I just saw that Jay’s Audio Lab posted something similar, the Jay claims to have called the US distributor, who said it is not so.
Herve’s post seems to indicate that DZ is moving to a strictly build to order model.
To me this makes a lot of sense because it can address some of the discounting he and other reference, and it enables the manufacturer to operate with a lot less capital.
The fact that dCS has one of their amplifiers available in its listening room speaks volumes to me (pun intended, baBing!)
Also, my good friend, and everyone’s favorite dCS-owning Kiwi (@all2ofme!) owns a couple and I want him to continue to have good servicing options : )
It is critically important that DZ own this messaging though, otherwise it could be self-fulfilling.
You can get new tape very easily in various quantities, plus it’s not that expensive really on the plastic reels.
Also new pre record albums are available, but these can be expensive and limited.
It’s great to see a new mk111 revox b77, yes it’s not cheap, but if you look inside one and compare it to say a bartok, i think you would probably feel the bartok wasn’t great valve for what’s in the box.
I know it’s not as simple as just that, but they obviously think that a market exists for it. The real problem is, you can buy a b77 for less than £1000 pounds, this leaves you with a very big chunk of money to fix up that old b77. Yes it will need it fixing up, but not £15000 worth.
The whole R2R revival reminds me how prone this hobby is to fashion. Right now tape, both cassette and , at the high end R2R, are the height of fashion with enthusiasts.
For me it will not be real until UMG, Warners and Sony put out pre-recorded reel to reel tapes.
Those are not tapes issued by the major record companies but back catalogue licensed by Revox. The same concept as the tapes put out by Analog Productions. The only company releasing R2R tapes of their current catalogue is Chasing the Dragon. Niche or what?
Fortunately all carry a bargain basement price tag😁.
Revox is a new distributor of Horch House, the world’s leading producer of master tape copies.
In the Revox Klangwerk, Revox has now set up a copying line with a Horch House Master System, consisting of professional Studer/Revox tape machines. Here, the exclusive master tapes with the original recordings from the recording studios are copied slowly and with the greatest care at 1:1 speed in the best possible quality.
As I say, licensed back catalogue. My point is that this is all just fashion aimed at a niche. In my view a real revival can only be when current catalogue is issued in this format and that the major record labels are involved. They are with the vinyl revival but I cannot see any moves in this way for R2R tapes. So its all a bit like gold CDs or THX encoded cassettes. Nice but insignificant.
Jay’s trying to build a channel and make some money, and I don’t fault him for that.
At the same time, Herve at DartZeel, the founder of the company, answered him directly, and quickly (< 1 day).
I also know that Jay has a direct line to the leadership of Gryphon and Boulder, two brands I respect, and auditions a lot of very expensive gear.
For many people, Jay is not their “cup of tea”: a big bodybuilder-type, posting about high end gear. I have watched a number of his videos (at 2x speed!) and spoken to him. I found him genuinely passionate about audio, and agreed with him on a number of topics.
Context is always good — thanks, @keiserrg and @aublumberg — so I’ll add a bit more after some digging I did
Seems bonkers to me that Roy Gregory can start a rumour like this about darTZeel going out of business when the PR company he works for (Marketing Effects) represents CH Precision and “a Spanish electronics company” that they helped “launch a range of revolutionary new digital electronics products.” (Who could that be? )
Better (/worse) yet — Louise Ford, Director of what I assume is the same Marketing Effects PR company claims on her LinkedIn page that she managed the Spanish company’s “Product Launch Plan” including “managing the press review process”. Presumably she is referring to the overwhelmingly positive reviews here and here by people like Roy Gregory.
Could that be the same Roy Gregory that also works for Marketing Effects according to his LinkedIn page, that Louise happens to be married to, and that also has a sideline as an “independent” audio journalist? I wonder if this is covered by the new FTC rule that outlaws things like:
I couldn’t find any mention of affiliations with either CH Precision or Wadax on any of the relevant reviews.
My personal opinion is that this behaviour is the height of bollockry, and should be called out vigorously. Harrumph. The industry and its customers deserve better.
If the outcome is the “result of a legal process” and “widely known,” it should be easy to find the source documents/ruling from the Swiss government. Normally, the journalist (i.e., him) should post them himself, as well as his affiliations.
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