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Originally Posted by
syd123 
Well they employ 150 people full time, so there is at least a fair amount of work being done in Binghamton. ..But I wouldn't be at all surprised if processors, such as that in my integrated amp and those found in their AVR Pre-amps, are sourced over seas.
Typically shops this size outsource the circuit cards, so what comes in the door is stuffed, soldered and tested. I don't know if they still wind their own transformers,. Cutting, bending, punching and plating chassis is another thing to outsource.
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As for their claim that "we don't know how long our gear lasts b/c we've only been in business 60 years" ...well, that may be true for their retro-style tube and s/s amps which can easily be rebuilt, but I'm a bit more skeptical about this claim as it relates to those components with processors and firmware.
Chip manufacturers usually give a lot of warning before they stop making a part, so people who use it have the opportunity to stock up for the future.
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..It's hard to imagine that 20 years form now they'll be able to replace the digital volume control/ processor in my amp.
I suspect they have lots of backup stock for future repairs.
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..Nonetheless, for the time being I enjoy it immensely and I'm glad knowing that it is at least partially built in an old mill town just a few hours from where I live.
I consulted at IBM in the 80s and spent a fair amount of time in the Johnson City Quality Inn. Binghamton was just down the road... Endicott, Johnson City and Binghamton are ducks in a row along the Susquehanna.
