New Collaboration with Ascilab!

[Matt_Holland]

It's really freaking crazy with some crowds here. I don't know where everyone is from or lives, but here in America, it's a capitalist economy with free enterprise. If someone wants to start a business venture, a honest business, with his own money and taking on all the risk themselves and it's not something like drug dealing, in which it harms other people. What is wrong with that?

Maybe the only possible complaint is that he is going to be an exclusive distributor, so there may be some monopoly concern, but that is how the entire distribution network works throughout the world, so there is no exception.

Yes, he so happen to be a reviewer, but he is transparent what he is doing and the relationship he now has with a manufacturer and his business interests, so that you can be watchful.

If you feel that his reviews will be bias from now on, then don't read his reviews or take it with a grain of salt. You are all grown adults with a functional brain to think for yourself. And if I were to buy anything based solely on Amir's recommendation than I'm the one accountable.

As I've mentioned before, which I'm going to mention again, I have never ever listen to everything Amir had to say, nor have I ever took any of his recommendations with anything more than a grain of salt. If I were to buy anything based on his review, I make sure I have the ability to return it. The real value I get out of Amir's review is the data and the community that ASR has built.

Jeeez! Calm down, bro.
The concerns expressed here are not that Amir will publish biased reviews, but that non-ASR members and perhaps the wider audiophile community will perceive there to be bias and a conflict of interest (non Ascilab products receiving less favourable subjective comments for example), and that this could negatively impact the success of the business.

I think to a man and woman, the response here is highly positive and people want this venture to be a successful as possible.

 

[waldo2]

They already get money from advertisers that skews their reviews…. The only people howling will be the other companies.

Regardless, the only thing of value there is the measurement, and they don’t lie.

Sure, I don’t trust stereophile reviews either, but even it hasn’t crossed the line of actually selling products that compete with products it reviews.

 

[AudioJester]

Sure, I don’t trust stereophile reviews either, but even it hasn’t crossed the line of actually selling products that compete with products it reviews.

You do realise Amir was allready selling speakers before Ascilabs distribution?

 

[Liberal Democracy]

The accusation that I am biased exists currently and strongly so from naysayers outside the forum. As soon as I go and say something, this comes up, all the way to claiming I have financial dealings with Chinese companies. I realize this may increase some but as someone said, the people complaining have no intention to be in our camp whether this is a a fact or not.

As to testing gear, you all and companies decide what I test. You and them send me stuff and I test them. It is one in a thousand chance that I go and seek out products to test.

Note that I have made no commitment to sainthood. I have done my best to be above board for nearly a decade, refusing countless offers to turn on advertising, sponsorships, etc. This is the best I can do to keep our impartiality. Asking me to do more when others are not remotely in the same place seems out of line. Which other reviewer you go to that runs a completely non-monetary operation?

So sure, if you are unhappy and want to leave, not read my reviews, etc., that is fine and is something I figured would happen.

Im sure you will add a lot of value to their business too !

You've done a incredible job keeping this place sponsorship/advertisement free. You know the complications that comes with that money , to me its been a wise as well as noble choice .

I see this latest endeavour as just another way of supporting great products and companies that hold mutual values . Your product development expertise and general business experience will be beyond valuable to the businesses who's products you take on , more so when these companies are young and starting out id think .

It's a logical progression, Im glad you've found something thats going to help keep you fresh , and jumping out of bed in the mornings!

Some folks will moan, unless their making you're dinner or paying your bills id take absolutely no notice .

 

[HalSF]

Sorry to be a downer, but this creates a clear conflict of interest. Future speaker reviews can’t help but take the ascilabs’ interests into consideration. It isn’t a matter of integrity. The problem is structural. It can’t be cured by disclosure. Imagine the howl if stereophile became a speaker distributor.

I think it’s more accurate to say that at worst, this risks creating the appearance of a conflict of interest for some people, though probably not a credible and actual conflict.

There’s a slice of bluenose audio commentary that views *any* monetary self-interest as corrupt and guilty, with a vocabulary full of terms like “shill” and “payola.” This worldview scoffs at editorial integrity at outlets like Stereophile and simply assumes financial quid pro quos and bribes are in play where reviewing and advertising revenue coexist. Evidence is not necessary. “Structural” sounds ominous but I’m not convinced that it’s not just paranoia. Saying disclosure and transparency are meaningless defies common sense.

 

[PristineSound]

Jeeez! Calm down, bro.

I don't know how you see any excitement in my reply, and not see excitement in all the ridiculousness comments.

The concerns expressed here are not that Amir will publish biased reviews, but that non-ASR members and perhaps the wider audiophile community will perceive there to be bias and a conflict of interest (non Ascilab products receiving less favourable subjective comments for example), and that this could negatively impact the success of the business.

I think to a man and woman, the response here is highly positive and people want this venture to be a successful as possible.

Once again, if anyone is going strictly by a reviewer's feedback on any product, then you're the fool.

 

[Audionaut]

On the other hand, there are also prominent US Americans who get an electric car as a gift and promote it. So what?

 

[Labjr]

It is a bit early to say for sure. But goal is to stay as close as possible to their pricing. This is our biggest challenge as their current pricing is based on direct sales to customers.

So no more buying direct from US? I think the price is what makes it such a good value. If price goes way up, that will change. During the 90's, Victor Goldstein imported Siltech and Reference 3A etc. Things got ridiculous. Suddenly, a $2K pair of speakers was $4-5k.

 

[BlackTalon]

Does this mean my only ascilab purchase option will be from this new company for delivery in NA? Exclusive distribution?

FWIW, most foreign (to the US) audio companies have a single US importer that has the business relationship with them. That Importer may be the only distributor, or they may chooses to work with multiple regional distributors across the US. And that Importer may also be the sole retailer in the US, or there can be dozens or hundreds of retailers, who would typically buy their stock from regional distributors.

Anyway, as an ASR member I anxiously await the first dividend check

 

[PristineSound]

On the other hand, there are also prominent US Americans who get an electric car as a gift and promote it. So what?

Amir is just a reviewer, I can curse him out if I wanted to (not that I have reasons nor plans to) and the only thing he can do to me is kick of off of ASR. Amir doesn't have the ability to move the stock market. Amir doesn't have the ability nor the power to set market policies for HiFi.

Sure he can endorse a product, just like Jordan can endorse Nike. So what? If you're the type to fall for celebrity endorsements, despite a crappy product, then you're the sucker and you're the one to blame.

Get over it folks, don't hate, congratulate.

 

[respice finem]

Speaking of conflict of interest - how many "nay sayers" would give a headless panther to stuff their own company distributes? Amir does.

 

[voodooless]

Sure, I don’t trust stereophile reviews either, but even it hasn’t crossed the line of actually selling products that compete with products it reviews.

Of course not, it would canibalize on the products it’s selling now: you!

 

[Hifihedgehog]

Question: When do you anticipate that you will be taking orders?

 

[prestigetone]

So no more buying direct from US? I think the price is what makes it such a good value. If price goes way up, that will change. During the 90's, Victor Goldstein imported Siltech and Reference 3A etc. Things got ridiculous. Suddenly, a $2K pair of speakers was $4-5k.

The price is going to go way up. I just paid duties on an international package I never would have before the tariffs. Hopefully they can ship them by the pallet to reduce costs, but I think any distribution stepping in is a minus for AsciLab. Their entire business model was predicated on direct-to-consumer. With that gone I am guessing prices will increase 30%.

 

[Esprit]

So what?

Or a plane.

 

[Timcognito]

My take on this one from afar. Amir is passionate and rigorous about the way approaches audio and audio testing, he finds subjective data superfluous, so much so that buys $100k NFS apparatus and sets it up in his home and starts testing. His passion is such that he he ignores the commercial aspects of his endeavors and becomes a soothsayer for data driven audio design and execution, at no charge to anyone, believer or not. Over the last many years he sees many good and bad products (in this case speakers) so many that are a few tweaks away from meeting a higher standard yet some builders ignore his commentary and repeat the same mistakes. Along comes a speaker builder that is taking his advice and ASR members and iterating their speakers to the very highest level offered at a price that will be successful. Just as important, they have an ethos just like his and a new venture. This new startup has some new issues that Amir and his brother have expertise. I have been in nine medical device startups and from experience, there is something about doing a new venture that is intoxicating. So he jumps in.

Will we see adds on ASR? Betting NOT. Will Amir lose interest in ASR? Hoping NOT. Will the money he makes change his ethics? History says NOT. What he does is up to him and I'll say it won't be half assed. I plan to hang in there to learn more and like others hope ASR keeps going as good as it has been.

 

[Robbo99999]

Speaking of conflict of interest - how many "nay sayers" would give a headless panther to stuff their own company distributes? Amir does.

Ha, which one was that? A ceiling speaker or something, something obscure?

 

[mns3dhm]

Good luck with the new business partnership. Will you continue operating Madrona simultaneously?

 

[amirm]

So no more buying direct from US? I think the price is what makes it such a good value. If price goes way up, that will change. During the 90's, Victor Goldstein imported Siltech and Reference 3A etc. Things got ridiculous. Suddenly, a $2K pair of speakers was $4-5k.

There is nothing like that in the cards. Their pricing is one of their key value propositions. As I said, it is my goal to keep pricing the same.

At the same time, I hope things like fast delivery, local support and warranty/repairs is of *some* value to customers. I know it would be to me. I just bought an AC for our camper van. Amazon had it for $1,600 and company itself, $1450 or something like it. I chose Amazon for piece of mind and paid the little extra. You all have to tell me if you don't value this at all.

If we can provide all of the above values while keeping the price the same, we will do so. We are going to run this operation on super thin margins and highest levels of efficiency. Pretty sure no current US audio entity would be able to match us in this regard. Beyond this, I don't know what else to tell you.

 

[amirm]

Good luck with the new business partnership. Will you continue operating Madrona simultaneously?

Thanks and yes. Madrona runs essentially independent of me so it is not a burden in that regard.