Phaedrus Audio Phusion?

[wavetable]

The Phusion looks quite interesting but I struggle to find anything in recent years that says people are still buying it - or that the current website is anything other than a phishing site. Waste of time or unjustly forgotten British gem?

[Hugh Robjohns]

It was a genuine gem of a product... but I've not had contact with Phaedrus for a few years now. have you tried messaging them?

[wavetable]

Could just as easily be emailing a scammer - dear scammer are you genuine and would you like some money?

Someone has the domain but I can't verify who that is. The .co.uk domain is available - I could quite easily set up an email against that domain and quite likely get an SSL root cert with no hard questions.The recently updated phone number is a New York number - for a company which still purports to be in Maidstone (although they have no trading address). The company has de-registered; there's a woolly explanation on the website FAQ but ultimately there must either be *some* company behind it that is registered (in which case why not say?) or else it's run privately at a low level. In which case the New York / Maidstone presence seems odd.

It could all be entirely innocent but it just looks wrong.

[Hugh Robjohns]

It always was a bit of a one-man-band operation, with Richard Brice at the helm. As I say, I've lost touch, but it is perfectly plausible that he may have moved back to America.

I'll try and find out....

[Hugh Robjohns]

As promised, I reached out to Phaedrus and recieved a message within hours directly from Richard.

It's true that most Phaedrus sales (principally now the 'Electronic Tubes' vintage valve replacements) are in the USA, and the company telephone number is now in the US for convenience.

Hardware is still made in Europe, and Richard Brice still lives in France, where he's been for a very long time.

All of the hardware products on the website are available (component availability has killed off a few older products, though!).

So, to be clear:

Phaedrus Audio still exists, and is trading.

The website is secure and all SSL/TLS encrypted.

All email enquiries are responded to within 24 hours.

Personal sales are all transacted via PayPal (larger business sales are by pro-forma).

When ordered goods are ready to ship, Phaedrus raises a PayPal invoice and the goods are dispatched on payment of that invoice. So all of PayPal security guarantees apply.

Consequently, there is no financial risk whatsoever when dealing with Phaedrus via PayPal.

So, your scamming fears are misplaced. Phaedrus is still in business, and people I know and trust are still behind it and have reassured me.... which means Phaedrus remains "an unjustly forgotten British Gem!"

I hope that helps.

[wavetable]

Thank you, Hugh that's a much appreciated clarification and validation through your sources. I'll definitely put the Phusion on the shortlist now.

I may seem a fusspot but these days it pays to be extra careful of anything on the internet that you can't validate by other means. Phishing is getting ever more sophisticated and even big players like M&S or the Co-op get caught out.

[Drew Stephenson]

I may seem a fusspot but these days it pays to be extra careful of anything on the internet that you can't validate by other means. Phishing is getting ever more sophisticated and even big players like M&S or the Co-op get caught out.

You can't be too careful, and any genuine organisation will understand that.

[Hugh Robjohns]

^Wot he said. It was a petfectly valid concern. I am glad I've been able to put your mind at rest. Phaedrus have a unique approach to audio design and make some excellent products.

Your enquiry has renewed my own interest in the remarkable Shuphler, now in mk3 form, which fell off the bottom of my own lengthy wishlist some time ago.

[Zukan]

Cool review Hugh.

Ah well, lung....ebay it is then...

[Matt Houghton]

Ah well, lung....ebay it is then...

Used. One less-than-careful owner... how much are you hoping to raise, exactly?

[Zukan]

Ah well, lung....ebay it is then...

Used. One less-than-careful owner... how much are you hoping to raise, exactly?

Not sure what the going rate is for a used Armenian lung.

I'll get back to you.