SIGNALS & NOISE (Letters to Editor) (Aug. 1988)

Sumo Service Summary

Dear Editor:

This is regarding your call for nominations for audio manufacturers who provide state-of-the-art service ("Signals & Noise," August 1987). I would like to make such a nomination: Sumo Products of Chatsworth, Cal.

I own an older Sumo amp which is no longer in production; technically, it is not even a product of the current company. (Sumo was sold by James Bongiorno, the designer of my amp, around 1982 or 1983.) Nevertheless, Sumo still services my unit at a reasonable price, and one of the engineers/technicians is always more than willing to answer questions and give advice whenever I call. Often it's possible to converse directly with Richard Pley, past president and former chief engineer [who now serves as a consultant to the company]. Schematics and manuals for my unit were mailed free of charge. From my experience, I find that Sumo produces a quality product and stands beside it with service many years after the sale.

-Thomas Chou Starkville, Miss.

Bravo, Bryston

Dear Editor:

I recently purchased a second-hand Bryston 1B preamp. When I made the purchase, the salesman couldn't tell me much about the unit, so I wrote to Bryston in Ontario to find out how old the unit was and if any repairs had been done on it. About 10 days later, I received a long-distance phone call from Chris and Brian Russell (Bryston's vice president of engineering and president, respectively). They told me what I wanted to know and said they hoped that I would enjoy the unit. Considering that Bryston made no revenue whatsoever on my purchase, I think this demonstrates what kind of company Bryston is. They really care about their equipment and their clientele.

-Kirk LeBlanc Fredericton; N.B. Canada

GRP Groupie

Dear Editor: It was a pleasure to hear from Dave Grusin and Larry Rosen of GRP ("The Audio Interview," March 1988). Their success story is invigorating. Some time ago, I took a chance on the GRP Live in Session CD, thinking GRP was a band! (It might as well have been.) Now I buy GRP discs like I would those of a favorite artist. What a showcase disc for a label! I'd like to pass on a friend's compliment to Dave and Larry, but the best compliment was the gleam in his eye when he reluctantly returned a GRP disc I'd lent him. "That's the music my Polk SDAs were made for!" he said. "The best digital I've ever heard!" I agree, and I'm off to buy better speakers. Keep it hot, guys!

-Mike Gates; Voorhees, N.J.

Rating the Ratings

Dear Editor:

When your magazine reviews recordings, you often include something that is very important for record buyers--you say, for example, "Sound: A, Performance: B." Well, why don't you do the same with your "Equipment Profiles"? For instance, you could rate, on a scale from 1 to 10, a component's construction, control panel, accuracy, price (relative to overall performance), and so on.

I know that in some way you assess these things in your reports, but what does "good" really mean on a scale? Is it a 7, an 8, or maybe a 9? And what's the difference between "excellent" and "superb"? I know it could be dangerous for some manufacturers, but after all, no other audio magazine I know of rates equipment in this manner. And after all, your business is to say the truth.

Anyway, it is a pleasure reading Audio, and congratulations for your fine, excellent reports. On a scale from 1 to 10, I would say your magazine rates as follows:

Construction: 10, Accuracy: 10, and Content: 10+.

- Manuel Torre V San Luis Potosí, Mexico

Erratum

In the May 1988 "Classical Recordings" column, we misidentified the company which released the Compact Disc of Milhaud: Le Boeuf sur le Toit; Poulenc: Les Biches; Satie: Parade; the catalog number for this CD is Denon CD-1519.

(Source: Audio magazine, Aug. 1988)

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