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This is one of those things. I ordered a set of the 2"x4" curved B.A.D. panels which have had praise heaped on them... not the curved model *per se* but the B.A.D. (or Binary Audio Diffusor) in general has had some great response. So I paid full boat and put up with the 10 week back order, and approx $300. in shipping charges... you would expect premium attention to detail, right ? Think again. On my panels, the fabric was improperly tensioned so the underlying membrane was lumpy and misshapen. Yet the boxes came with their final inspection form like somebody was paid to final check these things before they went out the door.You have got to be kidding me. They look like they wouldn't qualify as "B" stock. So I'm thinking, either I could go through the biggest f$#!ing hassle and ship these items back and wait another ten weeks for them to get them right, if they could or would, or grin and bear it and install them. I chose the latter, because this installation isn't that earth shakingly critical... yeah, we CAN live with inferior goods because we are after acoustic betterments first and foremost... HOWEVER, IF you are thinking about the RPG BAD panels, firstly, you might want to consider the FLAT panels as they are probablyy less prone to this internal deformation, and secondly you might want to have a succinct discussion about their quality control and return policies BEFORE you place an order with any of their distributors.
Follow Ups:
Sorry to hear that, but you are not alone. I purchased 12 B.A.D. Panels from somebody that received them in the same condition you describe. The fabric seems to have been cut by kindergarden kids and QC'd by their parents. I bought them like that because I planned to change the fabric anyway.Saddly enough the manufacturing defects are not aesthetics related only. The frame onto which the curved panel is attached, is about 1/2 inch smaller than it should be (at least mine are).
They work wonders when appropriately placed. You really need to tweak their placement in your room. There is definitely no recipe for a quick-and-dirty installation.
I would second the opinion of sending them back and request a shorter delivery time to make up for the poor quality of the product delivered to you. They should not charge for shipping as you already have paid for it in the first place.
What a shame... RPG used to be so quality conscious... well, our application is more functional than aestheic, and I have MUCH better things to do with my time that go round and round with a company that isn't committed to quality in the first place.... this is just more hours and hours of total BS to rectify idiocy... its my wasted time and creativity that really boils my blood... that they can't motivate themselves to do it right the first time...
Hey Tone,Sorry to hear of your misfortune. I have been in your situation a few times over the years but luckily I have been able to "fix' or properly assemble the problem product(s).
Have U called RPG and explained your problem? Maybe they would ship another set out to U without U returning the panels. Is there any way U could fix the panels yourself?
I know, it's complete bullshit that the panels were even shipped out in this manner. Was there any damage sustained in shipping?
Thank god they suit your needs as that would REALLY suck if they didn't and U had to try and get your money back or get a new set
Cheers,
~kenster
I had problems with sound panels that arrived damaged as well as built to the wrong specs. The mfg., Acoustics First, made everything right and then some. I was completely satisfied.
They may not want the damaged goods back. Perhaps some diplomacy and email w/pics, of the damage?
Why settle and live with "what if" for stuff you're clearly P.O.'d about.
Sorry about the poor manufacturing. Have you contacted the dealer or manufacturer to let them know of your situation? Maybe you can send them photos as proof. By the way, how are these working out in your room? Do they pass your sound judgement?
from a pure acoustics perspective, I think I find them just a touch on the dead side... not the black hole sound sponge of Ownens corning fiberglass batts or the sort of wooly deadness that many foams give... the Auralex QR wooden square diffusors are a lot more interesting and lively although not as neutral, the Auralex does have a woody note, faint and sweet... I guess the BAD sounds like somewhat less dead fiberglass basically, which might be exactly what you need... although nowhere near what a true primitve root diffusor sounds like... it doesn't really sound all that diffusive, the effect is reltively subtle in creating a soundspace, good for eliminating slap echoes... my first placement choice for these would be behind the listener, especially on the sidewalls right behind the listener's ear position, where the "late sounds" become confused and jumbled, and on the rear wall behind the listener... this strikes me as a product to use where you want to "dial in" the final degree of reverberance versus deadness, and you might have a choice between a full dead fiberglass bag and a touch more life... I just wish they took more care rather than waste everyone's time with seeking to remedy the situation... real bad business practice in my opinion... ship out substandard goods and hope you'll put up with them...
Tone,Although you waited for what seems like forever, you will have to live with them even longer. Every time you look at them you will be reminded of how poorly you were treated. Don't let them get away with it. They are counting on the fact that you can't wait any longer and you will settle for their mediocrity. Send them back, and send them back now. What's another 10 to 12 weeks compared to the many years you will enjoy them?
About 6 months ago my wife ordered custom curtains for the living room and dining room. It wasn't cheap. It took over four months for them just to arrive and when they got here to be installed they were not quite right. We were being persuaded by the curtain manufacturer to just "settle" but the installer persuaded us to send them back and to make it right. It took another month before they returned and they were installed correctly.Now that it's all said and done, my wife is very happy and we are both glad that we waited to get it done right.
You shouldn't have to pay return shipping due to manufacturer defects. Maybe if there was shipping damage, but even then they should cover it. It's no fault of yours. So does their policy say you have to pay for return shipping? Good luck, glad they do work decent.
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