From Bob Williams (about the jack quality of AS modules)
2005-01-07 by sweathog2121
Maybe this will end doubt about 1/8 (3.5mm) jacks in general. The following is a
response to an Email I sent to AS (which is at the bottom of the page). I might also add
that Bob responded very quickly (only took about 1 hour to get a response I believe):
Hello Beau
First of all thank you for considering us as an option for
your first modular purchase.
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 5.5
version of the CL13844 5.0 that Dieter used in his system.If our patch cord
were used there was minimum problems but some users were buying in or 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 issues
with.
I contacted the socket manufacturer Cliff and informed them that we were
experiencing a small but nevertheless, important to our users, contact
problem.
Cliff sent their senior engineer down to our workshop and he identified the
problem from their manufacturing side and came up with a new socket 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 aware
of.
There is a British band which you may or may not know about called 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 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 believe
your own U.S.A band Nine Inch Nails are about to tour with our gear 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 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 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 London
based producers, on how quiet are systems are, quietness is also mentioned
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 default
ours.
I do not think Dieter would ever condone such negative posts on his Yahoo
Group just as we would not.
I have seen and played for a very short time a large Synthesizer.com system
in Belgium last month and I was very impressed.I think which ever one you
choose you will not be disappointed.
You may post this response if you wish which hopefully will allay the 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 overview
on all modulars as he has vintage and modern and has sold very good amounts
of our systems and modules to satisfied U.S customers.
The only time you usually find any bad press for most manufacturers is when
modules are swapped around without any thought to power supply issues and
any modifications.
We have a system here which has been stock from day one and it has never
failed and it a very big!!
Best Wishes
Bob Williams
> To whom it may concern:
> I am in the ever-so painful time of researching which modular synthesizer
(my first analog synthesizer) I would like to "invest" in. One of the
primary qualities that the synthesizer I choose must have is long-term
durability. All over your site I have come across the phrase "high quality"
several times, which makes me feel comfortable about buying your products.
However, I was reading through the "FAQ" section of another synthesizer
manufaturer's site (synthesizers.com) and came across the following forum
posting:
>
> http://synthesizers.com/doepfervsdotcom.txt
>
> The problem that I have is that the writer describes Doepfer's jacks as
less than adequate in terms of long term durability (their use of jacks
soldered directly to the PC boards as opposed to wired to the PC Board).
When I read it initially, it didn't affect my opinion about Analogue
System's jacks, because I was not aware of what type of jacks AS uses.
However, I was able to check out the back-side of an RS 95 module and found
that the jacks AS uses are soldered directly to the PC Board like Doepfer
does. I have also read about low level noise issues with AS equipment.
>
> Anyways, I just wanted to see if you had any information on the long-term
durability of your jacks. It may seem like I'm nitpicking, (and I'm sorry
for that) but modular analog equipment (especially from England with the
weakening dollar) is quite expensive. I am basically torn between
Synthesizers.com's modulars and AS's (main differences being price and
jacks). For me, the price of AS's equipment is more here in America so I'd
like to be comfortable with paying for a product with in some cases more
options and hopefully with a higher quality standard. I know this email
has been fairly long and I appreciate your time. Any information would be
greatly appreciated.Show quoted textHide quoted text
> > Beau >