Fostex Vf 80

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hotpotato

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I'm finally switching from my old 4 track to a digital recorder. Too skint to go PC based and the VF 80 seems to be a great inbetweener. I've searched all the old messages in this forum and it seems that for getting great sounds without using PC software, this is the one to go for in the lower price ranges.

JD sounds are doing these for $599 (which is £374 to this Englander). Anyone know of an on-line store in the UK where i can get this price. The ones i've found on searches don't get near. Failing that, what is the Fostex tech support like in the UK should it malfunction? I don't really want to send it back and forth over the Atlantic.

Cheers
 
Hiya warmspud

They are £389 anywhere in Tottenham Court Road - via the web try millennium music, turnkey, digital village - they all advertise in Sound on Sound, and they are all that price. Bit of haggling might well get you to £374. (I paid £385 in a shop and got a £15 case thrown in.)

CD writer is £239 tho':mad:

No idea how good support over here is, as I've never had to use it. I'm no fan of turnkey but when something else I had bought from them went bad I have to admit they were excellent - exchanged for a new one with no hassle.
 
Just to throw in my 2 cents. I'm in love with my VF80. It's intuitive, sounds great, and very reliable.

Welcome to the club!

-sV
 
JDSounds

The JDSounds price of US$599. INCLUDES the CD burner... Would Fostex UK honor/service a US bought VF80? They should, right? Depending on the savings, it may be worth buying one in the US and taking the chance that service won't be a regular issue. The only time I've called service here is to have a procedure better explained -- never for a malfunction. However, sometimes it's well worth it to pay more if that means your local service will be better. If your local vendor is the type to spend quality time with you, even after purchase, then that's worth a strong consideration.

Like others, I am very happy with my VF80. The manual could be better written (translated), but that's true in other brands too. People on this board are usually more than willing to help you work through bugs, should any arise. Bottom line, in my view, great machine.
 
VF80

Yeah, these are the prices i found. Would there be any issues with the voltage if i bought from the US?

Why is it so much cheaper over there? I mean, they're basically doing the re-writer for free compared to UK prices!
 
Re: VF80

hotpotato said:
Yeah, these are the prices i found. Would there be any issues with the voltage if i bought from the US?

Why is it so much cheaper over there? I mean, they're basically doing the re-writer for free compared to UK prices!
Click to expand...

I wonder if import taxes are added in the UK. Also, US current is 120volts 60cycles. For a device that has a motor (HD?) the 50cycle current I believe you use in the UK cannot be converted and would kill it. However, I would ask Fostex directly about any voltage issues. If not done properly you will burn out the machine and any warranty coverage too.

Mail order outfits in the US do so much volume that they often sell much cheaper than even other US based "mom and pop" operations. The local "camera" shop has pretty much gone by the way side here because their prices were undercut 40 to 50% by mail order/high volume operations. So, that, added to UK tax structure may tell the difference. Also, in the UK, companies may or may not strictly control minumum price levels -- thus giving a small operation a fair go. This would tend to keep prices up.

But anyway, really get definitive advise from someone who really knows about the voltage issues... Garry Sharp who knows a ton about the VF80 may have insight.
 
Don't know that much Bill:) :)

Anyway hotp, by the time you have paid shipping, VAT, Heathrow handling chrges and bought a US/UK transformer (it's factory set voltages) you'd be no better off. And you'd have no warranty protection. If it's any consolation, we're probably the cheapest after the US. I don't regret a penny of the price I paid.
 
Hey Garry

Good points. They e-mailed me saying voltage was switchable? Did they mean as you said, with a transformer. I know import tax is a killer. I got charged £25 on a $100 order from e-bay. I assume this is a sliding scale rather than fixed ie. A $600 order will cost £150. Er.. no, that seems excessive. Anyone know this stuff? VAT....again, don't know. The US price is $600, no mention of any extras.

I guess the biggest drawback is the warranty agreement.

Thanks all for your imput. I will begin spending less time on the computer and more time working so i can keep my job and pay for an English VF80 at a later date.

Perhaps by then then they will have re-written the manual?
 
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