Proud new owner of the Pachanko Labs Constellation Mini
....and my (hilarious, sorry Chan) first impressions of a different customer service experience.
Good day to all members. Being new to the forum, I must apologize for my lengthy first post, but had no other way to fully convey my audio emotions of today.
Four days
ago I visited Chameleon Audio in Athens.
I was decided on purchasing the SOTM Ultra Neo network bridge.
I entered the shop with the air of an audio connaisseur who knew what he wanted and wanted it NOW!
The owner of the business, Nick (...thanks NicK!) tried to say something in the lines of "would you like to audition..."
I steadily repeated "I want the SOTM Ultra Neo..." I am certain that Nick thought I was some kind of Audio nenderthal.
Nick proceeded to switch off the air conditioning, a true suicide move in Athens in August, asked me to sit at the listening position, and pressed a few buttons on his
ipad.
Jazz music started playing but it was different to what I had heard - in the digital domain - in any audio show or presentation.
Music was "creamy and airy" with a black background that I can only describe as mystical.
In the silent pauses within the songs I got goosebumps.
With the same sense of audio neanderthal certainty I turned around and said to Nick...
"The SOTM is an amazing piece of gear!!!"
Nick smiled and responded "yes it is a great piece of gear,
You are listening to the Pachanko Labs Constellation Mini"
It replaces your current computer and eliminated the need for a separate bridge!
I was not at all convinced!!!! What was Nick trying to do? I wanted the SOTM? What was he playing at?
He saw my distrust at what I was hearing and said. "We shall AB both equipment, but the Pachanko gear is much, much better sounding."
We sat down and listened to 5 songs, then again. After 45 minutes of trying to pick every little detail apart I conceded...
THE PACHANKO GEAR SOUND WAY BETTER!!!!!
With - still - a slightly hesitant facial expression - I told Nick, "Pack it, I m taking it home"!
Nick explained we had to place an order (black color not in stock). The shop would be closing for 2 weeks for vacation period.
I would get my unit at end of month.
I was sort of fuming....first you let me hear heaven....then I agree to purchase...then you don't have?????
![Mad :mad: :mad:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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Then he did it for a second time....
YOU CAN HAVE MINE THOUGH FOR THE NEXT TWO WEEKS UNTIL YOUR UNIT IS DELIVERED!!!
![Eek! :eek: :eek:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![Eek! :eek: :eek:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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![Cool :cool: :cool:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
![Cool :cool: :cool:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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![Cool :cool: :cool:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
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![Cool :cool: :cool:](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
Took the unit and headed to work, opening the box every 10 minutes, just to check the Mini had not escaped.
Having finished late at work I headed home, hooked-up the unit and had a listen to 4 of my favorite/reference songs.
The sound was AMAZING....Airy, Soundstage beyond the limits of the side walls, voices that where really inside the room and singing!!!!
I was really tired so I headed to bed absolutely happy. What a purchase!!!!!
The next morning - first thing - I received a parcel. And what good timing indeed to receive this order...
New sftp ethernet cables, fiber optic to replace most of my lan copper, media converters, ifi audio low noise power supply for the converters...
I installed everything and switched on the music streaming from Tidal and upsampling to DSD as I normally do.
I was certain I had an awesome system at this point. Being morning time I left the system playing background music at low level.
A few hours later it was time to zoom in. I sat in my chair, relaxed, put on my favorite track and maxed the volume....
WHAT CRAP WAS THIS???????
A
boomy sound comming out of my Proacs, muddy, murky....
A sound more resembling to a 1950s TV with a shot full range driver.
What black magic was this???? Nick, what have you done to my system?????
I was coming from Audirvana. This was my first hands on experience with Roon.
I took a moment to think and swiftly concluded...
"Roon is s@@t"!
Nick had left me with specific instructions. If anything happens call Chan at Pachanko Labs.
I emailed Chan and 10 minutes later we were speaking on the phone.
I explained how I had heard the Constellation Mini, was amazed, but I was having trouble with Roon or settings or setup...
SOMETHING WAS CLEARLY WRONG! MY ULTRA TRAINED
![Smile :) :)](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
rolleyes
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ears were not lying to me.
I sounded so disappointed. Chan went through all the settings with me.
I started questioning him on everything you can imagine, as something was clearly to blame....
Chan must have also sensed how freaked out I was....
Over the course of the next three days we went over every little detail, re-installing software, remotely changing settings.
Chan, to his credit, wes ultra patient with me as every day for the next three days I was telling him how bad my system sounded!
He explained every bit of tech that Pachanko have applied to the Constellation, including the "Diretta" upgrading path (ethernet protocol)
We tried every bit of tweak....hours....
Then we had a sincere call where I told Chan
"Look your product and my system clearly don't mix".
Both of us were disappointed. Chan reluctantly added....
Maybe your sound taste is different to mine...maybe its just that....we shall see what we can do.
Perhaps I could swap the Constellation Mini with another model?....
(Chan, If it was me in your shoes, I would have told me to @@@@ @@@!!!)
We started entertaining the idea, both an unenthusiastic me, and a Chan at the brink of sanatorium "check-in"
Yesterday evening I was so unhappy.
I had heard magic playing out of the Pachanko Constellation Mini....But it had disappeared.
I had made a bad purchase. At least the company was supporting me with unbelievable hand-on service.
I was convinced though that most probably Roon was ruining my day.
Through all this I think Chan must have just wanted to push the "eject" button!
I sat on my listening chair, 12 o clock at night, and turned the volume up. WHAT HORROR????
This was like a lego sounding system!!!!!
I was perplexed. I took everything apart. EVERYTHING! amps, cables, dac, preamp, everything.
Then started from scratch.
When I got the the point of connecting the system to the ethernet, I had left the fiber optic gear on the side and could be bothered....
NAH...connect 5 pieces of equipment or the old copper cable and I am done? It was 3 in the morning so I just plugged in the damn copper cable and was done with it. switched on the system, put my favorite "XIASOU / Analog Dreams in a Digital World"
!@#$!%!#%%#$%#%!%#%#%%!.....WHAAAAAATTTT.....WHAT MAGIC WAS THIS....I WAS SUDDENLY IN HEAVEN????????
I got up, got the remote, pushed pause, and brought volume to 12 o clock. I wanted to be certain there was no mistake....
The highs were suddenly appearing from 2 meters behind my speakers and tickling my brain cells.
An extremely well defined bass that was punching my chest at every beat of music.
That creamy, airy, musically-perfect with fantastic tonal balance sound!!!!!!
I WAS SUCH AN IDIOT!!!! Installing the Constellation Mini and the fiber optic at the same time it did not occur to me that the Media Converter would be screwing up the sensitive ethernet input of this small little jewel, the Pachanko Constellation Mini!!!
By this time I was in fact twice an idiot as my wife, clearly freaked out, was blasting at me "WHAT ARE YOU DOING AT 03:15 IN THE MORNING" and my jumping up and down shouting at her, over the loud music,
"IT WORKS, IT WORKS, LISTEN!!!LISTEN!!!!!!" she was not entertained....
I WAS!!!!!!!
This morning I had an extra call to make.
"Chan, sorry I am an idiot"...
PACHANKO, thank you for your patience, thank you for your help and support, and thank you for a great product.
The least I can do is to recognize the unprecedented level of support over past 3 days.
The best I can do is to recognize, having discussed with you thoroughly, the technical genius behind your implementation on the Constellation Mini.
YOUR GEAR SOUNDS AMAZING
A fan for life
VK