Re: [AH] Doepfer Build Quality

From Lester Barnes
Sent Mon, May 8th 2006, 21:56

I've had my A-Sys modular since 1998 and now have 110 modules  ( just=20
over 2 x 8500 ) and to date
I've not had a single problem with jacks  ( tho I've always used the=20
A-Sys leads and never over stretch nor yank them out when un-patching )

This system also includes a rack of Doepfer with their Vocoder rig=20
which has been regularly patched up changed with no problems.

Got love the Euro rack gear !

Lester
On Monday, May 8, 2006, at 08:56 PM, Terje Winther wrote:

>> Someone told me Doepfers were pretty bad as far as build quality and=20=

>> that the mini jacks would wear after 100 uses or so.
>
> Doepfer (and Analogue Systems; they use similar minijacks) used the=20
> standard version early on, but upgraded to better minijacks once=20
> reports of errors came in. Now they use much better minijacks, but=20
> rumours from the early days still lingers.
>
> The complete story directly from Bob @ Analogue Systems:
>
> To give you a brief history of mini jack problems this is what we have
> encountered.
>
> We first started using a cliff socket part number CL13845 which is a=20=

> 5.5
> version of the CL13844 5.0 that Dieter used in his system. If our=20
> patch cord
> were used there was minimum problems but some users were buying in or=20=

> making
> their own cables with heavy metal jack plugs which put a strain on the
> sockets causing the intermittent problems which the A100 was having=20
> issues
> with.
> I contacted the socket manufacturer Cliff and informed them that we=20
> were
> experiencing a small but nevertheless, important to our users, contact
> problem.
> Cliff sent their senior engineer down to our workshop and he=20
> identified the
> problem from their manufacturing side and came up with a new socket=20
> for us
> (still pcb mounted which is what we wanted) and with this and custom
> designed patchcords to fit exactly we have had no problems that we are=20=

> aware
> of.
> There is a British band which you may or may not know about called=20
> Radiohead
> who tour with 3 x 8000 and an 8500 system plus numerous Apprentice and
> Sorceror systems.The only time they have had problems was by their own
> admittance when they bought in different patch cords which were like=20=

> fishing
> weights and that obviously was to much ,but when we recommended our =
new
> length patch cords they have had no problems during 2 world tours.I=20
> believe
> your own U.S.A band Nine Inch Nails are about to tour with our gear=20
> live as
> well as Sigur Ros from Iceland.
> We informed Dieter of the new socket to be fair to him and not take an
> obvious advantage so the A100 should be clear of any problems as well=20=

> as
> long as the correct patch cords are used.
> If you're going to Namm in a few weeks time come to the Big City Music=20=

> booth
> and try for your self.
> I have never heard of low level noise problems on forums or from
> customers,without naming names we have had high praise from top U.K=20
> London
> based producers, on how quiet are systems are, quietness is also=20
> =CAmentioned
> in the review for the system 1 from what I remember.
> If the forum that has this is on a competitors website and it is over =
3
> years old then it is there as a negative swipe at Doepfer and by=20
> default
> ours.
> I do not think Dieter would ever condone such negative posts on his=20
> Yahoo
> Group just as we would not.
> I have seen and played for a very short time a large Synthesizer.com=20=

> system
> in Belgium last month and I was very impressed.I think which ever one=20=

> you
> choose you will not be disappointed.
> You may post this response if you wish which hopefully will allay the=20=

> fears
> of any potential Analogue Systems/Doepfer customers.
> If you ring Roger at Big City Music in L.A he will give you a frank=20
> overview
> on all modulars as he has vintage and modern and has sold very good=20
> amounts
> of our systems and modules to satisfied U.S customers.
> The only time you usually find any bad press for most manufacturers is=20=

> when
> modules are swapped around without any thought to power supply issues=20=

> and
> any modifications.
> We have a system here which has been stock from day one and it has=20
> never
> failed and it a very big!!
>
> Best Wishes
> Bob Williams
>
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