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Post by Quint on Nov 9, 2020 19:08:10 GMT -6
I have the Sowters. But I've never heard the Cinemags, so I can't offer much. And what you think about them? Tone and compressor action? The compressor action is as should be expected for an 1176. I like the Sowters. I like the Sowters in my Stam 1073eqs as well. I may just be a Sowter fan. |
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Post by theshea on Nov 10, 2020 2:54:02 GMT -6
If you filter for my posts in this thread you’ll see my impressions from when I first got it. And our discussion of the attack issue (with images and some numbers). Like I said above, if it weren’t for the attack issue, it would be a perfect box, because the tone is lovely. I still use it for that reason, but going through the tracks in PT and manually fixing the big transient peaks it can’t catch (and exaggerates) is a pain in the ass. Just change the Jfet brother. I'll work you through it. You can use the same one everybody else is using but you will need to upgrade the transformers to Sowters to make up for the "tone". Output transformer model is 1327, www.sowter.co.ukI can work you through the entire thing and send you a tutorial or we can have Jeff do it in the US. All ADG's from the second batch onwards use the standard JFET and new upgraded optional transformers I have tested every single transformer in the market for the 1176, dozens of them. I thought of making a switchable model that has both Jfets inside but I have hundreds of orders to catch up on first and the ADG is already too complex as it is. It was the dumbest idea I ever had (with the SA23A and Pultecs with mids). I made zero profit, got a bunch of people pissed off and it ate up all my resources. I'm glad we have stopped taking orders for them. I am still amazed and grateful daily that people trust us and wait for our work despite all the problems there have been with delivery dates. I can't even wait 5 minutes for a coffee so nothing but respect and gratefulness from my side. Once we catch up with everything there are big things coming from us and I mean big literally. A monster. Hi Stam/Josh, I do have SA76 serial n. 346: so what attack times jfet and transformer do I have? |
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Post by phantom on Nov 10, 2020 6:11:02 GMT -6
And what you think about them? Tone and compressor action? The compressor action is as should be expected for an 1176. I like the Sowters. I like the Sowters in my Stam 1073eqs as well. I may just be a Sowter fan. Ok, you like the action and you like the tone. Noted. Great impressions, sir. |
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Post by Quint on Nov 10, 2020 10:13:15 GMT -6
The compressor action is as should be expected for an 1176. I like the Sowters. I like the Sowters in my Stam 1073eqs as well. I may just be a Sowter fan. Ok, you like the action and you like the tone. Noted. Great impressions, sir. Yeah, the wait was long, but I do like them. It's pretty cool to have the three options in one box. Josh and I discussed it when I was getting ready to receive my units, and I opted for the faster (normal/standard) Jfets. Regardless of whatever superior tone that other slower Jfet may provide, it's just not an 1176 (to me, anyway) unless it does that fast 1176 "thing". If I had already had a pile of more traditional 1176s, I might have opted for the slower Jfet, but I didn't, so the standard Jfet is what I chose |
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Post by ragan on Nov 10, 2020 10:32:42 GMT -6
Yeah and it’s not just that it’s slower, it’s sort of erratic. If it were just universally slower in a uniform way, I’d just decrease the attack time and it’d be fine. It just lets these random large peaks through.
I’m going to swap the JFETs and transformer and see if it’s better.
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Post by phantom on Nov 10, 2020 10:52:17 GMT -6
Yeah and it’s not just that it’s slower, it’s sort of erratic. If it were just universally slower in a uniform way, I’d just decrease the attack time and it’d be fine. It just lets these random large peaks through. I’m going to swap the JFETs and transformer and see if it’s better. Yeah, imo no matter how good the tone is, a 1176 has to have the action of a 1176. I mean, like Quint said, if you already have a wall of "normal" 1176s, I can see why you would prefer tone to action. |
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Post by din on Jan 15, 2021 10:07:30 GMT -6
What is it that you don't agree with, exactly? Why are you trying to nullify my speaking out about my experience? Perhaps your hoping to curry favor with Stam? Are you also waiting on backordered items? I'm sorry if you've heard it all before, but not everyone has--and it certainly wasn't exactly common knowledge 27 months ago that Stam Audio misses deadlines by years. Well, shame on me, right? Thanks for the solidarity, guy! I think Stam gained their infamous reputation from the very item that I ordered, the 1176-ADG. I was one of the first 50 people to order and he had $400 of my money for years. I don't see why I should go back to giving him an interest free loan. How would that be any sort of restitution? Furthermore, you speak of his olive branch as some magnanimous offering, which is complete bullsh*t. What makes you think that if I sent him more money that he would actually send me the product? I do still want the compressor I ordered in early May 2018 at the initial discounted rate. It's really the only way I'd be compensated for all this aggravation. That said, he should send it first as he has proven himself untrustworthy. 1. Nobody is asking you for any money 2. I said I will send you a unit once I have served customers who have paid and not cancelled without charging you anything until you receive the unit. I would be wrong doing if I'd serve you first because you are being loud on a forum. 3- There are far bigger problems in life right now than a cancelled order for a piece of equipment. Calm down. PD: Email me about what PayPal charged you on the refund, I'd be happy to send you the difference so you get your deposit back clean. Just a quick update: In case anyone thought this was anything but another hollow promise, it's now half a year later and Stam never followed through on this promise. Last communication was in October when he said it would be at least another month. Make of that what you will! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 12:17:27 GMT -6
"A Ponzi scheme can maintain the illusion of a sustainable business as long as new investors contribute new funds, and as long as most of the investors do not demand full repayment and still believe in the non-existent assets they are purported to own."
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 15, 2021 15:46:42 GMT -6
A ponzi scheme just scams your money. Josh will refund at any time you just have to ask and he does eventually deliver, but the lateness is a drag.
Typically, Josh offers some remediation to these clients, like discounts on another order etc..
I have experienced all of these responses, never has Josh just taken my money .
Criticizing Josh for poor business practises is fair game, implicitly labelling his business a Ponzi scheme, I think unwarranted and unfair.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 17:10:04 GMT -6
You are right. He runs a business so poorly that it just comes across like a long running scam.
"Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity." and all that. Don't want to risk libel so I would just delete my own comment, but now the P word has been mentioned afterwards. Just remember everyone who has been supporting this operation could have been giving money to any number of amazing audio manufacturers. My favorites lately have been Highland Dynamics, Coil Audio and Little Labs. Happy recording!
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 15, 2021 17:19:35 GMT -6
There is no question that there was lots of room for improvement: that’s fair.
Keeping a business, like Stam’s, in operations during a world wide pandemic which likely compromised all its supply chains and experienced lock downs , is no small achievement.
With respect , it seems to me, having a little perspective is in order ? Something is going right as I see many FB posts recently of clients receiving a good variety of his gear. Everything: no, you are right, ongoing room for improvement, definitely, again we agree. Support for not going under over the last year: I think also warranted.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 15, 2021 17:27:31 GMT -6
Honestly I am getting deja vu from another forum that allowed that guy to post for years holding people's money and constantly having excuses why he couldn't deliver. Yes he always offers money back, but along with an even sweeter deal that is hard to refuse. That behavior goes back far beyond Covid. I think he takes advantage of lower income engineers and then has an online posse of "satisfied customers" that shit on anyone who complains.
I realize these forums are just not the place for me. Happy recording all!
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Post by stam on Jan 15, 2021 17:38:22 GMT -6
1. Nobody is asking you for any money 2. I said I will send you a unit once I have served customers who have paid and not cancelled without charging you anything until you receive the unit. I would be wrong doing if I'd serve you first because you are being loud on a forum. 3- There are far bigger problems in life right now than a cancelled order for a piece of equipment. Calm down. PD: Email me about what PayPal charged you on the refund, I'd be happy to send you the difference so you get your deposit back clean. Just a quick update: In case anyone thought this was anything but another hollow promise, it's now half a year later and Stam never followed through on this promise. Last communication was in October when he said it would be at least another month. Make of that what you will! Hello Sir, I stated that I would send you a unit once I had served customers who have paid for theirs (reserved) and I still have many customers to serve before that happens. I am currently serving customers that kept their orders and I have to be fair and transparent about this If we have any left over units I would be delighted to send you one as soon as they are in stock Josh |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 15, 2021 17:44:29 GMT -6
I’d hate for that dude to have to read any more Stam threads, so I’m just gonna ban him so he doesn’t have to. By the way, he came in here, made three posts and deleted his account.
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Post by Ward on Jan 15, 2021 17:48:36 GMT -6
I’d hate for that dude to have to read any more Stam threads, so I’m just gonna ban him so he doesn’t have to. By the way, he came in here, made three posts and deleted his account. That was very Christian of you. |
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 15, 2021 18:26:03 GMT -6
I’d hate for that dude to have to read any more Stam threads, so I’m just gonna ban him so he doesn’t have to. By the way, he came in here, made three posts and deleted his account. Nothing he said was inaccurate though... |
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 15, 2021 18:37:06 GMT -6
Ponzi scheme: with respect, Jesse, what’s accurate about that ? I have no problem with client’s criticizing Josh: for poor delivery etc., but everything about the tenure of his posts seemed unwarranted and more troll like?
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Post by stam on Jan 15, 2021 19:24:44 GMT -6
"A Ponzi scheme can maintain the illusion of a sustainable business as long as new investors contribute new funds, and as long as most of the investors do not demand full repayment and still believe in the non-existent assets they are purported to own." This is an accurate definition, however, I don't think it reflects on my labour. 1. Most of our catalog has been placed out of stock, therefor, there are no new funds coming in from pre-orders (with the exceptions of a few slots left which would not by any means be able to sustain the wages of my workers and costs of our business) 2. We have refunded in full hundreds of orders in the past 8 years with no exceptions. With Covid only many engineers have closed their studios and we got hit by over 300 refunds and I processed them all. Our company, small as it is, as survived because of the hard work of our team and the pursuit of sonic perfection, no matter the time, cost and delays it may cause. I realize now that perhaps it was not the wisest decision (business way) to delay something because a new and better part showed up but I am extremely proud of what we do and believe we are second to none in sound quality and engineering. Our shortcomings business way and in our customer service as well as delivery times is something we still have a lot to learn from and improve, this is why we took the step to end the pre-order system and make amends with people we have not served correctly. Me and the team never meant any harm or wrong, we were inexperienced and it's a learning curve for all of us. Should I have known all of this when I started this journey I would have done things differently. I accept my flaws and mistakes and look forward to improving as a small business owner and designer to the future. I still get an email every now and then with an angry client telling me to go somewhere and rather than get frustrated or feed those negative emotions I try to make things right. Life is a little too short and there are bigger problems for us all so I have decided to let this go and leave the past in the past. If anybody here want's to reach out and amend things I am always happy to call. |
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 15, 2021 19:34:57 GMT -6
Josh, I applaud you for your frankness and forthrightness. You have matured a lot, as friends let’s be frank, only a couple of year’s ago, you would have launched into a vitriolic argument. I always got your passion, but it didn’t represent your business well.
None of us can change the past, but it does seem to me you and your team are striving to improve and always improve the already high quality of your gear.
When you get it right, like my 67 mkii: you nail it and I am grateful to have this mike: thx to you and your team.
Stay safe and well in 21: go forth and prosper !
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 15, 2021 20:17:29 GMT -6
Ponzi scheme: with respect, Jesse, what’s accurate about that ? I have no problem with client’s criticizing Josh: for poor delivery etc., but everything about the tenure of his posts seemed unwarranted and more troll like? I hope he's wrong, but if you explained this situation to literally anyone who is unaware of the situation, they would say the same thing. People in this very thread ordered stuff 3 years ago that they still don't have. Hindsight will be 20/20. |
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Post by kcatthedog on Jan 15, 2021 20:35:19 GMT -6
People have every right to be pissed over crazy delays: without question.
a Ponzi scheme is predicated on the idea of using Peter’s money to pay Paul and to create the illusion that a true business investment made that return.
Josh in the past has over promised and under delivered and that’s not good, but I don’t believe that he intended to never provide product to clients.
Anyway, people can always cut and run and get their refund. I hope in 21 Josh focusses on clearing his backlog, estimating his production capacity much more conservatively, under promising and over deliver and focus on improving his productivity: all that will stand him and his clients in better stead.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 15, 2021 21:12:41 GMT -6
I started this board so there would be no bullshit shills and censorship. So - I’m not going to delete things. It’s not what that guy said, it’s that he popped in, disrespected the board and then jumped out. Good riddance.
That being said, I respect Josh for taking the heat and responding. Open communication is a good thing.
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Post by jcoutu1 on Jan 15, 2021 21:30:01 GMT -6
People have every right to be pissed over crazy delays: without question. a Ponzi scheme is predicated on the idea of using Peter’s money to pay Paul and to create the illusion that a true business investment made that return. Josh in the past has over promised and under delivered and that’s not good, but I don’t believe that he intended to never provide product to clients. Anyway, people can always cut and run and get their refund. I hope in 21 Josh focusses on clearing his backlog, estimating his production capacity much more conservatively, under promising and over deliver and focus on improving his productivity: all that will stand him and his clients in better stead. What do you think would happen if 500 customers decided they wanted their refunds? Do you think that money is just sitting in an account ready to refund? I don't. "PayPal Protection" is only 180 days (which is why I requested my refunds when I did) and I doubt any Stam preorder has ever been delivered in that amount of time. There are a lot of people that could potentially lose money here and I worry for them. You can "hope" that things will change in 21, but you said the same exact things in 20 and 19. "He's got new staff." "Covid delayed things." "He lost all of his email." It's literally excuse after excuse. I'd love to see everyone spending their money with countless other companies who we interact with daily here on the board and actually follow through with their promises. This guy shouldn't be given the benefit of the doubt anymore. |
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Post by donr on Jan 15, 2021 22:05:37 GMT -6
If it's any comfort to those waiting, I finally got my SA-47, and it's an exceptional piece. Just solid. I don't think I've gotten any special treatment from Stam. I'm still waiting for the SA-76, that's been years now.
Obviously, you can't order from Stam if it's something you actually need to have now. I bought an Audioscape 76A in the interim and I'm very happy with it. But I can't complain about the quality or sound of what I have gotten from Stam, the mic, SA-2a's and the original 2 channel 1073 w/Sowters.
Stam's initial down payments aren't that high, and you pay the bulk when it's just about ready. If he's got a cash flow problem, or other issues, he hasn't cheapened his products in an effort to fix it.
I wouldn't start or encourage a run on order cancellations. I have some appreciation for what Joshua is trying to do in the clone gear space, if he's vulnerable financially I wouldn't want him to crash. Consider a Stam order an investment that won't mature until Stam makes it sometime in the future. Fortunately there are other options for value reproductions of classic gear that are actually delivered in a timely manner.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jan 15, 2021 22:37:15 GMT -6
People have every right to be pissed over crazy delays: without question. a Ponzi scheme is predicated on the idea of using Peter’s money to pay Paul and to create the illusion that a true business investment made that return. Josh in the past has over promised and under delivered and that’s not good, but I don’t believe that he intended to never provide product to clients. Anyway, people can always cut and run and get their refund. I hope in 21 Josh focusses on clearing his backlog, estimating his production capacity much more conservatively, under promising and over deliver and focus on improving his productivity: all that will stand him and his clients in better stead. What do you think would happen if 500 customers decided they wanted their refunds? Do you think that money is just sitting in an account ready to refund? I don't. "PayPal Protection" is only 180 days (which is why I requested my refunds when I did) and I doubt any Stam preorder has ever been delivered in that amount of time. There are a lot of people that could potentially lose money here and I worry for them. You can "hope" that things will change in 21, but you said the same exact things in 20 and 19. "He's got new staff." "Covid delayed things." "He lost all of his email." It's literally excuse after excuse. I'd love to see everyone spending their money with countless other companies who we interact with daily here on the board and actually follow through with their promises. This guy shouldn't be given the benefit of the doubt anymore. You certainly have a right to express this - but you got your money back, right? I say that respectfully... I would just think this kind of criticism would be reserved for people that still have orders outstanding or weren’t refunded. |
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