10-12-2024, 02:09 PM
I didn't catch the original upload, but have been following with interest since I saw the take-down video from Mark at the weekend:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPIrCaeVtvI
Louis Rossmann did a video on it yesterday. Dave Jones (EEVBlog) commented on it, which has driven people to watch a copy of it on Odysee:
https://odysee.com/The-%C2%A325,000-Pre-...SR-mkIII:c
It's definitely helping to raise Mark's profile, which is no bad thing.
Having to reverse-engineering schematics is very common in hi-fi circles, especially for UK-built esoteric stuff. I do it all the time, but it never really gets beyond the paper sketch needed for repair. Taking the time to produce an electronic copy was impressive, but essentially an amusing retort to the "you'll never fix this" gauntlet. And partly for clicks, too. That's fine - I'd like to think I'd do the same in his shoes. But none of the schematics were shown in any detail in the video, so it doesn't seem like there's a valid claim for copyright. But who knows what the process is at Google? If a human checks it out, will they know enough to understand the nature of the claim?
Meant constructively, there were a few mistakes in his analysis of the section using parallel op-amps to reduce noise, but none of that gets in the way of the basic fault-finding. And it was basic. A thermal imaging camera helped him get there quicker, but it's a repair that could have been done using very basic equipment - just a multimeter and a current-limited bench power supply. I don't say that to to criticise Mark - rather, to encourage anyone who might be intimidated by that wall of gear.
Objectively, those plastic pillars were unforgivable. If we assume that he had valid reasons to avoid metal, then at least use the type with brass inserts pressed into each end - those are very good indeed. Yes, they're pricey, but there's enough headroom in the margin for that, surely?
No attempt at a defence of the manufacturer, but it is surprising how little of that £25k ends up in his pocket. Assuming he has the usual chain of distributors and retailers, as the website suggests, then the factor door price might be nearer to £7k. That's based on numbers I'm aware of for a small number of UK hi-fi manufacturers, so might not be accurate for this case. Of course, £7k sounds like an incredible sum of money for what you're getting, but with sales volumes that low and the very laborious construction techniques, he won't be retiring early!
We do need to tread a little carefully here as this thread is in the public-facing part of the forum - let's not say anything that might attract unwanted attention, please.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPIrCaeVtvI
Louis Rossmann did a video on it yesterday. Dave Jones (EEVBlog) commented on it, which has driven people to watch a copy of it on Odysee:
https://odysee.com/The-%C2%A325,000-Pre-...SR-mkIII:c
It's definitely helping to raise Mark's profile, which is no bad thing.
Having to reverse-engineering schematics is very common in hi-fi circles, especially for UK-built esoteric stuff. I do it all the time, but it never really gets beyond the paper sketch needed for repair. Taking the time to produce an electronic copy was impressive, but essentially an amusing retort to the "you'll never fix this" gauntlet. And partly for clicks, too. That's fine - I'd like to think I'd do the same in his shoes. But none of the schematics were shown in any detail in the video, so it doesn't seem like there's a valid claim for copyright. But who knows what the process is at Google? If a human checks it out, will they know enough to understand the nature of the claim?
Meant constructively, there were a few mistakes in his analysis of the section using parallel op-amps to reduce noise, but none of that gets in the way of the basic fault-finding. And it was basic. A thermal imaging camera helped him get there quicker, but it's a repair that could have been done using very basic equipment - just a multimeter and a current-limited bench power supply. I don't say that to to criticise Mark - rather, to encourage anyone who might be intimidated by that wall of gear.
Objectively, those plastic pillars were unforgivable. If we assume that he had valid reasons to avoid metal, then at least use the type with brass inserts pressed into each end - those are very good indeed. Yes, they're pricey, but there's enough headroom in the margin for that, surely?
No attempt at a defence of the manufacturer, but it is surprising how little of that £25k ends up in his pocket. Assuming he has the usual chain of distributors and retailers, as the website suggests, then the factor door price might be nearer to £7k. That's based on numbers I'm aware of for a small number of UK hi-fi manufacturers, so might not be accurate for this case. Of course, £7k sounds like an incredible sum of money for what you're getting, but with sales volumes that low and the very laborious construction techniques, he won't be retiring early!
We do need to tread a little carefully here as this thread is in the public-facing part of the forum - let's not say anything that might attract unwanted attention, please.
