Analogue Productions Defective Tape - Terrible Return Policy

[Zeotrope]

I have a brand new album on tape from AP, Beethoven Sonata in G Major. It's a beautiful recording made by David Wilson of Wilson Audio. I bought the album on vinyl about a year ago and just added the reel tape.
Unfortunately, Tape B was recorded with the L-R channels reversed and probably out of phase! It's obvious, because I can compare with both the vinyl and Reel A, and the liner notes are very clear where the instruments are positioned.
Nothing is perfect and companies make mistakes, so this is not a problem. What IS a problem is that AP is refusing to pay for return shipping. Can you believe it! You charge $500 for an album and make the customer pay for a defect. Unbelievable!

I am waiting to hear back from Chad but it they don't reverse this unacceptable policy, it will be the last AP album I buy.

 

[Zeotrope]

Review: https://www.stereophile.com/content/recording-february-1984-beethovenenescu-violin-sonatas

 

[Bruce B]

When I did the tape transfer it was perfect.... someone screwed up!! Hopefully you can get it sorted out.

 

[Zeotrope]

I’m sure it was. I guess it was mixed up when the tape was copied.
I’m not going to pay to ship it back though. I’m actually surprised they are arguing with me over the cost to ship it back from Canada…

 

[astrotoy]

I'll take a listen to my copy of the tapes. I bought it when the tapes first came out seven years ago, so your copy was most probably dubbed more recently. Larry

 

[astrotoy]

I just listened to my tapes of the Beethoven/Enescu - both have the violin on right (from listener perspective) and the piano in the center left. My tapes were purchased in 2017, when the first set of ten albums were released.

You might have some luck with Brian Roth (brian2@brianroth.com) who is responsible for the ATR-102's at Acoustic Sounds.

Larry

 

[Zeotrope]

Thanks Larry. Note that the violin should be on the left of center. This is detailed in the notes on the back cover of the album:

The listening notes states that the violin should originate just to the right of the inside edge of the left speaker.

My A reel is like this, but the B is flipped, with the violin on the right.
I have the vinyl album and both sides have the violin on the left.

 

[A-Line]

I've purchased some really hard to find classical LP's from Acoustic Sounds and have been very pleased with their service and the quality of the LP's considering that they were used but extremely well cared for. I have never purchased a pre-recorded analog tape from anyone.
I've not purchased from them since 2010.

I hope that you get your issues sorted out with them.