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Post by brubacca on Jun 19, 2013 19:49:56 GMT -5
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Post by soundofrockets on Jun 20, 2013 2:25:39 GMT -5
This is most exciting. Any further details anywhere?
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Ref
Minor Hero
A baseline of Excellence
Posts: 74
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Post by Ref on Jun 20, 2013 13:14:42 GMT -5
It is interesting, lets hope a 40% upgrade card can be used on this preamp.
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Post by AudioHTIT on Jun 20, 2013 13:26:00 GMT -5
It is interesting, lets hope a 40% upgrade card can be used on this preamp. The card is specifically for processors, it can't be used on an XSP-1 for instance, so little chance here. |
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Ref
Minor Hero
A baseline of Excellence
Posts: 74
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Post by Ref on Jun 20, 2013 13:27:22 GMT -5
Here's a little info posted today on the Black Velvet as well as Tube digital-to-analog converter. "Bob Carver will continue to work with Jade Design on product development, including the speakers we saw in his lab last summer, a new vacuum-tube preamp called the Black Velvet, a vacuum-tube digital-to-analog converter, a 120-watt-per-channel stereo tube amp, and a 150-watt version of the Black Beauty." www.soundandvisionmag.com/blog/2013/06/20/audio-news-roundup-6-20-13 |
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bootman
Emo VIPs 
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
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Post by bootman on Jun 20, 2013 14:32:00 GMT -5
Everybody else seems to know more about these products than we do.  |
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Post by harrison on Jun 20, 2013 15:19:21 GMT -5
Would be nice to have a tube preamp for music and the XMC-1 for home theater along with an XPR 5. I am a newbie though so not sure if all that can be hooked up together
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Post by AudioHTIT on Jun 20, 2013 20:19:09 GMT -5
Would be nice to have a tube preamp for music and the XMC-1 for home theater along with an XPR 5. I am a newbie though so not sure if all that can be hooked up together If the tube preamp had an HT bypass then yes it could. |
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Post by pedrocols on Jun 20, 2013 21:58:25 GMT -5
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Post by Atbella on Sept 8, 2013 9:36:34 GMT -5
I think this is the greates thing that Bob carver himself is joining up with emotiva. I cant wait to see the products that he and the team come out with. I agree it would be great to have tube preamp for music with HT bypass. Also maybe a Hybrid Amp? Does anyone know when these products come out?
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Post by milsap195 on Sept 8, 2013 18:27:47 GMT -5
I'm seriously considering the cherry 180's, has anybody had a chance to listen to these or it's big brother the black beauty's? they had them at emofest but it looked like they were not hooked up.
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Post by ocezam on Sept 11, 2013 10:03:32 GMT -5
I'm seriously considering the cherry 180's, has anybody had a chance to listen to these or it's big brother the black beauty's? they had them at emofest but it looked like they were not hooked up. I haven't heard them. Only talked to people who have, and read EVERYTHING I could on them. There is no question in my mind, if I had the coin, a pair would be in my rack NOW. I was looking forward to possibly hearing these at RMAF this year, but alas, Emotiva has decided not to attend. Poor decision IMHO. Does Jade offer a 30 trial on these? Personally, and again, I buy a pair either way if I could afford them. ... |
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Post by milsap195 on Sept 11, 2013 13:37:57 GMT -5
According to the carver site they do offer the trial period but returns are hit with a 10 to 15 percent restocking fee. That is a $600 retocking fee! Another question is it worth the extra $2000 to up grade to the 305's, just don't see where the extra 100 watts would help much on most speakers. Take the 2k and get the carver preamp. What do you all think?
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Post by Jim on Sept 11, 2013 13:53:23 GMT -5
According to the carver site they do offer the trial period but returns are hit with a 10 to 15 percent restocking fee. That is a $600 retocking fee! Another question is it worth the extra $2000 to up grade to the 305's, just don't see where the extra 100 watts would help much on most speakers. Take the 2k and get the carver preamp. What do you all think? Weird, the policy is confusing. Not sure if it's 10% or 15%? www.bobcarver.com/returns.aspWHAT IS YOUR RETURNS POLICY? The Vacuum Tube Amplifier Company offers a 30-day, no questions asked, hassle-free returns policy, except for clearance products. Due to the complexity of recertifying tube equipment, all returns will be subject to a 10% restocking fee. Once we have received your unit(s), and verified they are intact, we will issue a refund for the original purchase amount, minus 15% restocking fee and shipping costs. |
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Post by ocezam on Sept 16, 2013 6:50:28 GMT -5
According to the carver site they do offer the trial period but returns are hit with a 10 to 15 percent restocking fee. That is a $600 retocking fee!That's a bit ridiculous. is it worth the extra $2000 to up grade to the 305's, just don't see where the extra 100 watts would help much on most speakers. Take the 2k and get the carver preamp. What do you all think? I'd get the Cherry 180's. ... |
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Post by jlafrenz on Sept 16, 2013 7:36:07 GMT -5
According to the carver site they do offer the trial period but returns are hit with a 10 to 15 percent restocking fee. That is a $600 retocking fee!That's a bit ridiculous. ... How is that ridiculous? A 10-15% restocking fee isn't uncommon in the electronics world. Yes, $600 seems like a lot, but keep in mind the original price of the amps. It is simply a percentage of that price. When a company takes a return they then have used equipment and have to sell it as such. They shouldn't have to take the hit just because someone changed their mind. This restocking fee likely equates the the B-stock discount price. |
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Post by ocezam on Sept 16, 2013 7:47:09 GMT -5
That's a bit ridiculous. ... How is that ridiculous? A 10-15% restocking fee isn't uncommon in the electronics world. Yes, $600 seems like a lot, but keep in mind the original price of the amps. It is simply a percentage of that price. When a company takes a return they then have used equipment and have to sell it as such. They shouldn't have to take the hit just because someone changed their mind. This restocking fee likely equates the the B-stock discount price. Gonna have to agree to disagree on this one. Internet direct generally survives on in home trials. This would keep me from pulling the trigger. ... |
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Post by mgbpuff on Sept 16, 2013 8:27:45 GMT -5
A 10 to 15% restocking fee is pretty high and may prevent sales. How about keeping a few tube amps for this purpose only. If a customer decides to buy, he returns the loaner and they send out a new one. Another possibility - send out the amp with a demo set of tubes - if the customer buys, he sends the demo tubes back and a new set is sent out.
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KeithL
Administrator 
Posts: 10,274
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Post by KeithL on Sept 16, 2013 10:16:10 GMT -5
About restocking fees: I don't really know of too many products where you get to "try before you buy" - especially high end ones (except for things like cables where, face it, there isn't much labor involved, and there's lots of profit margin). Compare a small restocking fee to buying something new, then selling it used on eBay if you don't like it. When you buy a car, you do get a test drive (a short one), and a three-day return period (to protect you from buyer's remorse), but keep a car for a month and you'll probably find that you've lost 20% or 30% of what you paid for it - if you're lucky. Or you can lease one for a month to try it, but nobody's going to loan you one for a month. The reality is that "somebody has to pay for it". The alternative to a restocking fee is higher-prices all around. With the restocking fee, at least the cost is borne by the person returning the item. Yes, I do know of a few companies who have "trial/loaners", and a few more that let you rent trial units (you pay 10% or 15% up front to "rent" a trial unit for a month, which is subtracted from the price you pay for a new unit - if you decide to buy one). These are all viable options. I'd also like to bring up something about how this situation is a bit different with tube equipment: Tube equipment has a rather distinctive sound - much more so than solid state equipment. We don't get many of our solid state amps back under their 30 day return period. The reason is because, quite simply, they sound very good and do what they're supposed to (and what most customers expect them to do). If you want a clean sounding, quiet, low distortion solid state amp, there's not all that much to not like about ours. You're really not very likely to be surprised- at least not in a negative sort of way. Tube equipment is different. Tube equipment has a rather distinctive sound - and different products and brands of tube equipment sound distinctly different. And, let's be honest here, not everybody likes the way tube equipment sounds. Again, being honest, the tube equipment we're selling is some of the best sounding tube equipment out there, so, IF you like tube equipment, then you'll probably like ours. It's just that it's not a sure thing that you will like tube equipment. (Especially since a lot of audiophiles out there are just "getting their feet wet" with tube equipment for the first time.) It's quite possible that you'll buy your first piece of tube equipment, based on rave reviews and stuff you've heard online, and then decide it's not for you. And, if that does happen, we figure that paying a small restocking fee isn't all that unreasonable. And, yeah, it's also true that, what with these puppies being hand made, and rather low volume, we'd rather not have a bunch of B-stock or "loaners" around at the moment. That's a bit ridiculous. ... How is that ridiculous? A 10-15% restocking fee isn't uncommon in the electronics world. Yes, $600 seems like a lot, but keep in mind the original price of the amps. It is simply a percentage of that price. When a company takes a return they then have used equipment and have to sell it as such. They shouldn't have to take the hit just because someone changed their mind. This restocking fee likely equates the the B-stock discount price. |
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Post by milsap195 on Sept 16, 2013 12:23:16 GMT -5
Even with the glowing reviews it's hard to commit that much money on a what if. At 15% that is a substantial fee of $900. On the cherries there are a couple reviews out there, but it is so hard to get an idea because each reviewer rolled in different tubes due to the stock tubes are apparently pretty poor. This Friday I was actually in Franklin but didnt want to just drop in to listen to these with out an appointment. Plus it was late in the day around four and didnt want to keep somebody after hours. I do understand where Keith is coming from. As far as the b stock issue is concerned if you call during non sale times the b stock price is the same as the sale price, so they are not loosing much.
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