Frequently Asked Questions
1. What does the "Signature Edition" upgrade provide?
3. What is the warranty period?
4. How do you certify the newly upgraded unit as "State of the Art"?
5. How long does the typical upgrade take until it ships back out?
6. What models does The Upgrade Company upgrade?
7. Does The Upgrade Company use a stock version of the same model for developing the upgrade?
8. How does your 14 Day In Home 100% Buy Back Guarantee work?
11. Do you offer any "DIY" Do-It-Yourself kits for any of your upgrades?
12. Why doesn't The Upgrade Company post pictures of their mods on the web and on their website?
13. What about posts on online forums?
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1. What does Upgrade Co's "Signature Edition" upgrade provide?
- 100% Guaranteed ultra high performance in writing. Performance that meets or exceeds magazine top rated models
- "Signature Edition" certificate of authenticity & SE foil sticker. Date the upgrade was performed, brand & model, serial number, warranty and more...
- Installation of hand-picked custom chosen high cost electronic parts/wiring/connectors chosen from measurement & listening comparisons, RFI/EMI shielding and dampening
- Huge return on investment: Our "Signature Edition" upgrade competes or beats top magazine rated models costing tens of thousnds of dollars, so you are essentially getting back many times your investment in the upgrade by not having to spend thousands of dollars more, for less performance
- 100% Satisfaction Guarantee. You get our world famous "14 Day In Home Trial, 100% Buy Back Guarantee"
- 5 year parts and labor warranty on the upgrade and we match the manufacturers warranty on new models we sell.
1 - Electronic parts
2- Wiring
3- Radio frequency interference (RFI) and electro magnetic interference (EMI) shielding are painstakingly hand applied like NASA, U.S. Military, medical and aerospace industry installs whenever absolute signal fidelity and absolutely clean power must be maintained. Performance that is far beyond consumer grade products.
4- Vibration dampening is applied. Electricity is a resonance. External resonances caused by loudspeakers etc cause significant distortion and sonic degradation.
The Upgrade Company upgrades the entire unit all for one low price and guarantees & warrantees it's performance. Zero risk to you, the consumer.
Having a metal walled partition inside a component does not do the job. It is open at either end and on top allowing radio frequency and EM contamination to enter all
circuits, all wiring, all conductors, all electronic parts. Our high cost parts substitutions and RFI/EMI shielding approach is thorough and provides far higher measured and perceived performance increases over manufacturer "upgrades" and "new models". Upgrading just the parts will not achieve the industry's highest performance that we provide.
Our upgrades, parts selections and shielding techniques and shielding parts used comprise unique intellectual property and are trade secret, and protected by U.S., international, & state law. We have a full legal right to maintain our trade secret and proprietary mix of parts and techniques, especially given the fact that our Signature Edition upgrade performance is tremendously higher than competitors or OEM manufacturers. Please visit the online encyclopedia "Wikipedia" for more information:
Trade secret - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Purchasing another stock factory built model is like touching a hot stove all over again to see if it's still hot. All stock gear is "For Profit Built" and unshielded.
The average IQ in the USA is only 98, and we believe it when inquiriers say things like "If you can do this why don't the manufacturer's do it?" or worse "What do you do?" See: IQ and the Wealth of Nations - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. What we do was just explained in FAQ #2. Manufacturers cannot install our RFI & EMI shielding by law.
Asking Upgrade Company LLC to divulge all details of the upgrade ahead of time in an email or telephone conversation without paying for the upgrade is essentially giving part of the upgrade away for free to try to duplicate. We are a business. A very successfull business. We do not give away innovations or parts selections we've worked very hard to achieve for free in an email or telephone call. Asking for upgrade details ahead of time is essentially stealing. You have our 100% Buy Back Guarantee to protect you as well as our A+ nationwide Better Business Bureau algorythm rating (whose ratings cannot be bought with money, we pay the same BBB fee every other business pays), hundreds of actual client testimonials and client referrals/interactions to give you the confidence you need.
The risk is actually all on us, to ensure that you will hear the same "State of the Art performance" our other clients hear.
Our proprietary RFI/EMI shielding & dampening are the most important & effective upgrades that can be performed to improve consumer electronics.
By law, no other audio or video aftermarket mod or upgrade firm can duplicate or approximate our RFI/EMI shielding techniques or parts by law. Our RFI/EMI shielding consistently produces the largest measurable and perceived improvements in both analog and digital circuits and power supply designs. Substituing high cost parts alone affords only a small fraction of what our RFI & EMI shielding accomplishes.
Consumers are simply unable to perform upgrades to this level of expertise on their own without the decades of experience and very advanced techniques and parts we use, both in the selection and matching of parts and in "voicing" each model to "live sounding" perfection.
Intelligent consumers realize that actual client opinions and testimonials carry the most weight. After all it's the final performance that actually counts, not a list of parts, and not specifications. There is no specification or measurement set that has been devised anywhere in the world that can be taken to indicate wether or not a product will sound good. If there was a measurement for good sound, magazine reviewers would simply take and publish these measurements and rank the results in order of best to worst. The fact remains that Mid-fi measures the same as Hi-Fi. Top of the line stock models do not meaure any better then middle of the line models. Yet they sound very different. Hence the need for reviewers to opine on what sounds good.
A testament to our claims being met is the sheer number of upgrades we have put into the systems of enthusiastic music lovers. To attempt to convince you or others of the merits of our upgrades we can claim many things, but nothing speaks louder than the appreciation our customers have. The only way you or anyone else will know if our upgrades elevate a component to State of the Art is to hear it with one's own ears against a stock ultra high cost model using the exact same power cord, interconnect cables, physical location in the exact same system.
3. What is the warranty period?
On all products we sold brand new, the warranty period is the same as the manufacturer's warranty period. On customer owned units, the warranty period covers the "Signature Edition" upgrade for 5 years parts and labor. Warranty concerns must be returned to The Upgrade Company if we cannot solve the issue over the telephone or the nearest manufacturer authorized service center cannot repair it first, with our permission to take it there. Returning the unit here to the experts who upgraded it with the "Signature Edition" upgrade circumvents local repair shops & the manufacturer from installing the typical low cost generic parts/wiring/solder back into the unit. Further, they will not re-install shielding or dampening. They cannot install our shielding by law. Returning the unit to The Upgrade Company assures that the unit will remain fully "Signature Edition" upgraded. By returning the unit to The Upgrade Company, we are also able to install performance enhancing updates during repairs, sometimes at no additional cost to the client.
4. How do you certify the newly upgraded unit as State of the Art?
The Upgrade Company employs expnsive reference level models that have been judged by veteran high end audio magazine reviewers as "State of the Art", "Class A rated", "Editor's Choice", "Top Picks" etc. Our "Signature Edition" upgrade is 100% Buy-Back Guaranteed to meet or exceed the highest reviewer rated models made today. Every "Signature Edition" upgrade The Upgrade Company performs must readily surpass a recently published "Class A rated" "Editors Choice" "Top Picks" model to become certified by The Upgrade Company as "State of the Art".
A wide variety of "State of the Art" models have been employed by us to judge against, including the stock and upgraded top of the line models from McIntosh, EMM LABS, Wadia, Esoteric, Krell, Mark Levinson, BAT, CJ, Audio Research, dCs, Burmester, MBL, and more.
We use high cost MIT Oracle MA-X and MA interconnect & loudspeaker cabling and power cords, WireWorld Silver Starlight 6.0 HDMI cables. 4 systems employing various high end power cords and power line conditioning, 3 ISF Certified displays, various stock and upgraded high end tubed and solid state pre and power amplifiers, upgraded surround processors and DVD Blu-Ray universal players all used for direct comparison to develop and to certify each upgrade as "State of the Art".
The Upgrade Company continues to push the present "State of the Art" through our "Signature Edition" upgrades by extracting significantly higher performance out of the latest high end models.
There is still much more performance on tap from today's top rated models. Top of the line models are STILL being built with a serious lack of high end audiophile parts, vibration dampening, and most importantly a lack of RFI or EMI internal shielding. A dividing panel inside is not shielding. RFI goes full strength through holes smaller then the eraser on a pencil. There are 5-6 sources of high volume RFI inside a prepreo or player and a huge source of RFI in any component that uses a switching mode power supply.
5. How long does the typical upgrade take until it ships back out?
5 -7 business days after your unit arrives to us, depending on model. Many brand new models are already in stock and ready to ship.
6. What models does The Upgrade Company upgrade?
The Upgrade Company has developed a reputation for successfully upgrading & warranteeing both solid state and tube HiFi gear including preamplifiers, solid state and tube power amplifiers, solid state and tubed integrated amplifiers, transports, dac's, CD players, LP phono preamplifiers, active & passive speaker crossovers, DVD & Blu Ray Universal players, surround processors & receivers, satellite & HDTV tuners, AM/FM Tuners, pro audio gear, etc. We do not do perform upgrades or restorations to older or vintage models. We specialize in recently manufactured latest technology models which are already designed and built to a higher performance level then obsolete models. However, some high cost older models from high end brands like Mark Levinson, ARC, Krell, Wadia, Theta, etc. we'll upgrade and warrantee, but not older vintage restorations, simpy too old and too time consuming.
7. Does The Upgrade Company use a stock version of the same model for developing the upgrade?
Yes. This is not always necessary because the circuit layout and parts are highly similar and plain to see from model to model. There is no guesswork involved. Each upgrade invloves careful measurement and analysis. All electronic parts from all manufacturers are labled. The same electronic part brands are repeated from one manufacturer to another. Manufacturers do not make their own parts. Manufacturers routinely use the exact same generic low cost electronic parts and wiring from their cheapest model to their most expensive model: the same parts are used, all in the name of bulk ordering to save costs. The difference in the high piced models is found in the circuit layout , power supply design, number of functions, expense of outer casework and remote control. The more expensive models simply have more of the same parts with more unshielded wiring, which collects even more RFI & EMI, which negates much of the claimed benefits manufacturer's charge a fortune for. There is always increased performance to be extracted. through upgrading
The Upgrade Company employs double blind, multiple-participant A-B listening sessions when developing an upgrade and choosing parts selections for each upgrade. We measure, record and quantify the performance of the stock unit in order to determine it's strengths and weaknesses. The objective data further aids in determining which brands and types of ultra high end parts to install. We employ both measurement equipment and recording equipment to record and quantify each unit's stock performance prior to any work being done. Using an advanced recording system, we make recordings of each unit before during and after the upgrade. We quantify the unit's performance both in it's stock OEM condition and just prior to shipping it back to the customer to have a very clear "before and after" record of the parts, shielding and wiring improvements. Manufacturer's do not like The Upgrade Company showing customers the truth that .05 cent capacitors were used for example heavily in top of the line models, or that for a few dollars more, quality shielding should have been installed at the factory for large measurable and audible improvements.
As high-end audio consumers, we must depend on our own ears and our own listening preferences to decide what we each like best. After 30 years of upgrading & comparing just about every brand out available, The Upgrade Company has proven itself to be highly skilled and effective at improving both the measured and perceived performance of high end audio and video. By employing scientific methods of evaluation and testing, we continue to satisfy our clients today.
8. How does your 14 Day In Home 100% Buy Back Guarantee work?
All of our products and services come with our famous "no hassle -no questions asked" 14 Day In Home Trial, 100% Buy Back Guarantee. To be eligible, you must notify us in writing within 14 days of the unit arriving as confirmed by the shippers tracking number. Once the merchandise is received back complete with all of the manufacturers included accessories including the owners manual & warranty card, Signature Edition upgrade certificate, original remote control, packed in the manufacturers packaging double boxed like we sent it. Merchandise must be received back in "As New" condition with all paperwork, SE upgrade certificate, wiring, remote and OEM packaging and received by us within 21 business days from the date of delivery.
On customer-owned used units sent to The Upgrade Company for upgrading, we will pay the Audiogon Blue Book average of most recent sales and refund the upgrade fee less the shipping cost we paid or we will replace the unit with a stock identical unit and refund the upgrade fee paid.
If a new unit is returned whcih we sold new, we will issue a full & prompt refund less the shipping cost we paid. We'll perform inspections and measurements and any updatesd to be sure it exceeds OEM specifications and meets our stringent standards for "State of the Art" performance. We then re-certify the unit to "Signature Edition" and issue a new Signature Edition serialized and dated certificate to offer the unit for sale discounted as a demo model since the unit is no longer "Brand New". The Upgrade Company does not sell factory refurbished equipment. Every new model offered for sale is "A" stock and arrives factory sealed before upgrading.
We are A+ rated by the nationwide Better Business Bureau algorythm. We have received hundreds of unsolicited client endorsements, with more every month from new clients. We've been upgrading for 30 years. We're here to help you get State of the Art performance in your system without going into debt to do so. Every $1,000 invested gets you back a minimum of $10,000 in stock new or used performance.
Our "14 Day In Home Trial 100% Buy Back Guarantee" is totally unmatched in the high end audio modification & upgrade industry.
9. Do any of The Upgrade Company's upgrades alter the original functionality or options in the menu or front panel buttons?
No. The Upgrade Company does not alter the original engineering or functionality. Nothing is ever disabled or compromised. There is no need to re-engineer. RF & EM shielding and high quality parts and wiring are what is required to make a low cost unit outperform Class A rated magazine top picks.
10. Do any of your upgrades affect software or firmware updates or cause the unit to run warmer then usual?
No. With our upgrades there is never an issue ever with firmware updates. Each unit we deliver has the very latest firmware updates since it is brand new factory fresh. Our upgrades allow every model to run cooler then before, because our extensive ur RFI/EMI shielding has been shown to dramatically reduce the wordload on the power supply, audio, video, digital circuits and especially chipsets that have been shielded. Since the power supply and circutry are no longer reproducing radio frequency contaminiaton, the reduced workload affords cooler operation. The shielding out of RFI increases the lifespan of the unit by affording cooler operating temps.
11. Do you offer any "DIY" Do-It-Yourself kits for any of your upgrades?
No. We cannot warrantee someone elses work or workmanship. Nor could we be certain the parts/wiring/shielding/dampening were installed correctly. Nor would we have possession to test the unit afterwards to be sure it meets or exceeds OEM specifications and objective listening and comparison tests directly against cost-is-no-object models.
12. Why doesn't The Upgrade Company post pictures of their mods on the web and on their website?
We're not going to post pictures to educate our competitors and a multitude of manufacturers on how to duplicate our upgrades and get far higher performance. Our upgrades are unique and we have spent a lot of time picking parts and pioneering RFI/EMI shielding which no other modifier or manufacturer is allowed to duplicate by law. We have invested a lot of money, time and energy into perfecting and protecting our methodology & approach, and our parts selections & shielding.
13. What about posts on online forums?
You're reading anonymous posts. Investigations have uncovered that aliases with negative anonymous posts online have been associated with known competitors and manufacturers/dealers/distributors who feel economically pinched by our providing the same models they sell for essentially the same price they charge for their stock "For Profit Built" version. Nobody wants a stock model when for essentially the same price you can buy an upgraded version. You'll notice how no one says they didn't like the performance, they only doubt it without having heard our work.
Anyone can take out an online alias and tell all sort os lies, post phony photos with no legal consequences whatsoever. As you can see The Upgrade Company remains A+ rated by the nationwide Better Business Bureau algorythm now for many years. If we did something wrong a consumer would surely file a claim. Our BBB rating would not remain A+. Anyone can say anything online and get away with it. Including outright lies. Competitors and manufacturers/dealers/distributors have posted lies & cast doubts online for years in attempt to tarnish and limit The Upgrade Company's continued success & growth.
The Upgrade Company has proven itself to be extremely skilled at extracting the highest performance from audio and video components. There is no reason to have any doubts or worry as a result of the false claims posted in online message forums. We've been upgrading high end HiFi for 30 years. We have received hundreds of client endorsements, with more every month from new clients. We're here to help you get State of the Art performance without going into debt to do so. Not take your money and run like lesser HiFi modification companies do all the time, with no satisfaction guarantee or BBB Certification in place to protect you.
We successfully deliver hundreds of upgrades every year with a return rate of .01%.
There is no specification or measurement set that has been devised anywhere in the world that can be taken to indicate wether or not a product will sound good. If there was a measurement for good sound, magazine reviewers would simply take and publish these measurements and rank the results in order of best to worst. Hence the need for HiFi reviewers to opine on what sounds good. The fact remains that Mid-fi measures the same as Hi-Fi. Top of the line stock models do not measure any better then middle of the line models. Yet they sound very different.
A testament to our claims being met is the sheer number of upgrades we have put into the systems of enthusiastic music lovers. To attempt to convince you or others of the merits of our upgrades we can claim many things, but nothing speaks louder than the appreciation our customers have. The only way you or anyone else will know if our upgrades elevate a component to State of the Art is to hear it with one's own ears in one's own system.
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Contact Info
The Upgrade Company
1222 Walkabout Lane
Harbor Springs, MI 49740
1+231.242.0946
Sales@upgradecompany.com