Let’s see what the boys are writing about this month. But first…

Tariffs

P3 addresses the topic of the tariffs and how they are affecting our biz. Kudos to Jim Austin who hits the nail right on the head.

Tariffs have damaged our business. I’ll repeat, DAMAGED.

We ordered Bryston from Canada regularly. They have been our friends and outstanding biz partners for 40 years. Here’s what happened with a February order.

By the time the gear was ready to ship in a month or so, tariffs were on/off/up/down per day! Bryston was afraid to ship due to impending tariffs. They finally shipped June 1. We received the gear via DHL without incident. Then on June 10 we received an invoice from DHL. It was a 25% tariff hit, PLUS some ancillary costs. The customers paid the Feb prices and picked the gear up before we received the fancy DHL invoice.

The horse is long out of the barn and we are STABBED IN THE BACK. Other shipments are in cue. Will tariffs be assessed? Like the DHL tax?! It’s not just confusing. Adding 25% to pricing is untenable and pernicious.

The best I can say is, it’s a malicious mess. I never thought my own government, who needs me to stay in biz to pay taxes to them, would throw me a boat anchor instead of a lifeline- but here we are. It’s hard enough to run a biz well. And now we’re saddled with trying to navigate through this madness and associated costs.

They who know nothing of what we do would say, sell something built in America. Let’s analyze this. Which American company builds Bryston level electronics and speakers and backs them with a 20 year warranty?! Yeah, I’m waiting for the answer. There is NO equivalent supplier to Bryston. We can’t “drop in” XY or Z. And again I’ll point out, I’ve been selling Bryston for 40 years. Our government has no right to RUIN our biz and relationship with this unique supplier who we have partnered with for FOUR DECADES.

*Tom Fyne writes about creating lists of folk singers on Tidal to share with his buddies. The theme for his get together with friends for the night was this array of singers. That’s a perfect use for streaming. Create your playlist in advance and be ready to play and discuss. Smart man!

*Masimo sold its hi-fi brands to Harman. Ya have to wonder why a medical company bought a bunch of hi-fi brands for $1B to begin with. Three years later they sold em all off for $350m. Looks like they had no idea what to do with this tiger after they captured it.

*Gryphon of Denmark opens its own showroom in LA. Have you seen Gryphon’s pricing? Someone from Masimo must now be with Gryphon.

*Stereophile points out that Castle speakers of Britain are back, designed by Karl Heinz Fink, Castle’s top designer from its hey day. They’re GREAT. We have ‘em.

*A writer is excited about headphone amps for $13k and $9k. They have tubes, which a speaker within a gnat’s arse from your ear, will tell you by hissing.

*They like the new tonearms from Sorane, $1500 plus. They’re especially good with the new Ortofon MC90x cart, $5500. This pairing is actually dirt cheap by Stereophile’s standards!

*My experience with Pathos of Italy was sheer disappointment. Cheap build, worst volume control in history and way over priced. This new integrated is $55k. When I look inside, no way.

*Audio Note has a new 8” 2-way Field Coil speaker for $65k per pair. This is utter insanity.

*A new Quad preamp and power amp combo are reviewed. The elderly Englishman writing this review keeps referring to Quad of the 60s/70s. Why? These two new “Quad” pieces are made in China, simply to LOOK like the fashionable, classic Quad gear. There is no relationship to Quad of the UK other than to look sorta kinda similar. The same OEM that makes this Quad gear make dozens of other brands under the same roof. Pricing is reasonable because it’s made at practically slave labor rates in China. Don’t fall for the venerable brand name. Please check out Atoll of France-that is actually MADE IN FRANCE, by a family owned company instead of a job house.

*The writer is impossible for me to stomach. He points out that this new $12,500 preamp is bargain basement pricing because his two “reference” preamps are $75k and $150k. Looking at the list of his ref stack of gear, probably lands around $2m. Sheeze.

*A new VPI table for $5850 looks well built and fairly priced. I’m impressed that it’s a belt drive with floating suspension- probably very good and American.

*P109 features a free, whole page advert, for all intents and purposes, for the mono brand Gryphon store in LA. It will be appointment only. You don’t want riff raff when your table runs $150, your CD runs $45k and you have a power amp for $100k that weighs 445 lbs. Fans will be knocking down the doors to get in…

*Lastly, P114 discusses in detail the issue of master tapes from back in the day and how they’re treated, and turned into CDs. It’s a well written article raising plenty of questions/concerns. Worth reading.