Listed in no particular order. All these guys are great!
1. Sonny Tuason (can't remember his WS name) - 4 stars!
1.a Unison Research Pre, UR DM (monos), Rotel CDP 1092, Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun, VPI 16.5
1.b Sonny allowed me to audition product after product after product. I'd say Sonny is one of the most patient dealers around. He never hard sells and allows the buyer to make an informed decision based on the buyer's preferences. And price wise, Sonny is one of the best.
2. JackD and Keith, the VSA Boys - 4 stars!
1.a Von Schweikert VR4-JRs
1.b May speakers na, may wine pa! Jack and Keith are the wonder boys of audio and WS. Barkada first, and businessmen only on the side. I have never met a congressman who will literally roll up his sleeves and do stevedore work for a poor fellow like me. Jack personally loaded my JRs with lead shot, and that was no easy task, after which he and Keith manhandled those now-heavy floorstanders to the optimum placement in my acoustically challenged room. Hindi lang yun. After sales support was so fantastic, with this duo coming back to my place time after time to check how the JRs were doing, and tweaking my room treatments to the proper placement. Did I mention wine?
Montes Alpha, Ahhh! Muchas gracias, amigos!
3. Epoy (Bogart) - 4 stars!
3.a Nottingham Spacedeck and Ace Space Arm, Dynavector XX2 Mk2, Dali Ikon 6, Dynavector 10X5 (for my Technics SL-1200 Mk2), Boston Mat, a passle of accessories for the TT, and maybe, a 47Labs Phonocube!
3.b Epoy is an endless resource for anything audio. We have discussed analog and digital gear hours on end, over Lapid's chicharon and beer, while listening to everythiing, from rock to jazz, and I always end up richer in knowledge of audio. Like all the rest of the guys I have dealt with, there is not an ounce of hard sell in Epoy. Para nga ayaw makabenta. And if your musical taste can be better served by a competitor's product, he will not hesitate to recommend that for you! He set up my TT meticulously and taught me how to properly set up, align, and tweak cartridge placement. The ultimate testimonial I can give about Epoy's ethical business practices is when I bought the XX2 from him. A few days after he delivered and set up the cart for me, he called me up to say that Dynavector just announced the launching of the XX2 Mark 2. He immediately offered to retrieve the cart he has already installed in my TT to be replaced by the Mark 2 when his shipment will arrive. Fantastic dealer, if I may say so!
Haba na nito. I have other dealers that I would like to give my comments about, but that will have to wait for a second post. Hanapbuhay muna...
Mabuhay ang WS!