What's up with Talon?

Mattnshilp.....

Am I to understand that my starting this thread may have caused Talon irreparable damage? It was certainly not my intent. As an owner of Talon Audio speakers, I have followed
with interest any magazine review,chat thread or 'for sale' add regarding their product that I could find. I've never assumed that seeing alot of their speakers up for salepointed to problems with the company. Nor has it bothered me that their head designer moved on. Those are some of the issues that have been brought up in response to my initial question. What has concerned me is my local dealer dropping their product, a noticable decrease in marketing efforts (not the least of which is a for all intents and purposes dead web site),and an all to familiar voice mail message when trying to phone them.

But all that aside, my concerns were actually addressed early on. Both Bigkidz and Brieshayna indicated that they had spoken with Mike at Talon and that all is well (at least as well as things can be for a small manufacturer in the world of specialty audio). What does bother me now is your suggesting that I was somehow ignorant of the effects that my posting could have on a company such as Talon. I was seeking information regarding the status of a company whose products I hold in high regard. That information was not necessarily easy to find through traditional means.Was this irresponsable on my part? I don't think so.If Mr. Farnsworth is as you have said now aware of this thread, then maybe he could find the time to address the concerns voiced here himself.Other manufacturers have contributed on A'gon before. If he is to busy with his duties running Talon to make this possible, then all the better. Perhaps you can fill us all in.

(p.s.....To avoid confusion, note that my original posting was made using my e-mal address. I have since remembered my log-in and password.)

Thank you for that poinyent and intelligent addition. And thank you for proving my point even further. It's the people who AREN'T posting and are just reading in silence that absord this crap like an alcoholic drinks Coltrain.

This is getting nowhere. For those of you who feel the need, my point is going unheard. Please continue to post unfounded rumors and hearsay until the only companies that can survive are the huge giants. And then let's all pay their outrageous prices instead of thanking the little guy for offering high quality product for a reasonable price.

-Matt

It was not my intent to cause harm to Mike or his company. Nor was I ripping him here on this forum. As I stated in my original post, he has always been courteous, patient, and forth right with me when I have spoken to him. The whole situation with me was caused by a lack of communication. As I have stated, it doesn't matter to me if something is delayed and takes even 6 weeks to arrive. But what does matter is to have someone answer and respond to phone calls and/or emails. I work at a small company myself and if I'm away on vacation, I have an auto response stating that I am away and will respond when I get back. Also, if the person seeking help needs immediate attention, they can always be forwarded to someone who can help them. It has been my experience that effective communication is vital to any business, small or large.

Having said all this, I just spoke with him at length this evening and learned that he has indeed been away that past couple of weeks and has been taking care of some personal issues. I do feel a little remorse posting what I did because Mike is a really nice guy and Talon makes amazing products. I may just have really bad timing and caught him during a bad time frame. I respectively suggest that he look at providing another means of communication whereby when he's away tending to buiness matters or on vacation, another person can respond to phone calls and email. A company that makes a product as good as Talon deserves to have support that equals that product.

So the update to my speaker is that it is on the way (was shipped today) along with the replacement tweeter. Mike also very generously lent me his WBT crimp tool to use.

I'm thinking of purchasing a pair of Ravens to use as surrounds. Now that would be a great 5 channel system (Khorus X II Front, Peregrine X Center, and Talon Rears).

Wow...What timing on my last post.

Mike,
Sorry to hear about your situation. You certainly provided more information than any of us had any right to expect. I sincerely hope that my posting this thread didn't have the adverse affects Mattnshilp feared. My best wishes for your future. I look forward to dealing with you again.

Mattnshilp,
As I stated in my previous post, my concerns were addressed early on. Talon is alive and kicking, which is what I was hoping to hear. I do regret, however, that you would consider my last contribution to this thread crap, be it poignant and intelligent or otherwise. Again, my purpose was not to spread rumors or further speculation about a company's demise. I was seeking information from someone who had it to give. Was I wrong to use the phrase "in trouble" or ask about "possible problems"? In hindsight perhaps I was. But I had nothing else to go on. Before I am going to commit financially to a company, I prefer to have some idea about how steady the ground is under that company. Especially in the high end audio world. As someone who purchased one of the last new Threshold T-200's before that iteration of the company went under, I have experienced the negative. I am relieved to hear that is NOT the case with Talon.

(p.s....One more time for any of you bottom feeding silent types who are drinking this up like your favorite cheap swill...That is NOT the case with Talon.

Nvlashi,

Thanks for the update. I was not berating you. it's just that I have actually seen two companies fold indirectly due to rumors and hearsay (totally untrue mind you) that were started on this very Audiogon posting site. Not completely due to it, but as a result of the comments and concerns posted, his sales dropped precipitously within 4 weeks of the postings and the thread that followed.

I totally agree that Mike needs to fine tune things a bit, and I'm sure he will - especially after thsi little incident.

But for now let's get back to talking about Talon speakers....

It sounds like your system is going to be pretty sensational. Have you spoken to Mike about designing a bipolar speaker for on-wall rear mounting situations. It seams as if many people are starting to use a full 5.1 or 7.1 Talon system and that would make a nice addition... Let us know how it sounds when it's all up and running. And what equipment are you driving it all with? One monster multi-channel amp or separates?

-Matt