The Audiophile Shop in Melbourne ...........??

[Geoffcake]

Hi,

Australian member here. Looking to buy some new gear.

I came across https://www.audiophile-store.com.au/ while searching for a SMSL DAC.

 

I couldn't find anything about them online so I ask you fellow stereonet members if you have dealt with them and if they are trustworthy and legit?

Thanks.

 

 

[Antipodean Brad]

I am skeptical.

 

This from DACMAN Audio Melbourne:

"We are the sole authorised Australian retailer of Denafrips products. Beware of false claims. All of our products are sourced from the sole authorised world wide distributor. Denafrips does not supply or authorise anyone else outside of China to resell or distribute their products. Anything else is considered grey market and is not covered by manufacturer warranty."

 

This from Audiophile-store:

"Audiophile Store, an Australian partner with Shenzhen Audio who are one of several recently appointed Authorised Worldwide Resellers of DENAFRIPS Products have given Audiophile Store full permission to resell DENAFRIPS products to the Australian market."

 

Seems like a conflict here.

 

Perhaps DACMAN or Vinshine could clarify.  If they are not authorised to sell Denafrips, then the rest of the products probably fall into the same category.

 

I'm guessing that until the matter is clarified, that they are like to guy on eBay who sells grey imports of, e.g., Musical Fidelity.

 

 

[muon*]

Purchased a Vincent PHO-8 a couple of years ago from that site, no issues or complaints what so ever.

 

Edit: PHO-8 not 7, sorry.

Edited February 13, 2022 by muon*

[Snoopy8]

They are legit, bought a cheap but well made DAC from them.  At least they have a physical presence in Melbourne, unlike eBay vendors.

 

Not sure you can use the Denafrips situation as an example because the whole thing is grey. There is no exclusivity in AU; you can buy direct from the manufacturer.  

[ICUToo]

I have bought from them before (not Denafrips gear)- no issues.

[Guest]

They have been mentioned on these forums previously and found to be selling fake cables - McIntosh branded and others - these have since been removed it seems.

I am sure they are a legitimate business, however what they sell and where it is sourced from could be questionable. 

[PeterB7858]

I have bought from them before, as well. No issues. Quick postage, good communication.

[Geoffcake]

Thanks for your replies guys.

Fake cables makes me second guess them a lot. It gives me grey market vibes. 

I don't suppose people are selling fake SMSL DACs these days so maybe I will take the plunge. 

[Geoffcake]

On 13/02/2022 at 11:39 AM, Antipodean Brad said:

I am skeptical.

 

This from DACMAN Audio Melbourne:

"We are the sole authorised Australian retailer of Denafrips products. Beware of false claims. All of our products are sourced from the sole authorised world wide distributor. Denafrips does not supply or authorise anyone else outside of China to resell or distribute their products. Anything else is considered grey market and is not covered by manufacturer warranty."

 

This from Audiophile-store:

"Audiophile Store, an Australian partner with Shenzhen Audio who are one of several recently appointed Authorised Worldwide Resellers of DENAFRIPS Products have given Audiophile Store full permission to resell DENAFRIPS products to the Australian market."

 

Seems like a conflict here.

 

Perhaps DACMAN or Vinshine could clarify.  If they are not authorised to sell Denafrips, then the rest of the products probably fall into the same category.

 

I'm guessing that until the matter is clarified, that they are like to guy on eBay who sells grey imports of, e.g., Musical Fidelity.

 

 

hmmm sounds sketchy 

[Guest]

I had a pretty poor experience with them. Bought and paid for an item then waited about 3 days to get a notification that it was shipped. Heard nothing. So had to keep emailing over the next 3 days and eventually found a mobile number for the owner. I left a number of messages and after a few days of chasing him was told the item was no longer available. I bought another item.

Communications were almost non existent and I had to chase him at every turn. The discontinued unit that was on their site was still up there about 8 months after my experience.

 

[Geoffcake]

Well I just tried to find evidence of their store front on google maps/street view based on the address listed on their site. I could not find evidence of their store front. 

Maybe Snoopy can shed light on their physical presence.

Uhg dodgy communication. I think I will just wait until addicted to audio can hook me up. 

[Ittaku]

Pretty sure they're something like an aliexpress reseller that has a local presence. I've tried to buy a couple of things from there, one took 2 weeks to arrive despite being allegedly local, and the other never arrived, nor did I get any tracking. I contacted them and they said they were out of stock of the item and couldn't get it (so why have it on the store, and not contact me about it at all?) They gave me a refund but I'd hardly call that kind of behaviour respectable.

[gat474]

They (one person) operate from a private residence in Melb’s eastern suburbs. I think they are an extension or agent of Shenzhen Audio. I bought a Gustard dac from him which I picked up at his place. Discovered a small mark on the top of my dac which he swapped straight away. Nice guy but slow on communication. 

[U_J]

Yep I can confirm that audiophile store is run by one guy called Aaron, I purchased my SMSL400 from him and he was very prompt with his dealings, I spoke to him at length on the phone on a number of occasions about DACs and cables and I was going to purchase a Gustard DAC from him when I decided that if I was going to upgrade DAC's I should stop mucking around with incremental changes and so changed my mine and bought a Holo May instead.

 

Aaron is happy to chat on the phone and he will try and sell you cables which he seems genuinely passionate about ( not just because he is making money on cheap cables ! ),  he offered to send me some cables on a free trial which I declined...

[gat474]

I forgot to add Aaron is a SNA member. 

[Geoffcake]

I decided to buy directly from Shenzhen Audio store on Aliexpress. 
Thanks again for everyone's input

[Aaron.]

Yes I am legit, well I hope so anyway

 

Re cables: all the ALA branded cables are made by myself in Melbourne, I am hoping to gain international recognition in the not to distant future along with several reviews currently in the making 

 

Re: dispatch times: I do sincerely apologies if I am slow to dispatch or answer phones, and yes I am mostly running things solo from studio  space location in Bayswater for demonstrations and Hampton Park for fulfilling orders.

 

Re: Dacman comment: Snoopy8 is 100% correct. All denafrips gear I sell is sourced direct from manufacturer and facilitated by Shenzhen Audio, one of the several Authorised Worldwide Resellers who I work in partnership with. Denafrips, Alvin from Vinshine & Shenzhen Audio are all aware of this and this has been authorised by Denafrips.

 

Thanks ! 

Edited February 17, 2022 by Aaron. AP-Store

[Aaron.]

On 15/02/2022 at 7:24 AM, Ittaku said:

Pretty sure they're something like an aliexpress reseller that has a local presence. I've tried to buy a couple of things from there, one took 2 weeks to arrive despite being allegedly local, and the other never arrived, nor did I get any tracking. I contacted them and they said they were out of stock of the item and couldn't get it (so why have it on the store, and not contact me about it at all?) They gave me a refund but I'd hardly call that kind of behaviour respectable.

I am sorry for this bad experience, it has been difficult lately with covid and shipping delays etc, I am trying to work faster at updating stock levels on the website to prevent this occurring. 

[Aaron.]

On 13/02/2022 at 11:39 AM, Antipodean Brad said:

I am skeptical.

 

This from DACMAN Audio Melbourne:

"We are the sole authorised Australian retailer of Denafrips products. Beware of false claims. All of our products are sourced from the sole authorised world wide distributor. Denafrips does not supply or authorise anyone else outside of China to resell or distribute their products. Anything else is considered grey market and is not covered by manufacturer warranty."

 

This from Audiophile-store:

"Audiophile Store, an Australian partner with Shenzhen Audio who are one of several recently appointed Authorised Worldwide Resellers of DENAFRIPS Products have given Audiophile Store full permission to resell DENAFRIPS products to the Australian market."

 

Seems like a conflict here.

 

Perhaps DACMAN or Vinshine could clarify.  If they are not authorised to sell Denafrips, then the rest of the products probably fall into the same category.

 

I'm guessing that until the matter is clarified, that they are like to guy on eBay who sells grey imports of, e.g., Musical Fidelity.

 

 

Alvin no longer advertises his company as exclusive worldwide reseller for denafrips, this is because denafrips now have several resellers who are authorised and offer manufacture warranty. 

Edited February 17, 2022 by Aaron. AP-Store

[gibbo9000]

Recently bought a headphone cable for my Arya's from Aaron - excellent communication / service and very happy with cable.

[Esoterica]

On 13/2/22 at 12:13 PM, Marc said:

They have been mentioned on these forums previously and found to be selling fake cables - McIntosh branded and others - these have since been removed it seems.

I am sure they are a legitimate business, however what they sell and where it is sourced from could be questionable. 

You'd assume so, based on their prices. I bought a Topping dac/amp from them for not much difference to what it would cost from shenzenaudio directly. Probably because it was from them! Either way, if I had to make a warranty claim I'll be dealing with a local vendor or one based in China. At least having a physical address gives a certain level of safety too, but something for everyone to be aware of, being wary of vendors who are suspiciously cheap, I've googled addresses in the past, supposedly where x, y or z business is located, and if I don't see any evidence of their store there or it's a residence (as I've seen) I disregard them. It's possible they haven't been there long enough to be on street view etc, but it's not worth the risk.

[Aaron.]

On 17/02/2022 at 9:28 PM, Esoterica said:

 

 

 

 

Edited February 18, 2022 by Aaron. AP-Store

[Pim]

On 13/2/2022 at 12:13 PM, Marc said:

They have been mentioned on these forums previously and found to be selling fake cables - McIntosh branded and others - these have since been removed it seems.

I am sure they are a legitimate business, however what they sell and where it is sourced from could be questionable. 

How fake can a cable really be?

[Aaron.]

Just now, Pim said:

How fake can a cable really be?

Mcintosh cable was when audiophile store began on ebay, this and all cables of its type are not on my website. 

[Esoterica]

4 hours ago, Aaron. AP-Store said:

if I cannot facilitate at the customers address I conduct demonstrations from a larger studio room that I rent and have everything permanently set up located in the music school 14b church street bayswater. in this current economy this strategy makes the most sense to me.

 

 

I wasn't referring to you though. As I said in that post, I've bought from you and have no complaints.