Mana Audio update

[michaelab]

I would tend to agree with Mick. The forum and it's main posters currently remind me of the Iraqi information minister before Saddam was toppled. Completely head in the sand. Not a dickie bird about the state of the company. That JW continues to post there as if nothing at all was the matter is really a kick in the face for anyone owed money by Mana or waiting for product they've paid for to arrive.

He should either not post at all or be prepared to answer questions about the state of the company. At least post a statement. Denial won't solve the company's problems.

EDIT: The Mana forum now appears to be down. DNS lookup failed.

Michael.

 

[Emeritus]

The Mana forum appears to be down this evening.

 

[Saab]

Maybe the server has been banned

 

[Markus S]

I don't think the Mana forum and/or its more prominent members (current or ex) could have a make-or-break influence on the company.

First of all, what counts is the quality of the product. I think that it is fair to say that in many systems, the Mana effect was experienced as positive, in others not. So what, no stand can be a panacea, but it was obviously a viable product, competitive in the marketplace, or it wouldn't have sold in what appear to be good numbers until today.

Of at least equal importance is the marketing. Mana started out with a distinct disadvantage over practically all its rivals in that it is modular only to a degree: the amp stands, particularly the 5 and 6-tier ones, are cumbersome beasts and must be practically impossible to send over large distances, at least not economically.

Compare that to products like Hutter, Quadraspire or Fraim, designed from the outset to be easily knocked down and transported, and they are much more standardized than Mana is.

Plus: if you add a component to your system and you have Fraim or any other modular product, you buy another shelf. With Mana, you order a new stand from the factory and sell your old stand on the used market. Not a proposition that many people will find attractive.

The appearance of the product (Gothic lettering on the logo and everything) and the image the proprietor projects in his personal demeanour are also larger factors in Mana's stance in the marketplace than they appear to be with other products. I suspect there will be a market saturation point for people who are attracted by appearance and image. The logo change came at a time when it made little impact in the market.

Finally, Mana has not AFAICT marketed itself to the AV/home installation market, which is where the growth has been mostly in the last few years.

Other companies have compensated for the decline of the home market by increasing their exports, but the transportation costs weigh heavily against Mana in this respect and make substantial sales outside the UK difficult, I'd guess.

So, if Mana is in trouble, it will be a combination of factors at work, some to do with the product, others with the company, still others with the market in general.

 

[Markus S]

PS the Mana forum is up again.

 

[Bob McC]

No problem accessing the Mana forum as far I can see.

Bob

 

[Dev]

A good post Markus.

 

[notaclue]

Hi Ian,
May I suggest that the whole point of this thread is that no-one, specifically 'Heuer' who, of all people, is entitled to some, has been given any facts. Ignoring customers is hardly good business practice.


I think that you will find that the general tenet of this thread has been sympathetic to any difficulties that Mana may have.
As I see it, most of whatever antagonism may be directed at Mana has mostly to do with the way in which those who support (sic) Mana appear to denigrate those who don't by suggesting that anyone who can't hear a major leap in performance in their hi-fi when employing Mana is:
a: Deaf or
b: Too stupid to have the skills to set it up properly.
If Mana is experiencing difficulties, may I suggest that part of the blame must lie with the over-zealous and belittling attitudes of its current and (occasionally) previous customer base.

Robin

What a pity that nobody thought to perform a blind test to 'prove' just how effective Mana is. That would have been great publicity.

I mean, it is possible to hear Mana if you don't know it's there. Isn't it...?

 

[The Devil]

It's self-evident Bub. Just read the above posts or the replies to any posts that dare to criticise Mana, I really can't be bothered to repeat what has already been said so many times in this and other forums.

What a load of claptrap. You guys have absolutely no idea.

 

[Robbo]

Bub,

Its not claptrap, its his valid opinion and it is shared by many. I for one was put off even trying mana by the antics of the Mana-iacs on the Mana forum and the evangelism by a few others on other forums. That's a fact, not claptrap.

 

[The Devil]

I for one was put off even trying mana by the antics of the Mana-iacs on the Mana forum and the evangelism by a few others on other forums. That's a fact...

Let me get this straight. You were just on the point of placing an order with Mana, then you changed your mind because you read messages of support on an internet forum?

Do you really expect me to believe that?

 

[Robbo]

No, I didnt say that. It didn't even make it to the 'to try out' list. Call me shallow, but I am not going to be associated with the 'mana mob'. I suspect I am not alone in this though.

I am sure the on line antics of its most fervent evangelists has damaged sales.

 

[Dev]

..., but I am not going to be associated with the 'mana mob'. I suspect I am not alone in this though.

I am sure the on line antics of its most fervent evangelists has damaged sales.

Agreed.

 

[Bradders]

Sales have been damaged more by ludicrous claims that Mana adds 'leading edges', removes bass and kills the 'tune'.

 

[Barnie]

Do you really expect me to believe that?

Bub, some people really are that fickle....

Content removed as it was both an attack on another forum member and b a re-iteration of a dispute from another forum

Truth is, Mana as a company are probably failing due to the reasons Markus Sauer outlined in his balanced post above. Once you cut through the crap, Mana is an outstanding product, that has lead the way in hifi isolation systems for over a decade....

 

[The Devil]

...Call me shallow, but I am not going to be associated with the 'mana mob'. I suspect I am not alone in this though.

I am sure the on line antics of its most fervent evangelists has damaged sales.

You are shallow.

I wasn't the least bit interested in Mana stands until I read about people's experiences with them, initially on the Naim Forum, and subsequently on the previous Mana Forum. ISTM that if so many people were so enthusiastic about it, there might be something in it. IOW, unlike you, I am open-minded.

The "Mana mob", as you call them, are on the whole very nice people. You ought to meet some of us, assuming that I am one of this allegedly dangerous and scary group of people.

Sales have been damaged more by ludicrous claims that Mana adds 'leading edges', removes bass and kills the 'tune'.

Yes. A much more plausible explanation.

 

[lordsummit]

Guys this thread has on the whole avoided mud slinging and has been despite the negative nature of the thread treading a positive line. If we resort to name calling and apportioning blame I or another mod will close this thread.

 

[bottleneck]

its 'chicken and egg' though, IMO.

we wouldnt have all the comments about leading edge sound, treble harshness etc, if there wasnt such evangelism about the product.

You are bound to get rebuttal to such strongly worded opinions.


In essence however, I doubt that internet discussions of Mana have made a substantial difference to sales.

They certainly put me off even trying a Mana stand, but I think it would take more than a fistfull of extra sales to change the fortunes of an ailing company.

I feel Markus hit the nail on the head with some of his ideas on the product line.

 

[michaelab]

Sales have been damaged more by ludicrous claims that Mana adds 'leading edges', removes bass and kills the 'tune'.

Those claims are no more ludicrous than the claims made by its supporters.

Michael.

 

[The Devil]

The notion that ownership of a particular brand of hi-fi stand somehow renders that person undesirable to associate with, comes from Robbo & Dev. Conduct unbecoming of gentlemen, IMO. Dev is supposed to be a "moderator" here.

You've met Jonathan Ribee. A nicer person one couldn't hope to meet.