AV123: yikes

[s44]

Holy cow.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Well that sucks... I entered one of those

 

[MustISO]

Wow...

 

[unfalliblekrutch]

what was the raffle he was running claiming to do?

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

what was the raffle he was running claiming to do?

There were a bunch of them. Sick kids, etc.

Here's a random one
http://forums.av123.com/showthread.php?t=25205

 

[vi edit]

Well that's disappointing. Really hard to imagine that a company can survive a PR bludgeoning like that when it's already on bumpy grounds. Shame really. There really isn't another company out there that offers the value like they do.

I'm curious if this is any way related to the problems at Emotiva. I know that at one point av123 and Emotiva had some sort of relationship...when their forums had some really bizzare activity and a really cryptic message about one of their employees stealing data/not stealing data and is now no longer employed. Happed the other day too.

Weird.

 

[Tiamat]

That is a long time coming, unfortunately. It has been well known on AVS and other forums of how shady the business practices were esp. for the raffles. That is one major reason why I haven't supported that company :/

 

[WinGeek]

That is really disappointing. Giving false hopes...

 

[s44]

There really isn't another company out there that offers the value like they do.

The value was illusory, though, from a larger perspective: in part subsidized by fraud and in part the result of pricing/business strategy that wasn't sufficient to keep the business afloat.

 

[DaveJ]

Well that's disappointing. Really hard to imagine that a company can survive a PR bludgeoning like that when it's already on bumpy grounds. Shame really. There really isn't another company out there that offers the value like they do.

I'm curious if this is any way related to the problems at Emotiva. I know that at one point av123 and Emotiva had some sort of relationship...when their forums had some really bizzare activity and a really cryptic message about one of their employees stealing data/not stealing data and is now no longer employed. Happed the other day too.

Weird.

I don't think the two were related. I've been following the Emotiva forums for about a year, and the employee who got fired had some other issues. I believe he recently berated one of their prospective customers over email regarding some issue that was raised on their forums, and then banned said user from posting. Having said that, I can definitely see some similarities between AV123 and Emotiva, namely that you can post all you want on their forums, as long as you drink the koolaid and believe that the company can do no wrong.

As a prospective customer, attitudes like that are infuriating because it's impossible to get an objective opinion on anything. I'd like to believe their products are quality, but no one is perfect - if a product has issues I damn well want to know about it before shelling out the bucks. I've been burned by that before - I bought a set of Swan Divas from av123 back in 2002, and while they are decent speakers I don't think they lived up to all the hype surrounding them at the time.

 

[Fallen Kell]

It is kind of sad when you think about it. Not all of their products were the absolute best, but a lot of them really were a good value. The specs may be a little doctored or some cherry-picking was involved, but even so, for the price, many of the items were very hard to beat. I am still thrilled every time I listen to my speakers.

However, I am disappointed to hear that the "charity" raffles may turn out to have been the "charity of MLS"......

The company will probably not survive this. It has been showing signs in the last 2 years that it was struggling. Lots of product lines being discontinued with no replacements, lots of announced products being put on hold, troubles with line/parts sourcing, throw in the economic downturn and now this....

 

[Chronoshock]

This news coincided with my speaker search, so they are unfortunately off the list now. I've been following the news on avs, audioholics, tweakcityaudio, and av123. As expected, av123 forums have been sanitized pretty quickly. There was one thread that survived for a while where users were exchanging contact info in case the forums were shut down; it was deleted over the weekend. One of the forums where craigsub moderates (he has a business relationship w/ av123 and was going to open Rocket Canada) has a heavily moderated thread, only allowing those legally involved to post.

Given legal costs and the probable influx of order cancellations, it's highly unlikely they will survive this.

I will be expanding my budget and going with Salk I think...

 

[CubanlB]

That does suck. They always looked like a good value and had some great finishes.

Yoyos speakers always made me drool a bit.

 

[dmw16]

This news coincided with my speaker search, so they are unfortunately off the list now. I've been following the news on avs, audioholics, tweakcityaudio, and av123. As expected, av123 forums have been sanitized pretty quickly. There was one thread that survived for a while where users were exchanging contact info in case the forums were shut down; it was deleted over the weekend. One of the forums where craigsub moderates (he has a business relationship w/ av123 and was going to open Rocket Canada) has a heavily moderated thread, only allowing those legally involved to post.

Given legal costs and the probable influx of order cancellations, it's highly unlikely they will survive this.

I will be expanding my budget and going with Salk I think...

I have bought two pairs of AV123 products, but both from their forums classified section from another user.

As much as this news sucks their products typically offer great value. So if you want their stuff I'd suggest their forums classified section.

 

[kalrith]

I guess my chances of getting an MFW-15 in the not-so-near future are dwindling.

 

[vi edit]

I guess my chances of getting an MFW-15 in the not-so-near future are dwindling.

Buy a b-stock and then start saving $$ for the Mark Seaton Turbo upgrade. It uses a home cooked massive driver from Mark and an off the shelf amp from Parts Express.

 

[Onita]

I looked into buying their speakers about 6-12 months ago. Decided to pass because of I'd heard of this. Its been a long time coming, AFAIK.

 

[Don Vito Corleone]

That's a shame. I have a complete set of their speakers (Rocket 750/450/Bigfoot) which I've been totally happy with for more than a year.

 

[Chronoshock]

Even while their products are still reasonable for the price, the likelihood of warranties being honored, repairs, replacement parts, etc. are all in jeopardy. There are many other good manufacturers out there that do not have legal problems.

 

[Muadib]

I guess my chances of getting an MFW-15 in the not-so-near future are dwindling.

I'm right there with you.:'( I miss mine so, but ordering one now could mean no warranty now.

 

[kalrith]

I'm right there with you.:'( I miss mine so, but ordering one now could mean no warranty now.

Given all the recent amp problems with the MFW-15, I think it's too big of a risk now. However, I'm turning this negative into a positive and changing my (still-not-so-near) sub plans towards the DIY setup that vi edit mentioned in the other thread: http://www.hometheatershack.com/for...9-first-tempest-x2-design-easy-slot-port.html

 

[Apex]

Man, sad sad sad.

 

[YOyoYOhowsDAjello]

Dead

"Dear Friends:

It is with profound sadness that we are announcing the closing of AV123/Perpetual Technologies effective today.

We join in sending all of you our sincerest thanks and deepest appreciation for your support through these last 11+ years. Our history is rich with wonderful products and happy moments, all in the name of making great music affordable for all of you.

Sadly, recent events have cast a very unfavorable light on AV123 and have effectively sealed our collective fate. We hope that over time, we will be able to offer more information.

No amount of thanks on our part would ever be adequate enough in exchange for your past support.

Shortly we hope to be able to offer you more information about how to obtain MFW15 amplifiers should you require one. Please stay tuned to this page for updates. We hope to have this in place within the next few weeks.

In the meantime while we orderly wind down our business – allow us to once again thank you for your patronage and support through all of the times… both good and bad.

Respectfully yours,
The Team at AV123"


http://forums.av123.com/

 

[Drako]

Dead

"Dear Suckers:

...

http://forums.av123.com/

Took long enough.

 

[vi edit]

Writing was on the wall the last few weeks. They were trying to move every last piece of equipment they could shake out of the couch cusions. No one was answering the phones and their building went up for sale.

Wonder if anyone could buy the rights to the speaker design and sell them under a more reputable name?