, Lamm, ARC, VTL, the highest-end Suprateks, and the Blowtorch, etc., etc., etc. It’s a stretch to think that the H-Cat is better than all of these preamps. And funny that it's so good, but it can't seem to get any traction in the marketplace.

Contrast that with some other components manufactured by single individuals: the H2O amps, Suprateks, the Berning ZH270, the APL 2910, etc. all sold by word-of-mouth. Interestingly, there is a long wait for any of these products, but I haven't heard anything about a long queue for the H-Cat.

I must admit that I was tempted to order an H-Cat at one time to see if it lived up to the hype that Norm has been espousing. But after receiving emails from some good ears who have heard the H-Cat and after seeing some luke-warm remarks (I'm being polite) about it here, I decided not to invest the time. As I said, something just doesn't make sense here.

Norm, I remember when others here gave "Warrenh" a ration of crap for constantly posting about the Caravelles anytime a speaker thread started. He got the message and he has greatly moderated his posts and exuberance about his speakers (Caravelles).

How bout you?

ttti