The Black Cube phono pre and Music Direct: What happened?

[Dan C]

Thumbing through the new big Music Direct catalog I saw this:

"Get rid of that empty Black Box!
Music Direct no longer carries the Black Cube line of products. After a lengthy comparison process, we feel there are many more affordable options with substantially higher build quality and sonics".

In their description for the $200 Clearaudio Micro phono pre, they also state that it "actually bested the $550 Black Cube in our listening tests".

So if the Black Cube was such a dreadful rip off, why did they carry it for so many years?! And what on earth would cause a company to slam a product they actually used to willingly sell?

Weird behavior.

BTW, they're offering "generous trade-in options" for those poor saps who bought the Cube from them in the first place. :rolleyes:

Dan C

[Sckott]

The worst thing you could do is say something you sold was no good. If you wanted to compare the Black Cube to something else, and say the Floozie-Floo beat the pants off of the Cube, then that's something else.

Again, I think too many people are taking advantage of audiophiles. Don't believe the hype. Me thought the Black Cube was a great audiophile upper-entry-level pre! Sure, you can get better (oh, and much WORSE) but if people love their Cube, they won't fall for this kinda thing.

Oh, and so you think they're going to throw away those Cubes? Nah. Let's see if they show up on eBay!

If you love your pre, stay. If not, shop. I'm sure a lot of people love their Cube and won't move. Ain't nothing wrong with being happy. Something IS wrong with a retailer that says that you aren't.

[Ed Bishop]

I got my latest catalog yesterday, too--half beaten to ribbons thanks to the Post Awful--but haven't had a chance to peruse. Knocking a product they once sold, eh? Very, very bad form. Must be more to it than 'the product sucks, after all.' Some kind of falling out? Company going bellyup? Agreed: weird behavior.

ED:cool:

[***PL***]

If Music Direct folds it will be the death of Mobile Fidelity Part II.

BTW, I stopped buying from these guys three years ago. Back when they bought all remaining stock of MoFi for pennies to the dollar and then proceeded to rip everyone off.

They would send out those MoFi catalogs with newly discovered NOS LPs and CDs!! I'm not talking about their high prices because they could definitely command that. What I mean is: you put in a order for 50 "New" MoFi CDs and half of them come back reshrinked. :realmad: How do you like that?? False advertising! They don't care about loyal customers. Avoid! :rolleyes:

[Mike V]

Not only that, but MD will push any heavy vinyl issue as if it's sonic nirvana. I'll have to dig up the issue where they had the gall to actually feature the Red Hot Chili Peppers' 180gm 2 LP set of Californication based on sonics. It is the single worst sounding LP set I own, hands down, by a long shot. And I've collected my share of POS LPs over the years. They crowed on about the heavy vinyl Bjork issues which have not failed to disappoint. I don't think these guys actually listen to the vinyl they sell.

[akshobhyavajra]

Originally posted by Mike V
It is the single worst sounding LP set I own, hands down, by a long shot. And I've collected my share of POS LPs over the years. They crowed on about the heavy vinyl Bjork issues which have not failed to disappoint. I don't think these guys actually listen to the vinyl they sell.

Actually - the NEW RHCP is even worse. Makes Californication sound like a half-speed....:hurl:

~Michael~

[Dave]

This is typically what happens when a company or label becomes part of a corporate machine. They no longer care about their clientelle because thay work on the "volume principle" and we, the consumer, pay the price.:sigh:

PL I agree with you totally.

[Jeffrey]

Originally posted by ***PL***
What I mean is: you put in a order for 50 "New" MoFi CDs and half of them come back reshrinked. :realmad: How do you like that?? False advertising! They don't care about loyal customers. Avoid! :rolleyes:

Hi,

I had the same experience. :( Like ya said, they bought the inventory for pennies on the dollar and could have done the right thing by telling everyone the condition of each piece they were selling and still made BIG bucks.

I have also purchased DCC titles from them that were sold as "new" but were actually rewrapped. :(

-Jeffrey