That is a great story of a company going above and beyond.

For a time I ran a service facility at a high end store. I too can confirm that B&W is very committed to taking care of customers.

Bowers & Wilkins still run their Company on old fashioned family business traditions. Here is another example of how they have held on to them. My opinion of course, and I am a little biased as many may know.

I just joined the BW music club, run by peter gabriel..and and got afree 24 bit ep download(you get free downloads everymonth, and 3 months free)

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I just joined the BW music club, run by peter gabriel..and and got afree 24 bit ep download(you get free downloads everymonth, and 3 months free)

Many thanks for this information. I am going to give this a try. There is a great selection on there.

yep, great selection. I downloaded the 24 bit files and immediately created DVD-A discs with them.

That is great to know. One thing many people seem to give little thought to is how they are going to deal with any problems or upgrades, etc, down the road. I have no real problem with buying something manufactured abroad, but that issue is a concern.

I recently bought a Bryston Model 3B-SST2 amplifier, and I had one or two technical questions. I also had a crack in the outer plastic part of one of the speaker binding posts, which meant that you could only tighten it to about 60% of normal tightness and then it would slip on the inner metal nut; functional, but not good.

I communicated with Bryston, which is in Canada, and Chris Russel, who seems to be the owner/designer communicated with me directly by e-mail on a daily basis and sent me the information I needed immediately and the replacement binding post assembly by overnight air, plus an extra spare just in case (he also pointed out that I had the option of returning the amplifier to Audio Advisor for another unit at no charge, but it was easier for me to change the post myself, since I had the #8 and #10 Torx bits to get the back panel off).

His helpfulness and concern for my satisfaction were very impressive (and so is the incredibly good sound of the amplifier!). I certainly was impressed.

Another company that is very customer-friendly is Vandersteen. I have had their speakers for over 20 years, and twice have sent speakers in; once for an upgrade, and once because a driver surround failed from old age and heavy use (not a free repair, but done at a reasonable price). You can call them any time of day, just about and be connected immediately to Richard Vandersteen himself (the owner and designer), and he will answer your questions about setup and technical matters. Not too many companies are going to be that accessible.

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Some of the coworkers had some kids that were out of control, and they ended up kicking or punching in the drivers and woofers on the speakers. Of course, he was livid.

A great story and a cautionary tale, kudos to B&W for saving the day. However I have to point out that it might have been better to pre-empt the problem.

For her 5th birthday party last December Alice decided to invite her entire nursery class, about 20 kids the majoirty of whom are boys. The morning of the party the BOSS and I spent several hours battening down the hatches (covering rugs with plastic sheets, moving paintings and sculptures etc.) and I moved my record deck and speakers into my study and covered them with blankets. I figured the Boulder amps, as well as being immovable, were probably indestructable and this proved to be the case. I am happy and relieved to say that despite looking like a complete battlefield at the end of two hours, nothing whatsoever was damaged.

I would love to think that the damage to your friend's speakers was not malicious, but even innocently curious little fingers can prise off a baffle and poke in a dustcap in seconds (not to mention what they can do to the boron cantilever of your Lyra Olympos).

If there's a lesson here it is surely that an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure.

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I figured the Boulder amps, as well as being immovable, were probably indestructable and this proved to be the case.

A manufacturer once told me that a product they would soon be releasing was indestructible. Without missing a beat I dryly replied, "I've got customers that could break rocks." But the Boulders are as near indestructible as just about anything.