Martin-Kleiser ?

Posted by: davidsee on 07 April 2009

Bit of a shock this evening to read that:
"We have taken over the Martin-Kleiser showroom in the beautiful town of Beaconsfield. We have purchased the stock and are ....".
Gulp.
Posted on: 07 April 2009 by u14378503097469928
They closed in Chiswick a few weeks ago- hardly anyone ever went in there.
Posted on: 07 April 2009 by SC
Yeah, saw that the other day...Wasn't a dealer I knew of, though looking up the name on the net, brought up some quite shocking customer feedback...!
Posted on: 08 April 2009 by roo
CEDIA news reported "Martin Kleiser Ltd ceased trading on Friday 20th February 2009 following the termination of Steve Martin’s business relationship with fellow Director and co-owner Tony Kleiser. Steve has set up a new custom installation business which will operate from an office in Beaconsfield, Bucks."

Who bought the stock?
Posted on: 08 April 2009 by u14378503097469928
In all honesty,the few experiences I had of dealing with them in Chiswick were not favourable, and nor were those of a couple of non Naimee friends of mine locally.

I'm sorry for the people who may have lost their jobs though.
Posted on: 08 April 2009 by MerryDance
Disturbing. Didn't they used to be one of the few Linn Elite retailers?
Posted on: 08 April 2009 by u14378503097469928
quote:
Originally posted by MerryDance:
Disturbing. Didn't they used to be one of the few Linn Elite retailers?


I think they were, but in my experience I found them unhelpful and lacking in knowledge about their products. Just my experience based on several visits.
Posted on: 08 April 2009 by joe90
One of the 'reviews'

quote:
Just checked in to try to audition some mid-range speaker systems (£1k mark) - I've never heard such ill-informed gibberish in my life as spouted by the sales guy. In too much shock to recall any precise details - highlights included recommending 5 identical B&W M1's 'for a 5.1 system', and explaining that a subwoofer would be a waste of time - and going off on a rant about how 'all music is the same', when I suggested that some systems might reproduce a 3-voice jazz recording differently to an opera.

Absolutely unbelievable. Run a mile.


Well, I suppose an expert in spouting ill-informed gibberish should recognise it when they (supposedly) hear it.

How exactly do speakers change their voicing from one musical genre to the next???????????????????

HOW? HOW? HOW? Are they magic? Do they have a special '3-voice jazz vs opera' detector built in that I fail to miss every time I look inside speakers?

Why can't my speakers do that?

Why would IDENTICAL speakers be a 'waste of time' in a 5.1 system? Identical voicing, if possible in the space is a really really good idea...

Perhaps a subwoofer WOULD be a waste of time, but it depends very much on the context of the system. Note none was given.

With 'customers' like that, who needs competition??
Posted on: 08 April 2009 by roo
quote:
I suggested that some systems might reproduce a 3-voice jazz recording differently to an opera


Andrew may have just been trying to make a comment that some types of music may make a bigger demand on a system (lower bass notes, etc) and hence show up weaknesses.

My first experience with MK wasn't great either. I bought an ex-demo CD5i and Nait 5i. They supplied a really old manual and a Narcom 3 remote that contained old batteries that had leaked and corroded the contacts. The sales guy who handed the kit over made a point about mentioning the power chords that Naim had chosen specially to go with their kit but I then found out they had just included two identical power cords they'd found lying around. They weren't Naim ones unless Naim once shipped moulded plugs with red dots on them.
Posted on: 08 April 2009 by davidsee
I never visited the Chiswick shop but I have to say my experience of Beaconsfield, and Colin Macey's evident love of what he does, is completely positive. I wish him continued success.
Posted on: 09 April 2009 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
What David said.

I've known and dealt with Colin for some 25 years; he really knows his stuff and is a fountain of knowledge, particularly for things Linn.

AIUI it was because of him MK had Linn Elite status.

M
Posted on: 10 April 2009 by Voltaire
quote:
Originally posted by andrewchiswick:
They closed in Chiswick a few weeks ago- hardly anyone ever went in there.


Wow, I used to live right behind the Chiswick branch and whenever I passed it was empty.
Posted on: 12 April 2009 by bon
Never visited the Chiswick shop but Colin at Beaconsfield has always seen me right.

I wish him all the best with new venture whatyouseeandhear.
Posted on: 15 April 2009 by bad boy dan
quote:
Originally posted by joe90:
One of the 'reviews'

quote:
Just checked in to try to audition some mid-range speaker systems (£1k mark) - I've never heard such ill-informed gibberish in my life as spouted by the sales guy. In too much shock to recall any precise details - highlights included recommending 5 identical B&W M1's 'for a 5.1 system', and explaining that a subwoofer would be a waste of time - and going off on a rant about how 'all music is the same', when I suggested that some systems might reproduce a 3-voice jazz recording differently to an opera.

Absolutely unbelievable. Run a mile.


Well, I suppose an expert in spouting ill-informed gibberish should recognise it when they (supposedly) hear it.

How exactly do speakers change their voicing from one musical genre to the next???????????????????

HOW? HOW? HOW? Are they magic? Do they have a special '3-voice jazz vs opera' detector built in that I fail to miss every time I look inside speakers?

Why can't my speakers do that?

Why would IDENTICAL speakers be a 'waste of time' in a 5.1 system? Identical voicing, if possible in the space is a really really good idea...

Perhaps a subwoofer WOULD be a waste of time, but it depends very much on the context of the system. Note none was given.

With 'customers' like that, who needs
competition??


You really are a fountain of knowledge aint ya,its been months since i logged in here and your still at it,you really have no idea what you are talking about.
Posted on: 19 April 2009 by Sicey
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Lacey:
What David said.

I've known and dealt with Colin for some 25 years; he really knows his stuff and is a fountain of knowledge, particularly for things Linn.

AIUI it was because of him MK had Linn Elite status.

M


I only ever dealt with Colin, I bought my first kit from him at their Uxbridge store over a decade ago. He was very passionate about what he does and I even have a few extra albums in my collection due to him giving me the odd demo on kit that was well out of my price range at the time.
The last time I saw Colin was at their Beaconsfield store when I bought my CDX2. I would not hesitate in reccomending Colin to anybody looking for a dealer to purchase kit from.
I hope he has success in his new venture, I might even look him up if its not far away Winker

John
Posted on: 21 April 2009 by bon
quote:
Originally posted by Sicey:
I hope he has success in his new venture, I might even look him up if its not far away Winker

John


Colin and cohorts will remain at London End so not moving at the moment.
Posted on: 21 April 2009 by Andrew Randle
quote:
Originally posted by bad boy dan:

You really are a fountain of knowledge aint ya,its been months since i logged in here and your still at it,you really have no idea what you are talking about.


Joe90 is correct though. HiFi does not have the artificial intelligence to identify whether the music is Jazz/Classical/Rock and prejudice the result.

Andrew Randle
Posted on: 24 May 2009 by Simply Grim
The new venture is called What You See and Hear, Steve Martin and Colin are two of the main people behind it.

I agree with Mr Lacey ...... Colin is a whizz with the lp12