"the upgrade company" <component mods> - Page 67  

Hi mclsound - Again, you're speaking about what he "should" do vs. what he is doing.


Hi Johnla - can you please give me an example or two? Thanks. BTW, asking folks to send him an email is not making excuses for him. It's trying to get something done, rather than spinning our wheels and not getting anywhere.


Hi ronesp - you are correct, with regards to the subject you mentioned. My most recent replies here have been primarily for BWG707, who was trying to ask a question via a PM, which to me was wasted effort.


Hi B&W700guy - I am Dave. But, I'm not Dave Schulte. I live in Laveen, AZ (Phoenix area).

Thank you. I totally agree.
Also Thezaks could you explain the reasoning behind DS not responding to "selective" posts and PMs instead wanting to be emailed or called on the phone. He will and does respond to some posts why is he being so selective? Why will he answer some questions here and others he must have by email? Obviously he's hiding things and buying time. If you can not honestly recognize this you either have not read this thread throughly or you have blinders on.

or has ties with TUC.

Hi BWG707,

I appreciate the questions. You are absolutely correct that he responds selectively and wants to be emailed. Those are facts. In answer to your questions, I have no idea why and I have no explanation. I am not defending it. I am merely saying that what you mentioned are indeed the facts.

So, knowing that these are the facts, why would I waste my time asking questions in a PM or a post? If I'm you, I send the email. Why is that so difficult? And, once you send the email, you've asked your question the way he requested, so if he doesn't provide an answer, then you have the opportunity to report that here. At that point, you've eliminated my posts about sending an email, and you've given yourself the opportunity to truly prove your point about his responses or lack of responses.

I admit, I've had a great experience with Dave - he's answered all of my questions, he's been extremely generous with his concerns and his time, and I feel like I've received an improved product. If someone asks me, I'll say that I've had a great experience, and I'd do it again. I'd also say that YMMV, but you do have the 7 day return to help eliminate risk.

Having said that, if I was truly defending David, as you guys have suggested, then wouldn't it be in my best interest to not say anything about sending an email? When I tell you to send the email, it's almost like I'm asking you to call his bluff. Why doesn't anyone get that?

If you want my opinion, I personally would not want to answer questions from some of you, based upon what I've seen in this thread. You guys speak of snake oil, but you've actually created somewhat of a snake pit. In that sense, I would not blame Dave if he didn't step in. So, I'm not defending Dave's personal comments, but I suppose I am defending "some" of his non-responses. Still, Dave mentioned here that he's going to take measurements of a stock and upgraded Oppo, so I would hope that he delivers on that. I'm not defending him if he does not provide the measurements. I would, however, give him the consideration of a bit more time to provide the data.

Dave

^^^ You like to work with fact, great. Except when it comes to judging TUC / Dave Schulte / rno63. Why the inconsistency? vvv

Could you ask DS for us exactly WHAT tests he will be running AND exactly what test equipment he will be using?

I will not list what equipment would be appropriate as I do not want to give him any clues as to what answers i am looking for.

Also please ask him if he has heard of and understands the concept of cut and paste, attachments, or drag and drop. These would be a great help in getting out the details of what he claims he does to stock equipment.

I already posted what I believe he MAY do to any piece of gear in order to convince the inexperienced that they have received an "upgraded" device.

Finally since you and he seem to have a working relationship of some sort, please ask him for a part number and his choice for a sub as he won't respond directly to me.

We keep trying to give this guy an opportunity to regain some semblance of respect but he is not helping in the least. Each post on his behalf or lack thereof directly from him only digs the hole deeper.

Example or two, that's a laugh, there are way more than just a few! And yes, your constantly doing doing this BS of telling people to email/call him, it is really nothing more than you trying to make excuses for him.

Hi Johnla,

Did you read my last post (#1984)? Put emotion aside, and please look at it logically. I suspected that you might not give any examples...

Dave

No - I'm not a middle man. If you'd like to find out something, call Dave or send an email yourself. If you become a little more civil and sincere about it, you just might get some answers.

Dave

Yes I read post 1984, it's another post by you trying to make a excuse for him, and pretty much just more of the same old BS...


There are plenty of examples. You want examples, just look back at about 90% of your posts here, and that's wayyyyyy too many to link to!

Let's see, I have offered him a free printer with ink cartridges, I have offered to publish unedited data he provides to justify his explanation of replacing sub standard parts, I have offered to apologize for ever doubting him IF he provided any proof of his efforts based on actual science. I have offered to do all the research and legwork to obtain the data/specs on any part he listed.

I am waiting for one single direct response from DS (et al) that refers specifically to a given question from ANYONE, not just me.

I think it safe to assume that most everyone here agrees that TUC is a fraud and DS has no demonstrated technical experience except for creating some pseudo impressive sounding, albeit thoroughly unverified claims.

Factor in the blatant falsehoods on his site about factory authorized service and warranty etc and all you have is smoke and mirrors.

Personally I am still waiting to anyone claiming to need a system upgraded by ANY company (not just TUC) exactly what was wrong in technical terms. Something along the lines of the noise floor was 20db higher prior to upgrading and was measured using........, or the FR was not flat from 20-20k or there was a non linear output level that was frequency dependent etc, etc., or there was a low level clock signal in quiet passages.

Anyone?

Hi Gizmologist,

You are right and I was wrong - as of late, you have been more civil. My apologies.

Dave

Hi Johnla,

I asked for one or two examples, not all of them. Again, as I suspected, you have not listed anything specific. Please explain why post #1984 is an excuse for Dave.

Thanks, Dave

thezaks, aka Dave, did you receive a truly improved product from TUC?

First off Dave,I am glad you """FEEL""" like you got improvements,and secondly he SHOULD FEEL like a person who starts something and does not finish it without people to defend him.
Dave ,go to Audio Circle and under manufactures circle Nagies Audio claims to have the best cables"IN THE WORLD"...for a couple of hundred bucks.As you well know people are asking for facts,testing equipment,etc...trying to prove him wrong!...and he answers the questions with fact and a matter a fact,he is having a cable tour and I am one on the tour,so he better be right.
The point is he is proving with facts and he has """NOBODY""" answering for him.Nor do you have to buy his product to """FEEL""" like it is improved.
Also,I believe the warranty thing and changing his website about tells you it all,......FALSE ADVERTISING IS ILLEGAL..what are your thoughts on false advertising Dave.I want to hear your defense,I am sure it will be rational.

Hi mclsound,

In answer to your question, I don't agree with false advertising.

Yes, I am not in the measurement camp, I'm in the subjective camp, so I do use words like "feel". Measurements and proposed facts don't convince me to buy a piece of audio equipment - I'm more convinced by how it sounds. This is my preference, which has to do entirely with me, and has nothing to do with TUC.

Dave

Hi geekhd,

From my perspective, yes, I received a truly improved product from TUC. I compared the audio and video (component DVD) both before and after the upgrade, with my Arcam DV27A. The upgraded Pioneer did not surpass the Arcam in the first month I had it. I sent it back. In the end, I have an upgraded Pioneer that does surpass my Arcam for both audio and video. My verification is subjective viewing and listening.

There are several folks in this thread who prefer measurements and/or DBT for evaluating these things, so they doubt my subjective findings. Because of that, I've offered my Pioneer for measurements and/or DBT to anyone in the Phoenix, AZ area who would like to do that.

Dave

From the Zaks: "From my perspective, yes, I received a truly improved product from TUC. I compared the audio and video (component DVD) both before and after the upgrade, with my Arcam DV27A."

Question: Can you elaborate on exactly what "improvement" you sensed? Can you understand that the vast majority of the "measurement" crowd here would suggest that unless you did an instantaneous A/B comparison that there is no reliable scientific way to prove a performance of a "modded" unit over a stock unit and the the placebo effect is indeed in effect here?

Secondly, everyone in the measurement crowd will attest that IF something was done that did alter the electrical performance such that the differences /improvements were trackable, repeatable and quantifiable, you would perceive some sort of audible difference.

Where we part ways is that if no actual specification altering changes were made to the electronics then an audible change is impossible, given that the mechanics are untouched.

Supposedly changing parts out for others that perform the same task will not elicit such changes. One of the subs that DS claimed he made was upgrading the voltage regulators. This is where a major red flag went up. I use voltage regulators of all types in my designs. These are all factory identical as to type and function between all the manufacturers worldwide.

A 5 volt 1A TO-220 regulator from company A will provide just that 5 volts @1a just like the part from company B.There is no frequency range to deal with as you are dealing with DC. All the regulator ICs are overload protected and must operate within the same temperature range, and DC input voltage range under a given part number.

In order for a manufacturer to claim a certain spec, he must use reliable parts with a known breakdown voltage etc. This is why I call DS's claims into serious question. I actually build devices using these parts and use them for repairs etc.

The tolerances between manufacturers of a given part are extremely tight and as such, would not allow for the CIRCUITS to stay the same in a given piece of equipment but changing out the parts and by doing that alone, improving the sound/video.

That is NOT how designs are made or improved.

One reason that I do not want to email DS is simply because I do not want him to have my email address. I have seen some of the insulting and pressure sales tactics he uses when he emails people. Especially if he knows this person to be less than suppotive of his company. He (DS) was the one who made to outrageous claims here on this forum, he should follow up with his evidence here also. Again all I can think of is that he is hiding something or not being truthful so I would BEWARE.

lol...yup

Hi Gizmologist,

I understand your points and how they are very important for you and others. For me, the important thing is simply the sound. I absolutely understand the doubts, but I do not think the placebo effect applies to me. If it did, I would not have sent the unit back and I would have thought it better than my Arcam the first time I had it.

Let's be honest, my thoughts on the improvements will not be very well received by the measurement crowd. I understand, since none of my comments have to do with measurements. Having said that, here's what I noticed:

1) For component video, prior to the upgrade, the Pioneer did not have the blacks or color saturation of the Arcam. After the upgrade, it matched the blacks and color saturation of the Arcam and was also much clearer than the Arcam. A definite improvement.
2) For audio, the Pioneer was OK before the upgrade, but it did not have the refinement, low level detail, dynamics, or the overall smoothness of the Arcam. Following the upgrade, the Pioneer had much improved refinement, overall detail, dynamics and smoothness. Overall, it surpassed the Arcam in almost every category. I think the Arcam might still have a little edge in the area of dynamics, but the Pioneer did quite a bit of catching up.

Dave

Just curious, did you use any type of calibration video (Avia,etc.) to measure the blacks and color saturation? Or are you just going on what you believe you noticed?

Hi BWG707,

Good question. I'm just going on what I believe I noticed. I understand that won't fly for many folks here. Initially, the upgraded unit still did not compare. It was only after Dave fixed a problem with the upgrade that it finally compared and somewhat surpassed the Arcam.


Dave

Are you aware that there are color saturation adjustments on every piece of video gear and that there are industry standards that are used to align and measure the color intensity etc.

In analog video color signals, we use a vectorscope which has a graticule clearly marked with small targets for each color. The various drives, color saturation, hue, and discriminator adjustments are set to position the traces snugly inside the marks. There are various industry standards that are required to be met for broadcast use. These are the adjustments that can be tweaked PAST what is industry standard to give the impression of blacker blacks etc.

In the old days to properly align the 3 colors as to hue, you would use an NTSC color bar pattern and turn off the red and green guns so blue was the only color. When looking at the alternating blue /black bars, you simply adjusted the drives until the blues were all the same intensity. Turn on the R/G guns and voila the picture colors were correct.

In other words nominal adjustments can be made to any set WITHOUT physically replacing parts to make you think you have a different image or sound.

Also you need to remember that your biological systems adjust throughout the day as well so your sensory perceptions vary through the day. This may well account for your recalled differences in performance.

Question: Have you opened up the TUC modded unit? If so, your warranty is void anyway. I would be curious to know if you would consider sending the unit to me for a close inspection without any interference from me as to whatever DS is supposed to have done inside. I want to look closely at the board and the parts. I can easily tell if the board has been reworked to replace any parts and what was replaced(if any).

That way you can at least have some more assurance that DS really did do something electronic and not just slap on some blue paint and tin foil.

Dave
you really are a waste of my time,annoying and I am pretty sure that there is not one person reading this that does not want to give the trust to you either.
As possibly polite as you may think you are .....you are defending a liar,false advertiser and most of all,someone who does not stop taking and I believe you really are no different,as good of a experience as you had,you still believe you are right?I also think you are trying to stop this thread by covering for someone who calls people liars,yet does it himself in advertising.How can you believe a word he says on that site when he keeps lying on it.You may want to stop your covering up.

From your perspective? That's another way of saying you "feel like", in which case you've just repeated the statement that my question was directed towards. So you are making a judgment based on your imagination.
All that mention of facts in your earlier reply, I was expecting something different.

I'd even pay the shipping

I have just been alerted to the wild posts claiming lies and false advertising.
This thread has gone way over the top.

Our tripling of sales and increased success has obviously upset those of you who are suffering be it competitors, manufacturer's, or salespeople. More and more audiophiles today are discovering for themselves the tremendous value The Upgrade Company provides. Higher performance for far less investment, by upgrading or purchasing new upgraded models we offer. More and more customers would rather upgrade or purchase a new upgraded model from us rather then fork over huge sums of money for the latest magazine touted model, which nearly always ends up disappointing, being barely any better, if at all, over their existing model. Stock high end audio electronics are easily surpassed by upgraded far lower priced models.
100% Buy-Back guaranteed.

Nothing that I have ever posted is untrue, nor is anything on our website untrue. We do not "false advertise". Our continued client testimonials and direct customer feedback speak otherwise. Remember we are A+ BBB certified, which is not an easy rating to earn. Further, we can back up every statement on our website with proof and witness testimony should we ever choose to or have to.

The same cannot be said of all the outright lies and false allegations constantly published here by numerous AVS Monikers.

Trying to ruin The Upgrade Company with lies and publishing false allegations is not going to stop our services from being sought after. It appears to be having the reverse effect. Sales have gone way up.

Inquirers and clients alike have called to say they see right through this AVS smear campaign.

Those of you who go on and on posting lies and garbage for months on end to stir up trouble where none exists, what else could possibly motivate you? Clearly you have an ax to grind and are mad as hell at TUC's success. Posting all sorts of baseless allegations, is not the right thing to do. Concocting stories of shoddy work and false advertising, have turned out to be nothing more then trying to stir up trouble. No matter how far we bend over backwards, you cannot please everyone all of the time. But we're very close. We work darn hard to please a lot of clients, and they keep coming back. Good words are spreading all over the world.

Those of you who continue to publish lies and false allegations have now left yourselves wide open to legal action, should we ever have to undertake such. Your online aliases are not anonymous in a court of law. Online posting is called "Publishing" under the legal definition. Posting lies and unfounded allegations are legally defined as "defamation" and "libel". There are both Federal and all State laws barring such activities, and laws providing for substantial penalties against the persons posting.

It is unfortunate that when one rises to the top of his or her career, some people will stoop to any level to take pot shots at you.

L
O
L
!

You hit the NAIL ON THE HEAD!!!

That's a laugh, to get a BBB A+ rating really only means that you also paid for it. There are plenty of businesses that have A+ ratings, that in reality do not deserve even passing grade, let alone something like a A+!

http://blog-bbb.com/2010/03/learn-ho...minal-charges/

http://blog-bbb.com/2010/03/how-did-...ith-local-bbb/

"Unlike what many consumers may think, the BBB is not affiliated with government. It is a membership group that requires dues from businesses and rates them higher if they join."


And yet you won't even provide any real proof at all when asked for even basic proof or measurements of all your wild claims. And instead, you spew garbage about suing people when they ask you for proof.