Peter_F Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I thought I'd post this about a techies experience with a Redgum amp... http://liquidaudio.com.au/redgum-australian-quality-you-decide/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest yamaha_man Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Not good, not good at all. I believe an explanation is needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vinilink Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Interesting read, and wonder Redgum will ever response to the article. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vwo60 Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Just another manufacturer increasing there bottom line. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 (edited) Happy Anzac day. The post heading seems to say most here inferring Redgum amps are Chinese made? Considering these Redgum amps can be almost 15 years old, the so called techie seemed not to even ask the customer of its age. Is this representative of current production? If all the parts are as bad as the tech says, Redgum reliability would be poor or is he just complaining they are cheap? Do Redgum amps have a history of reliability issues? I have not heard of any but that does not mean much. Redgum give a 7 year warranty which seems excellent. How does it sound? How does it sound compared to similar priced units? Edited April 24, 2014 by turntable 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cafad Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Not good news at all. And yet, Redgum offer a 7 year warranty, one of the longest warranties around. How can they make that work if the parts are cheap-and-nasties? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luc Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Interesting read, and wonder Redgum will ever response to the article. I somehow doubt Linda from Redgum would reply as Redgum per se are hard to contact. But maybe someone could email the link to her and see if she's forth coming. I knew the SonofaGum was a Chinese built amp and they readily admit it but not the other amps in their range. @Cafad: Jeff you still got thos 175 monos? If you have why don't you lift the lid and take some pics of what you find? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
firefly0071 Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Redgum uses some Chinese parts. I am sure the current Holden Commodore has at least one chinese part. It does not mean redgum amplifiers are Chinese made. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keith Anderson Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 They don't hide the fact that the Sonofa'GUM is made in china, it's also discontinued. Now I'm not a expert in any degree of stuff thats in amps, but this is a image from the inside of one I found on a google search. is it exactly the same or is it possible the one in the article could be a fake to start with? Just a question as I have no idea, but the website definitely says these are made in australia Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 They don't hide the fact that the Sonofa'GUM is made in china, it's also discontinued. Now I'm not a expert in any degree of stuff thats in amps, but this is a image from the inside of one I found on a google search. is it exactly the same or is it possible the one in the article could be a fake to start with? Just a question as I have no idea, but the website definitely says these are made in australia 1.jpg https://www.accc.gov.au/system/files/Country%20of%20origin%20claims.pdf country of origin claims do have requirements as per trade practices law, The general country of origin test General country of origin claims may include statements like: Made in Australia; Australian Made or Manufactured/Assembled/Built in Australia. To qualify for this defence the goods must have been substantially transformed in the country of origin being claimed; and 50 per cent or more of the costs to produce or manufacture the goods must have occurred in that country. What does substantial transformation mean? The provisions define substantial transformation as: A fundamental change ... in form, appearance or nature such that the goods existing after the change are new and different goods from those existing before the change. This means that simple treatments or processing such as repackaging or mere assembly are not likely to qualify an otherwise imported good for the ‘Made in Country of origin’ claim. be aware "made in australia" isnt as stringent as "product of australia" for instance am sure redgum have done their due dilligence to appropriately label to comply with australian laws... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_F Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 The post heading seems to say most here inferring Redgum amps are Chinese made? I didn't infer anything with the heading, I have no interest in this company's products at any level. I merely posted the article out interest, make of it as you chose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) Considering this photo is not the amp in question, I am not sure about your motives, especially coming from a mod. The amp in question clearly says made in Australia in Redgum website http://redgumaudio.com/CurrentPromotion/etm/rgi120.html To me seems to be very in Australian on Anzac day Edited April 25, 2014 by turntable 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
metal beat Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I didn't infer anything with the heading, I have no interest in this company's products at any level. I merely posted the article out interest, make of it as you chose. You clearly have zero interest in Redgum with Chinese as the first word of your post of an Australian company. :mad: I also have zero interest, however I would not post an intentially provocative heading., but that is just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
betty boop Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Considering this photo is not the amp in question, I am not sure about your motives, especially coming from a mod. The amp in question clearly says made in Australia in Redgum website http://redgumaudio.com/CurrentPromotion/etm/rgi120.html To me seems to be very in Australian on Anzac day perhaps consider that I posted the picture only to indicate that redgum have had amps made in china before but then clearly label as such. I also went to some length to post the requirements of what "made in australia" consitutes and even went as far as suggesting redgum know what theyre doing "be aware "made in australia" isnt as stringent as "product of australia" for instance am sure redgum have done their due dilligence to appropriately label to comply with australian laws..." so maybe we can get back to discussing the issue rather than jumping to conclusions on peoples motives and play the ball rather than the man ... 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter_F Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) You clearly have zero interest in Redgum with Chinese as the first word of your post of an Australian company. :mad: I also have zero interest, however I would not post an intentially provocative heading., but that is just me. I really think you need to back off mate. You are very intense and just plain out of order. I have no idea why you feel the need to come out and have a crack FFS. Please do not communicate with me at any level again on this forum. I have no interest you in any level either, but that's just me. Edited April 25, 2014 by flemo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Once was an audiophile Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I thought I'd post this about a techies experience with a Redgum amp... http://liquidaudio.com.au/redgum-australian-quality-you-decide/ His from Perth does anybody know him? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aertex Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) Havent you bumped into Pete (Flemo) in Perth audio travels Mario? He is a real good genuine audio enthusiast. Quite well known amongst the WA mob too-no issues there. Check out his posts There is nothing in the least untoward about this post as I see it either. A question is asked and facts are presented. What, so the facts dont suit someones aspirations? The facts are the facts as far as this particular amp is concerned and that is it. Its not complicated really Alan Edited April 25, 2014 by aertex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemnoc Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 (edited) I dunno. It's not as bad as that guy makes it out to be. The fuel hose linkage is a neat idea Most Japanese amps use some sort of mechanical linkage but the main point is that he keeps the volume control and input switching right where the low level processing is done. If those transistors were fakes they would blow up very quickly and would have a definite reliability issue so this critique is a storm in a tea cup. And aren't ME amps built like this with no solder mask and no silk screening on the pcbs ? Audio Research do this as well. Never understood that myself. Maybe someone else knows the reason ? And the last time I saw a two knob volume control was on a Trevor Lees preamp. It is one of those high end hangovers from the 70's when it was probably hard to source accurate ganged volume controls. The only criticism is that I can't see any relay protection so if one of the output devices shorts out then the speaker will be toasted Also a 7 year warranty makes up for any other issues regards Edited April 25, 2014 by lemnoc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cafad Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I somehow doubt Linda from Redgum would reply as Redgum per se are hard to contact. But maybe someone could email the link to her and see if she's forth coming. I knew the SonofaGum was a Chinese built amp and they readily admit it but not the other amps in their range. @Cafad: Jeff you still got thos 175 monos? If you have why don't you lift the lid and take some pics of what you find? Would you believe I sent them off to Victoria yesterday? I've still got a few pics somewhere though, I'll see what I can find. These are pics of one of the RGM175 Monoblocks (circa 2005 model I think), definitely Exicon transistors but a completely different design to the RGi120 mentioned in the article. No real caps to speak of... I had a brief look under the hood of a SunofaGum a while back and it used the toshiba SA1943/5200's. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lemnoc Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 These Exicon devices are MOSFETS not bipolar junction transistors. regards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CryptiK Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 So that amp pictured in the article appears to be at best assembled in Australia from cheap Chinese parts. Pretty disappointing. Would like to hear what redgum have to say and also see pics of recently made amps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PorkBun69s Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Wow..what a read...speechless.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindy-at-REDGUM Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 Hi Guys, Thanks for the call to arms, but in this day and age, methinks a Masterchef approach better explains how REDGUM makes decisions about its designs and thus the components used. Shall we say ... the proof is in the pudding. The pivotal notion in that piece is "what determines quality?". But how to explain the effect of the word "determines"? Back to Masterchef for inspiration ... A Croquembouche is made of flour and water. But so is bread. (And with no need for military-grade flour. ) Such ordinary ingredients would not excite anyone to presume such a delightful dessert as a Croquembouche could be achievable. A link to a fuller reply will appear, but as REDGUM's designer is currently in ShenZhen, teaching the Chinese to make real REDGUMs (as a replacement of our Sonofa'GUM range), his texted reply is ... REDGUM has NEVER claimed to use 'trendy' branded components - this only adds expense, without results.As a engineering rule we have always used the cheapest components best suited for the required task.Even our original brochures show close up pictures of the internals, and those non-expensive brands are readily discernible.Yes, we offer 7 year warranty (which is very seldom needed) and almost 100% of our amplifiers are still working up to 20 years later. They are simply laid out and so, easy to repair.They are quiet, dynamic and involving.The proof is in the pudding! In fact, very soon you all can be the judge of a new version of our quality. "Stay Tuned ..." for REDGUM's big Birthday! Cheers, Lindy Gerber Promotions Manager REDGUM Audio P/L 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zaphod Beeblebrox Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 If those transistors were fakes they would blow up very quickly and would have a definite reliability issue so this critique is a storm in a tea cup. Quite so. IME, Redgum amps are quite reliable. And aren't ME amps built like this with no solder mask and no silk screening on the pcbs ? Depends. The later models (ME200, ME240, ME550-II, ME555) all have solder masking and silk screen printing for component designation. Also, later model preamps also incorporated solder masking and silk screen printing for the power supply PCBs. Not that such things make any difference to sound quality, nor measured performance though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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