When Audio Reviews Face Legal Threats: dCS vs. GoldenOne

https://dcs.community/t/a-response-to-recent-claims-regarding-dcs/6722


What a shitty response:

"We didn't threat", by the same company that used a laywer to write:

"All such actions has to be taken within 10 days of this email. If * fails to comply with this demand, dCS will be forced to exercise its remedies to protect its interests, including the recovery of actual and special damages and punitive damages."

 

While David Steven's response is expansive and uses professional language, the account still makes it sound like dCS felt they could go after GS because of the WANDLA. So instead of merely seeming petty they look anti-competitive.

At least they fully acknowledge their VP of Marketing was out of line.

Edit: Headphones.com denies the supposed meeting and any apology occurred.

 

I phased out what turned out to be only about 1/3rd of the way through it. What a convoluted piece of nonsense. Wait, did they say "clarify?:

 

So there is the response - an attempt to salvage reputation damage. Not the worst attempt but doesn't strike me as entirely forthcoming either.

Some BS and then some weak arguments like “it was set up without dCS assistance” - like that’ll change matters. Also, they craftily skim over the technical points in the legal letter like DSD noise profile & upsampling. Diversion tactics.

On the other hand, they seem to stress that a lot of attempts were made to get in touch, over an extended period of time, which were not taken up. If true, that would earn dCS some credits in my book.

 

The whole thing feels like small town bullshit.

 

According to headphones.com those meetings never occurred and no apologies ever came that way.

Headphones.com just posted this:

https://forum.headphones.com/t/dcs-response-and-story/23779

 

GoldenSound is a reviewer for headphones.com

 

I see dCS as being in the wrong in how they handled this but I think a countersuit lowers us to their level. You're firing a flare saying manufacturers should be careful engaging with reviewers they have disagreements with, which is damaging to healthy discourse.

None of it is good for an environment of open communication, anymore than a reviewer worrying they will be sued for what they wrote because the manufacturer is displeased.

 

If it actually comes to where GS has to spend real $ on lawyers please do so, I'm sure many of us would chip in

 

What utter bullshit this is.

Thank god I'm living in a country that doesn't recognize defamation against companies.

Therefore I'm able to make the following statements:
1. An unattended dCS Bartok might molest little children. Don't let children younger than 14 years of age operate the device.
2. Listening to any dCS audio device increases your change to get an ass cancer by 500%
3. Long-term exposure to dCS marketing strategies and internal communication can cause severe erectily dysfunction - which I reckon is the root of all the problems here.

If somebody wants to sue me, PM me for my contact details. I'll promise I'll wipe my ass with every single lawsuit.

 

He now publishes under the auspices of headphones.com. Though not at the time of the Bartok review at issue. I was impressed by them choosing to back Cameron given the latter fact, and especially the fact that they also sold dcs gear.

 

I really respect the volume and depth of Golden/Cameron's work (while also thinking that maaaaybe they're a bit quick to jump the gun on certain correlant factors being the answer to weird questions e.g. the DAC filters thing)— no one ought be threatened with legal action for sharing their findings on presumably actually bad things.

Mainly I agree with Vtory that, should it be feasible, some of the SBAF wizards ought try and independently derive measurements and subjective impressions of the Bartok being scrutinised. Not necessarily the same unit, but one of similar configuration (definitely ignore my opinion if it'll be at too great an expense to the forum though).

Wouldn't be the first time. Ken Ball of CFA complained about a negative review published on headphones.com that one of their models received. HP distributed Campfire products at the time an immediately put all models on clearance sale with a disclaimer about the complaint top and center on the sale page.

 

Get yours now, half price!! Be in quick before the lawsuit kills the reviews!!

https://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/650062925-dcs-bartok-with-headphone-amp/

(Figured this fit better here than in the Used Deals thread )

 

You guys laugh but the bad review from four years ago impacted their revenues so much that they can't afford an intern or a Chat GPT license to write a better explanation.