April 29, 2013

Hi Mark,

Thanks for the timely reply. The Integra is more than I thought it could of been. Awesome product. Thank you for the great pricing.

Cheers!

Neil

April 26, 2013

Hi Mark

I am extremely pleased with the Oppo 103 (I also have the 93 and 83) and the service that I obtained from your company. In the future if I have other hifi needs then I will make AudioTrends my first stop.

Regards

Chris

April 22, 2013

Hi Mark

I would like to thank Wes for his fantastic help when I purchased the Oppo Blu-ray player as my needs were a little different to the norm. I chose the Oppo for its fantastic Audio capabilities, connecting it to my Hifi set-up which required some in depth discussion on the best way to do this. Wes showed me several different options and explained everything both simply and in detail. I am delighted with the Oppo and your service to me. I have no problems with the equipment, it is working beautifully. I will keep in touch. Thanks to you and your staff.

Regards, Ern

April 19, 2013

Thanks Andrew,

The NAD (M51) has settled in nicely and is sounding great. I do have a dilemma with the Transparent MusicWave Plus though. It’s the best sounding speaker cable I’ve ever owned – it sounds much better than my previous Nordost stuff.

Russ

April 19, 2013

Hi Mark

There certainly wasn't any way in which I could imagine a better overall experience in regards to the speakers I purchased. At no point did I feel pressured to buy, I was allowed ample time to audition the different options I was looking at and given time to make choices for myself which is very refreshing. It's safe to say Wes is truly an asset to your team and I'm hard pressed to recall a time at which I've received customer service that even comes close.

I will be sure to visit your store again when upgrading my receiver in the not too distant future.

Regards

Suresh

March 27, 2013

Hi Nick,

I just wanted to give you some feedback on the (Name Withheld) theatre that I calibrated on Monday.

I have been involved in the ongoing calibration of this theatre since it was first constructed (not by Audio Trends) about 8 years ago. What has been apparent to me in this time was a lack of consistency between the various components of the system due to the original installation and commissioning being carried out but multiple entities. Now that this theatre has been upgraded and recommisioned by a single business focused on a total solution, it is an amazing experience to hear the audio, watch the image and use the remote control.

The image quality is fantastic and amazingly bright, realistic and immersive – even in 3D. A combination of the right equipment and expertise has made a fantastic result, especially considering the cost of the equipment used, which was relatively modest by my standards. 

Likewise the audio. The system now is matched correctly to the size of the room in terms of output and dynamics. The bass isn’t overpowering, yet present in enormous quantites when required and the clarity of speech and dialog makes it very easy to forget what it happen elsewhere in the world and fall into the movie.

Best Regards

Aaron Rigg

ISF Certified Video Calibrator

ISF Instructor - Asia Pacific

HAA Certified Audio Calibrator

Avical Australia Pty Ltd

Ph. 0402 407 368

February 22, 2013

Hi Mark,

As usual, great professional and customer service which I knew from you over the last 15 years and much appreciated.

Gary - Doncaster, Victoria

February 8, 2013

Many thanks Mark. Christa and I love the products you sell and the great service found at Audio Trends. We love the NAD 775 and it works well with the CD player, also the new Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge sounds brilliant, especially after Andrew was able to fix all the problems with my turntable. Happy to recommend yourself and all your team at anytime.

Regards and thanks Simon and Christa - Heathmont, Victoria

January 21, 2013

Thanks Mark.  The Sonos pre-amp works a treat.  I'll be back.  Rgds.  Miles

January 8, 2012

Dear Mark,

Thank you for the courtesy email and follow up for my purchases of both Denon and Subsonic Surround Sound components.

At the outset I dealt with your sales staff member Andrew Coles. His dealings with me were at all times of the highest standard, considering it was both a long distance and protracted transaction.

At all times Andrew was patient and understanding with me whilst able to be decisive and confident in assisting me with my decision making.

I am more than confident Andrew in fact did all within his capabilities to provide me with a product that will perform beyond my expectations and limited knowledge. A product I will spend many years (I hope) deriving great pleasure and high performance from.

Due to the lack of high end audio visual suppliers in the Darwin, NT area, I have continually recommended without hesitation, both Audio Trends as a company, and Andrew as an individual to contact for all quality products, advice and service.

To this day, I still consult your web page and refer many others. It is without doubt the best retail/information/user friendly website I have encountered.

My thanks to Andrew Coles for his support, and, if ever you incorporate a sales training regime within your company, I suggest his tactics would benefit any company trend toward sales, quality of service and product knowledge .

Once again, thank you for great service in providing me with a superior product.

Yours sincerely,

RW - Darwin

October 19, 2012

Dear Mark,

Thanks for your email. I was very pleased with the service I was provided with when purchasing my product from you. I would definitely recommend your services to anyone who was looking for this type of product.

Thanks and regards,

Cath

October 15, 2012

Hi Nick,

Thanks very much for the effort that you put into helping us create our home theatre system. We are very happy with the result. The Epson projector is very good. High definition films look sensational. Skin tones are great and the contrast it can show is outstanding. The 3-D is very impressive, even though that is not the main use we got it for.

But the real delight are the Paradigm speakers. The sense of presence they have is remarkable. A full sound yet not intrusive. We can now hear subtleties in films from the sound engineer that we have never heard before. They are truly fantastic, even though we have not even broken them in properly yet. Your recommendations for us in this regard were spot on. Thanks very much.

Thanks again very much for all your sales service and after sales effort. Anybody can sell a box of bits, but true service comes in the details and support. You have absolutely excelled in looking after us, with the firmware upgrade and cables. We have come back to Audiotrends after previous purchases and once again we are delighted with your advice, support and service. Well done, service like yours is rare these days and is a delight when found.

Regards,

GH - Montrose, Victoria

June 3, 2011

Hello Stephen,

I can't say how deliriously happy I am with the Denon USB turntable. Sadly, we only put it together late Sunday, along with washing 15 LPs in the (Knosti record cleaning) bath.

Considering that the LPs date from the late ‘50s (the oldest is The Buddy Holly Story), that they have been carted around the world with me for 20 years, and have in no way been cared for, after their bath they sound brilliant and better than when new. What an incredible sound is enveloping the house. The NAD amp and Celestion speakers (from your earlier Lilydale shop days) also add to the quality, so I can only look back and think what a worthwhile investment these units were so long ago.

I'm totally wrapped in the turntable, the 'bath', and the resulting quality of sound. Despite the age of the LPs and the lack of care they have endured, there is very little crackle, pop and scratch and then, it’s mainly from the very early ones. I'll let you know how things go when I start digitising them, but in the meantime, I'm just enjoying the pleasure of listening to stuff I haven't heard since going digital about 20 years ago, and loving the warmth and richness that vinyl produces. With thanks for your guidance and time on Saturday.

Sincerely

Maggie - Burwood, Victoria

February 3, 2011

I've been around the block with audio equipment for over 10 years. Seen a lot of amazing equipment but never awesome sound. It seems the more you spend, the better the result, right?...... WRONG! I used to think so, and most of us I'm sure do.

My first experience at Audio Trends in Ringwood was both overwhelming and initially a little daunting, but without a doubt it was "WOW!" The place is unbelievable, more like a home than a shop, although you would never know that from the outside. But then I remembered that old but true phrase..."DON'T JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER!" So as I slowly walked around the showroom, I recognised familiar products and surprisingly well priced.

I must admit, I walked in with a bit of a chip on my shoulder - I must have heard every sales technique there is.

"This product is better? Why buy this when you can have that?" Then comes all the technical specs….going in one ear and out the other. Well, I did not hear any of this usual rhetoric.

I was greeted by a bearded fellow. I told him "I'm looking for a 2 channel system."

"What equipment do you currently have?", asked the ‘bearded man’. So I told him what I had. However, the questions continued with "What kind of music do you listen to? What size room are you working with? What floor coverings do you have? Are you wanting to use any of your current equipment?" These were just some of things I was being asked by the ‘bearded man’.

By this stage I'm surprised in fact very surprised and quite impressed by this approach. Very rarely had I been asked these questions and certainly not all of them and this before actually looking at or listening to any equipment. I am then invited into one of the demo rooms to listen to a 2-channel system that is already set up and ready to roll. The classic album by Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon on vinyl - one that I'm very familiar with - is selected and the turntable is started up. The song 'Money' had only been going a few seconds when my jaw hit the floor and my tongue rolled out along the floor at least 10 feet! I've heard some nice 2 channel set ups exceeding a price tag of 200K, but nothing like this.

Before I asked "How much?" I wanted to know why I was hearing a sound stage deeper and wider than I have ever heard before, with so much detail. "Physics", said the ‘bearded man’. Never has this been explained to me and yet everything he said made sense. No snake-oil, just science.

The ‘bearded man’ and I must have spoken for over an hour, I was lost for words when it was explained to me how everything worked, from the electronics, to the speakers, to the room, to my ear.

So, I finally ask, "How much?" "60K" said the 'bearded man'. Now remember, I've heard systems exceeding 200K and don't sound anywhere near this good. By this stage my jaw is so sore from hitting the ground so frequently that I had to ask, "How is this possible? How can you get such an unbelievable sound for so much less than the 200K systems I was listening to elsewhere?"

To this day, the famous words from the bearded man are, "PRICE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH PERFORMANCE" still ring in my ears.

Three years on and the ‘bearded man’ – Darren Springthorpe – and I are great friends along with my Father and Brother who have also benefitted from his expertise.

Most of us walk away dazed and confused with some of things we are told in the audio/visual industry. Because I asked, the penny dropped, everything I was being told made perfect sense. How this contrasted with my previous experience with several other Retail stores who often stretch the truth. Many will tell you almost anything to sell products on the shelf. Why? $$$$$$! ANYTHING TO TAKE YOUR MONEY!

Audio Trends were more interested in achieving the audio/visual result that I wanted, rather than just selling me some boxes which I reckon is probably why they have been so successful for something like 30 years. A happy customer 9/10 times always comes back.

I have written this so that you don’t walk into another store, make a poor purchase and end up being disappointed, with your money wasted or even worse, spending more money upgrading and/or replacing equipment at a different store. Personally, I have wasted thousands of dollars on equipment that now either collects dust or has been thrown away and I'm pretty sure that this has happened to a few of you who are now reading this Testimonial. No, I am not a millionaire who has an unlimited amount of funds and have not had to spend $200 grand to get magnificent sound!

Believe me when I say: Audio Trends are different from anyone else. I doubt whether there are any other places in Australia where the results you are after can be so clearly demonstrated. The knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff is beyond belief.

So whether you are looking at spending big bucks or just a modest amount, I'm sure Audio Trends will have something for you. Don't hesitate to go and see them.

A. T. Kangaroo Ground, Victoria.

November 28, 2010

I would like to give you an insight into our experiences in working with Audio Trends.

When I first came in to the show room I really didn't know anything about home audio. All I knew was that I wanted a room that felt like a cinema, and I wanted to deal with people who were honest. Audio Trends gave me both.

During our first visit with Darren, I quickly realised that system design would be a critical factor if we wanted an amazing result. Our room started as an empty shell and it really did sound quite terrible. Yet the end result was an area that far exceeded our expectations.

I was most impressed with Darren's expertise. His knowledge and attention to detail was excellent. I never knew there were so many important factors in designing a home theatre. Darren guided us through every aspect such as electrical, insulation types, room dimensions, light control, component selection, flooring and furnishings and so on. In the end we even changed the shape of our ceiling.

The service we received from the installation was excellent too. Gary worked very hard and his work was neat and professional. The man is very polite and courteous as well.

I would also like to thank Darren for all his support. Thankyou for answering all our calls and emails. Thankyou for your guidance and patience. Thankyou for all your time and dedication.

We love our cinema room and it's the focal point of our home. We always watch movies with our friends and family and our visitors are always amazed at how good the experience is.

Finally, thankyou for giving us a cinema room that puts Gold Class to shame!

Regards

Kiro & Tina - Narre Warren, Victoria

P.S. Our daughter's favourite movie is Transformers 2.

November 15, 2010

“While most other stores seem to be only interested in making a sale, Audio Trends is definitely more interested in giving their customers a lot more. They sell a great range of top brand products and with their superior product knowledge and service made me feel comfortable that I was choosing the best products for my specific needs.

Their service and product selection left the other stores so far behind that it was frankly embarrasing! I will definitely be going straight to Audio Trends for my future Home Entertainment products.”

Brian - Vermont, Victoria

Received June 10, 2009

I'd like to share a very interesting experience I had at (name withheld) the other weekend. I happened to be at OZ design in Dandenong when I thought I’d quickly duck into (the store) next door to have a bit of a sticky beak. While I was in there I overheard a conversation that a sales person was having with a customer.

The customer said to the sales guy that he was interested in buying a pair of speakers. Immediately the sales person recommended Klipsch and he stated they were the best speakers around (probably because that’s the main speaker brand I saw in the shop). The customer asked "where are they made"? and he replied "china like everything else" and if he wanted something made in Europe he would have to spend about $20,000 dollars which I thought was a little strange because as you know I recently purchased a beautiful pair of Canton floor standers for about quarter of that price. The conversation kept going and I just shook my head in disbelief of the garbage that was coming out of this guys mouth. I felt like pulling this customer aside and say don’t waste your time go and see Audio Trends.

While I was driving home I was thinking about what I had just witnessed and thought this sales guy didn’t even ask the customer where he was going to put his system, what's the shape of the room, what kind of floor he had so he could get some idea of the acoustics of the room. I felt he was telling the customer what he was programmed to say so he could seal the deal.

Six months ago I would have believed everything this person was saying also, but "fortunately" for me my brother insisted that I go to Audio Trends first to see some of your theatre rooms. So I did that and was blown away by 1st the professionalism of the staff, 2nd you have a theatre room set up to almost the same specifications of my room at home so I could get a realistic experience of how it was going to sound. Not some room that had an acoustic make over that would make anything sound "reasonable". But the one thing that I always tell people and they cant believe it is that Audio Trends came to my house to get real feel of the acoustics and give me a proper recommendation of what would or wouldn’t work. I knew what I was spending was peanuts compared to some of the installations that Audio Trends have completed but I still got the same level of service and respect which is what convinced me to "only" consult Audio Trends for advice. You also took the time to explain things in detail and I mean detail, that I was completely oblivious to like acoustics of the room, bi-wiring, bi-amping etc.

I think if I asked one of the staff at (name withheld) to come to my place I would have received a rude reply and their knowledge only goes as far as their instruction manual tells them to go.

So I thankyou Audio Trends for an unbelievable experience and I would highly recommend you to anyone who has a desire for fine music/movies and wants a good product and service regardless of their budget. And as you keep repeating to me: "It's not about how much it costs".

Regards,

VB