With the availability of the internet to consumers, this sort of thing really can't be considered a "secret" anymore. Audioreview.com, for example, provides a pretty good opportunity for the public to flame any product that doesn't meet expectations. It's kinda like the Drudge Report of raw data.

This is a problem because of the public's perception of value and a dilution of the value placed on quality and service. Good dealers and honorable equipment manufacturers can only compete when there is a demand by the public for such things.

I hear ya loud and clear. But, the Hi-Fi business isn't any better or worse than most other industries. Caveat Emptor still applies. The likes of Bryston, ARC and Conrad Johnson will still be around long after the "me too" gear suffers from the first economic downturn.

Hi, Christopher -- glad to see you on the forum. There is one phrase in your post I would like to address. The one where you note that some of the "hobbyist" types among us (I am not one) seem to get a kick out of trouble-shooting cranky equipment. A kind of scientific curiosity obscures the unreliability-related issues, and fixing the gear becomes a challenge. You see this a lot among different reviewers. You never see outrage, the kind of frustration we who are simply listeners experience when the gear doesn't work. Bob Harley, being tremendously competent technically, has this attitude. Sometimes it seems he would rather take the thing apart than listen to it, but I know for a fact that he is a passionate music lover. I suspect some of this is behind the audio press's reluctance to truly engage the issue of equipment reliability.

Your comments on planars and 'stats underscore why I won't buy them. They do, as a group, appear to break down more easily than dynamic "box" speakers. Cheers, Clifton

With all of the negative responses concerning ESL's I have to put in a good word. I have owned 4 pair of Acoustat ESL's over the years. From the original Model 3's to a pair of Model One + One's to my current Spectra 22's and Model One's I have never experienced any failures, problems, glitches or anything untoward. All of these speakers have never failed to work properly every time. Admittedly they don't look as good as ML's but they work all the time. They also sound damn good. People not knowing they are speakers does add to the pleasure. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase another pair of Acoustats. As a matter of fact I'm kind of looking for a pair of 2+2's. Maybe Buddha can comment on this. I believe he mentioned he recently took possession of a pair of 2+2's.

christopher, I feel your pain, had several companys treat me badly however, Martin Logan, in KS top notch, my mother bought mine at an estate sale $200 one woofer blown, from the nice young lady who answered the phone to the tec Jeff who I'm sure was busy, still helped me identify the real problem, I live in Tucson AZ, and we have had horrific amounts of rain, guess you knew the answer to this!! speakers don't work!! frantic calls to ML, Jeff and Jim very kind and helpful, I've had these bad boys for 3years and they were used when I got them so I personally think your 2 to 3 year replacement for the panels is inaccurate, I'll call Jeff or Jim to find out? I understand that ML has been bought out yet the staff stays put, the parts all still there, not sure about the new models, what do I care Icant't afford them, I love mine!! I will keep'um as long as the parts are still there!!
Peace Craig

I think that Clifton is on the right track. I doubt that most audiophiles enjoy, welcome, want to tinker ranther than listen, or just want to repair something once in a while.

I had a European amp in my home for a while that was so unreliable after the second one went that was the end of it, magical sound or no. No sound is not magical.

I have just had to repair my midranges on my old AR 58's. This is the second repair in 25 years, having refoamed the woofers years ago. The foam on the midranges went probably a while ago, but it was just last week that I really started to notice something was not right. If my tinnitus was not so bad I might have noticed it sooner.

I searched for a replacement after realizing that just the new foam kits were $30+ with shipping. I settled on some Audax 3 1/2" that had the same eficiency as the old ones and after doing my homework they had the same bolt pattern as well. The Audax units with shipping were on sale at $44 and they have rubber/synthetic surrounds that will outlast me most likely.

I let them cook overnight to slightly break them in and what a difference. Even I could easily here the improvement in definition and 3D. One listen to the Cantus CDs of great choral music will prove when defining clarity of sung words in a choral setting. I was amazed at how much more I EASILY understood the words. This area was the one failing I thought the AR's had that made me love my Triangles so much. These new midranges brought them closer to Triangle-Land. Lesson learned, but after 25 years and only 2 repairs I can hardly complain, but Clifton mentioned that with "normal" box type speakers there is just less to go wrong. The repair of these is something just about anyone with a knowledge of screwdriver operation can handle.

I do hope to own a pair of Quads before I kick, but even I would be dismayed to have to have them back to the factory 3 times in a year. I doubt this is a very normal thing. I certainly enjoyed AD's 2 installments of refurbishing his old EBay bought Quads. This is a level of handiness is seldom seen anywhere.