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dCS threatens with a 7-figure lawsuit over a review
- Thread starter shuppatsu
- Start date
- Status
My personal interest is to come up with a universal solution to this problem. Otherwise, it will keep coming up. Heck, there may have been many such instances where reviewers have been shut down and we don't know about it. I myself am suffering to tune of $5,000 a year in insurance to cover this risk! We are talking $15,000 for the last three years alone which could have gone to a better cause.
All the PFFB stuff for the TI chip amps is also coming from the manufacturer!
In a way, it makes sense for the DAC. Somehow AKM and ESS are able to get the measurements they claim, right? The implementation used to be to the digital filters which is now user selectable.
This leaves ergonomics, and potentially “seasoning” the audio with intentional deviation from transparency.
In the PC audio world, we stopped having standalone network cards, sound cards, usb controller cards, and drive storage cards. Yes, under specific reasons you still have them but the integration across the motherboard is so good, that it’s rare.
Years ago, we needed external DACs. Now, stuff like AVRs and WiiM all in ones are plenty. Just as the standalone sound card market for PCs has died, so will the standalone DAC market.
Perhaps make up some template documents that you can use to approach companies that make gear that you test. So they have a opportunity to comment and contribute to the thread in question. I believe you do this now?
Consider language barrier and he is trying to say hi and introduce himself. Let’s try to be nice. At least until his 3rd or 4th post.
Svend P
Active Member
Clarkson jokingly filled up a Tesla with a team of lawyers in order not to say anything wrong in his review, after they had sued him, just to show how absurd the situation was.
Damn. I have been eyeing this gold and emerald blinged out Walker and that $15K of cheddar would put a dent in the down payment.
Was only a ? What's the meaning of this? Question. No more intended.Consider language barrier and he is trying to say hi and introduce himself. Let’s try to be nice. At least until his 3rd or 4th post.
Roland68
Major Contributor
But with such DACs you don't have a big difference in the value of the components used.
Look at the components used in the DAC discussed here and compare it with a Gustard X26 Pro or an X30, for example. Do you think there is a big difference between the pure component costs?
Apart from the housing.
Of course development costs are important and have to be paid, but at a certain point the customer pays at least 50% for the exclusivity and the name.
The man is sure talented and funny! As were the producers with this schtick.
People are spending big bucks to pay for the manufacturer to show off their prized component in a premium space at all the hifi shows. Just like one of the “benefits” of owning a Rolex is seeing it on billboards and in magazines.
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It is common in the audio world ... very common. The trouble is that there are a few people who, to use your example, claim that their 8-bit computers are better at computing than your smartphone. Those people are very vocal. They support a structure of reviews that favors their viewpoint.
Jim
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Coverage B of CGL insurance policies is designed to protect against the risk of litigation for exactly this situation (among others).
Yes, it might not be cheap, but it’s a cost of doing business.
I guess my point is that there is already a solution to this problem. If a person is deriving income from their internet postings, reviews, etc., they really ought to talk to an insurance broker and figure out what kind of coverage they can afford.
The only other solution is anti-SLAPP legislation, or possibly starting some sort of trade group where members agree not to sue reviewers and journalists. Perhaps in return, reviewers would have to plaster their reviews with disclaimers.
No Harm, No Coverage—Personal and Advertising Injury Liability Coverage in the CGL (Part 1)
Craig Stanovich examines Coverage B of the CGL. Part 2 will discuss applicable exclusions.
www.irmi.com
restorer-john
Grand Contributor
Personally, I see Goldensound's subjective historic "review" of the dCS unit is certainly not balanced. He spends way too long talking about what he didn't like, in nebulous, meaningless language, deperately attempting to sound "authoritative" and doesn't contrast that enough with what he did like. It's almost like the review was edited to add the positives at the front, because he realized he was being way too hard on the product for no good reason.
I also think he may have made his commentry fit the objective measurements.
In short, this entire storm in a teacup has made me less inclined to view any of his content going forward.
As for dCS, the emails from the VP (sales?) seem to me to have been shot off after a few drinks and perhaps a hot head. But it's also clear he felt aggrieved and likely for good reason- they produce a stellar (albeit expensive) range of beautifully finished products that will likely offer their customers a lifetime of enjoyment. That has a price some people are quite willing to pay. I'd take one of those DACs over a million other cheap-and-cheerful ASR chart toppers. It'll still be working perfectly in 25 years, unlike the others.
And to all the people with their faux outrage and statements like "I'll never buy dCS" and "There's another manufacturer off my list"- who are you trying to kid? You were never their customer, or likely to be, in the first place.
I also think he may have made his commentry fit the objective measurements.
In short, this entire storm in a teacup has made me less inclined to view any of his content going forward.
As for dCS, the emails from the VP (sales?) seem to me to have been shot off after a few drinks and perhaps a hot head. But it's also clear he felt aggrieved and likely for good reason- they produce a stellar (albeit expensive) range of beautifully finished products that will likely offer their customers a lifetime of enjoyment. That has a price some people are quite willing to pay. I'd take one of those DACs over a million other cheap-and-cheerful ASR chart toppers. It'll still be working perfectly in 25 years, unlike the others.
And to all the people with their faux outrage and statements like "I'll never buy dCS" and "There's another manufacturer off my list"- who are you trying to kid? You were never their customer, or likely to be, in the first place.
alexanderino
Active Member
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What we need is a public registry of companies/corporations who have employed legal tactics/SLAPPs to intimidate and silence reviewers. Details of each incident need to be documented as thoroughly as possible, to support the claim that unjust legal force (or threat thereof) was used. Reviewers can then point out that they will not review said companies' products, and also emphasise that customers may not be able to make informed decisions if only approved reviews are allowed.
Two entries so far are:
- Tekton
- dCS
I’m not sure anyone being threatened with a 7-figure lawsuit would agree that it’s a storm in a teacup
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