Some of those initial batch QC issues can happen to any company for any product really. Definitely unfortunate, and it does color peoples’ opinions. In these cases, the response of the company involved is more important though IMO, as well as their track record. I also know that Waldorf has both responded quickly and wonderfully, and also slowly and lacking in communication in some cases. I’ve heard stories of both, just like I’ve heard stories of both with other companies. I guess it just makes sense to take a sampling of all that, and make up one’s own mind.
In Waldorf’s case, they’ve always built synths like tanks, if you look at their products as a whole over the decades. I’ve had one XT, one XT-30, one XTk, one Q-Rack, one Micro-Q, one Blofeld, a Pulse, a Pulse Plus, and the M. All of them absolute tanks.
I think in the case of the Iridium screens, this was their first product with a large touch screen, (this and the Quantum) and in these modern form-factors. Definitely a bit different than the things they had built in the past. It’s also not just Waldorf involved at this point. Korg is their major backer (if not owner these days (can’t remember the details). So it’s not just Waldorf building things in house.
I’ve emailed them about things that were years and years out of warranty, and always got a friendly reply to my questions. However, I’m also someone that can service my own gear when it’s that old, so I’ll admit that doesn’t count too much for someone completely relying on that warranty.
On the other hand, I’ve never needed to ask them for warranty service for anything that I’ve bought new, so that’s not a bad sign either.
I’m definitely not talking down issues that others have had. It’s no fun to get faulty gear. It’s just that I don’t think Waldorf has earned anything close to a reputation for flaky gear, build quality issues, (beyond initial new product run type things) etc. Elektron has had some issues like this. Sequential has (Prophet 6 mounting screw issue anyone?) and all of these companies responded, and fixed future runs. It could happen to a small company, it could happen to Korg or Roland. Unfortunate, but definitely possible for any new tech or new process.
Anyway, not trying to persuade anyone to change their minds. Just offering my own experiences and counter points.
Also, to some of the points above, people with no problems with their gear tend to be a lot quieter than people who have an issue. You could have a hundred happy people and two very noisy unhappy ones. (just as an example)
I mean, it really can happen to anyone, any company, any product. Hopefully they resolve it to their customers’ satisfaction.
. But he does like to be transparent, bless him.
