Monday Monologue: Manufacturer Suicide, Just Why???

[@stephenfurley1025]

It was Louis Rossmann that first highlighted the issue with Mend It Mark. He's just re-uploaded Mark's video, as have a number of others. Thanks for the video.

[@richbrown5852]

Fair play to Mark and Louis, mainly Mark for his plucky personality and not wanting to bow to legal bullying.

[@adamphillips1263]

Thanks Stephe. Enjoy your time away and have FUN!

[@Pootycat8359]

Are there crazy people in Audioland? You be the judge! This is a field where there are manufacturers that sell AC power cords for $700+, and people who think running a ground wire from their amp to a box of dirt will make it sound better....

[@richbrown5852]

I remember working at a regarded audio equipment manufacturer, who were absolutely steadfast on using directional RCA and speaker cables...electricity flows one way preferentially...but audio signal in a voltage amplifier is alternating? 😂😂

[@geomorphdog]

Thanks, Stephe, happy holidays!

[@Pksparty2112]

One of the problems with the video takedown is KZbin did it with no proof. And then told mend it Mike that he needs to get a lawyer to fight it. KZbin is getting a pass on this one. And that’s a shame

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

AND if a reviewer has 3 copywrite strikes (legit or not), KZbin deletes the channel, all the videos and you aren't even allowed to start a new channel.

[@stevecruz465]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics That is totally ridiculous. I really hope Tom Evans Audio and their two-bit solicitors come after Louis Rossmann with a false copyright claim on his channel so that he can kick their asses into the next decade.

[@stevenjackson8226]

Glad you're liking the ST70. Interesting to track your journey with your plans for it. I also agree it's worthy of its reputation. It's been the little amplifier that so many people have enjoyed in so many ways. I still have my father's ST70, and his PAS2 and FM2 with the mulitplex integrator (effectively an FM3). They Dynaco tubed amps and some of the transistors amplifiers were very good. Some of the speakers were also notable. Preamps not quite up the same reputation. The FM3 is an excellent sounding tuner.

[@gregj.gotham4402]

Happy Holidays to you Stephe. Enjoy your relaxing time listening to music through your amps. Thank You.

[@chrislj2890]

For some time now the Willsenton R8 on Amazon has been referred to as the "New Model", although I have called mine either "revised" or "Mk II". I'm listening to "The Cats" right now on Apple Music and I put it in my Acoustic Sounds wish list. The other day I received an order from them with one Bill Evans and four Donald Byrd albums and I'm looking forward to listening to them. Have a great week.

[@geardawg1358]

Nice job on the ST70! Your exactly right on how things used to be back in the day, I grew up back in the day of magazines, just watched the video of that guy repairing that 25K phono preamp, Ridiculous BS on that one! These guys need to be called out for sure! The youtuber it pertains to was Mend it Mark

[@NickP333]

Anyone who saw what you did to the original Willsenton knows very well that there was a Mkll made after your upgrades and modifications. Sorry to hear you’re dealing or have dealt with someone crazy enough to say you don’t have permission to review their product. Really? 🤷‍♂️😂 That’s completely ridiculous….

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Yeah and when I tried to reason with them, they dug their heels in and just got more crazy! lol

[@anoxicfiltrationplenums]

According to the FTC's recent rule on consumer reviews and testimonials, businesses are prohibited from paying for reviews where the compensation is conditioned on writing a positive review or expressing a specific sentiment, whether explicitly stated or implied; essentially, you cannot incentivize someone to write a favorable review by offering payment or other benefits in exchange for a positive opinion This also stands by the fact that if they threaten you that you must do a positive review that is also against the law. The thing you have to do against these manufacturers is tell them, you’ll report them to the FTC and let them fight the government because they are now threatening you to give a positive review of their products.

[@turokforever007]

Many say they are not being paid but get new things to keep every week to review

[@sandyschatz3852]

Many rules and laws are subverted by "Wink Wink" understandings. For example, long term loans to reviewers are expected to favorably skew review opinions. Finally, many if not most recipients of those "loans" do not disclose those arrangements.

[@tryintobesoquiet]

Great project. Thanks.

[@peterlundskow4061]

Great job on 'cleaning' up a classic!

[@bradyazell]

Waiting patiently for your 300B amp to become available. Enjoy your Holiday and down time.

[@hifiman4562]

I just discovered the Earl Klugh Trio. I didn't know!

[@danst9655]

"Mend it Mark" maybe? With the phono preamp (not mike)

[@mddawson1]

I was watching all the review videos when I got my Arendal speakers. I recall one reviewer saying that one of the Arendal bookshelf speakers he was reviewing had distorted bass so Arendal shipped him out a replacement driver and install instructions as well as a pre-paid return package for the faulty driver so their techs could see what went wrong with it. Then he remember he accidently dropped the speaker, fessed up to it and Arendal were like 'No problems'.

[@RobertKohut]

I like your board decisions, (component layout) it looks great.... 🙂

[@solomonstewart1025]

Monday Jazz Album: Search For The New Land: LEE MORGAN

[@sajyho1988]

Hi Stephe, great video as always. Did you get my email on my 6336 SET design? I think it can be a cheaper alternative to 300B with even better performance and less noise. I wish you would try it, it took me months to tune that amp.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Yes I did, looks interesting and I have looked at that amp before. Possibly a project for the future.

[@sajyho1988]

@SkunkieDesignsElectronics I'm looking forward for that👍

[@ptg01]

By inference, if a product does not get much critical reviews, then one can assume it is less than ideal..... Else, they can get sued.

[@JohnScheppler]

Some of these "high-end" manufacturers can be like spoiled children that no one has ever said no to. I agree that back in the day, the money had to pay for the magazine, and if they were willing to pay, then they made them sound great. Most of the items reviewed in print form were expensive, probably because of this??

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

And I have noticed the same, I started getting a print magazine and almost everything reviewed is $$$$$. Like 90K speakers etc.

[@dilbyjones]

YES

[@hugobloemers4425]

Hi Stephe, I think your channel could survive on the Monday Monologue alone, if you choose to do so. Any way, it is good to get some insight as to what KZbinrs have to contend with from the side of Audio Companies. And I thought it was the audience that is flying off the handle. Now I also understand that for instance the British Audiophile has only three categories for products he talks about: Recommended; Highly recommended and Outstanding. And he explained in the past, if the product can not make it to recommended, it will not feature. I am also mentioning him because he gave you a shout out on the latest video which was a shoot out of the best amps for 2024. He was complementing you on the work you did with the R300, so if you would like to see that you can check it out.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

I'll check it out!

[@rkks43928]

I would love to see you make a Skunkie 300B amp!

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

That is the plan!!

[@herbward5240]

That is the short stack PA060 in your amp there . Get one of the Dynakitparts PA060 or the Tubes for HI Fi power transformers. The early ST-70 PA060 ‘s had lots more metal as it was expected that the ST-70 chassis would be powering the outboard preamps.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

If it powers the amp and doesn't get hot setup correctly, why replace it?

[@herbward5240]

@ Having replaced many of those in amplifiers where the owner desired to bias the output tubes at 50 to 60 ma WILL cause overheating as the VTA driver board draws considerably more current than the original Dynaco driver board. In my many decades of experience with the Dynaco tube amps, it’s a question of when, not if.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

I think people are cooking them by adding higher capacitance as the first rectifier tube, which is what these kits instruct people to do. This transformer set up with 20uf barely is getting what I would call warm.

[@herbward5240]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics That may be the case with the VTA kits but many of the amps I have serviced were plain old ST-70 with the short stack tranny and the original can cap. I do not accept for service, any ST-70 with the short stack tranny unless the customer is willing to do the PA060 upgrade. Again , investing any time and $$ into a chassis with the short stack tranny is a poor decision IME.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

OK you have made YOUR point three times...

[@josepheccles9341]

I use them some, I like the black amazon transformers.

[@humanitech]

Like all things humans do...business, design and manufacturing is a highly subjective competitive game and process! Full of good, bad and intermediate actors ..all .trying to make, produce and sell a mix bag of good, bad and intermediate products! Therefore some people and companies will get very sensitive, upset, angry or hostile when they or their products get negative press, bad reviews or they get exposed in some negative way etc! While others (more open and genuine) will happily accept and use "constructive" feedback and criticism to either confirm or re-evaluate, refine or improve their products, goods and services etc! But there is also a real truth that negative feedback - especially in the social media - can be highly influential, dangerous and damaging - and can quickly judge, label, damn and even destroy people, businesses, companies ...whether warranted or not! And therefore is a minefield these days! But those often cheating or ripping off their customers often fear exposure more than everything else... and so will often over-react, threaten or lash out and behave accordingly! As do many who have spent lots of money buying over hyped and inflated poorly designed or made products! Or buy those that are designed to look superficially expensive on the outside but not so great on the inside 😂

[@charlesaronica3293]

I purchased a Musical Paradice MP P2 phonostage a few years ago from a dealer in China after a Y Tuber gave it a rave review. It's been collecting dust since because of issues I had with it from day to day. I was told by the seller It didn't like my Pre Amp go figure. I will never purchase another Chinese product again that was recommended by a U Tube reviewer.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

There are a lot of "pump for affiliate link sales" reviewers for sure.

[@RobertKohut]

It's "Mend It Mark", not Mike and it's not a review it was a repair video.... 🙂

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

Thanks for the correction!

[@nbramaputra]

Just think about how yamaha builded its repitatjon,or brands like that. Its a long way.Strategi,If they want to make a not top product they dont put their brand name on it.

[@monrosj]

Eric A at Tekton is a jerk. I've lost lots of respect for the YT reviewers after learning they never publish negative reviews (i.e., Steve G, Andrew R).

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

The bullies got what they wanted, reviewers are afraid of them.

[@dmark2639]

Steph...off topic maybe, but I have a question. Is there a good reason why I never see audio amplifiers built using turret board construction? I see many well-regarded vintage guitar amps built that way, but not audio amps. Are there any disadvantages to using turret boards? I like the way they look, and they seem like they would be easier to build than typical eyelets on PCBs or tag strips.

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

I think some believe paralleling components like that can created "cross talk" between them plus it adds extra wiring vs shortest signal path maybe?

[@herbward5240]

@@dmark2639 Most of the Fairchild Amps were built with turret boards. The HK Citation 2 is built with turret boards . There are others.

[@thomasfi1275]

On the other hand I understand the manufacturers because there are so many inexperienced „reviewers“ on YT that talking BS.

[@teeteetuu94]

They could've offered explanations (or more strongly-worded: refutations) then. Why is there a need to resort to cease-and-desist in the first place if there is basis? It reflects very poorly on them as a company. If anything, with the Internet, their ill repute would spread quickly, especially if within a small niche circle.

[@Keith-ux9ku]

What do you consider an inexperienced reviewer? Inexperienced because they don't give a positive review of junk?

[@SkunkieDesignsElectronics]

The viewers need to use their brain to figure that out, and from what I have seen: there are far more EXPERIENCED reviewers pumping up crappy products for affiliate sales.

[@stevecruz465]

@@SkunkieDesignsElectronics Absolutely right...which is one of the reasons I unsubscribed from the cheapaudioman's channel some time ago. And Stephe...if I misspoke by naming names here, please feel free to remove this comment with my sincere apologies.

[@AitchAitch999]

I think 97% of reviewers give the rest a bad name!