Light Harmonic (LH Labs). Scam? USD$6 million not delivered since 2014

[montpierjazz]

Wow, it's funny how this thread is dormant for months and then just springs back into action.

 

I ventured back here only because I now have another problem: unfortunately for me LH Labs is the gift that keeps on giving ... like a virus I just cannot get rid of.

 

So, I finally gave up on receiving a Vi DAC in this lifetime and purchased a high end DAC from a reputable source that sounds great.  Got sick of looking at the LH Labs boxes sitting around and sold my Pulse Xfi/LPS combo on Audiogon last month for less than one-fifth of what I had paid just to get it out of the house.  I kind of assumed that any online buyer on Audiogon would have some notion of the LH Labs story and knew what they were getting at that price.

 

Just got an e-mail the buyer informing me that the Pulse volume is stuck at -127db and he just cannot get it to work.  It was working fine for me and he acknowledges it was initially working for him.  I sent him firmware update "bin" files that I had (it was the version 2 chassis) and referred him to the LH Labs support site.  But he's now telling me the DAC appears to be dead.

 

Realize this may be a ridiculously stupid question, but is there anything resembling tech support anymore or is it just Jarek fending off the attacks with no real progress to share on various web forums?

[montpierjazz]

On 1/4/2019 at 1:03 PM, LHCommSquad said:

@montpierjazz LH Labs tech support is essentially non-functioning at this point. Not enough manpower, not enough time. Tickets are being reviewed periodically by me but the office generally isn't working on technical matters for LH Labs products at this point. 

 

 

 

Jarek - thank you for the prompt and honest response.  

 

Follow-up question: looking back I paid $62 to LH Labs for shipping of the Vi DAC on Jan 20, 2016.  That was not a "perk" as per IGG, but clearly a fee charged separately for a service that was invoiced under false pretenses and clearly not provided.  What is the most appropriate contact channel to officially request a refund?

[montpierjazz]

On 11/25/2019 at 2:46 PM, marflao said:

Yep..will do once we have finalized the complaint. 

 

Just received the e-mail.  

 

Wow - I had completely forgotten about this.  Replaced my Pulse/LPS last year with a much better (and reliable) DAC but it's had the additional benefit of lowering my blood pressure not being exposed to the LH Labs logo.

 

Thanks so much to Markus and Mike, instructions look clear.  Make sure to remind people about Jan 3 2020 deadline as things tend to slip around hectic holiday season.

 

And a shout out to Blake: had not seen the GF YouTube. Pathetic.

 

And Bernard: yes, much more appropriate thread title.  Thank you!

[montpierjazz]

On 12/24/2019 at 5:32 PM, Mike Rubin said:

Ouch!

 

No one should drag poor Teri Hatcher anywhere near this discussion.

 

Hey Mike - just submitted my info and signed consent form to Markus.  BIG THANK YOU to Mike & Markus and everyone else involved in getting this off the ground. 

 

Today's the deadline so anyone who has griped about the behavior of Larry Ho with respect to LH Labs should take the time to submit their information to [email protected] and (to paraphrase the infamous Gavin Fish....) Join us and 20,000 passionate audiophiles to obtain refunds for never delivered game-changing ultra high performance audio gear.

 

(And Mike, was glancing back at recent thread posts and the above comment is hilarious.  Too bad Seinfeld is no longer around.  Imagine an episode which starts with George steaming about contributing to a crowdfunding campaign that turned out to be a fraud and sending Kramer to China to confront those responsible...) 

[montpierjazz]

Sorry to hear about your situation AgentXXL.  Unfortunately doubtless there are others in similarly unforeseen circumstances and some no longer with us, even before the horrible current events.

 

Sometimes I feel what's been lost in the endless nitpicking about delivery numbers and endless virtual chassis design renderings and debates about silly IEM exchange programs and insults and excuses throughout this thread is the distress of many people, perhaps of limited means, who got drawn into this scam while Larry, Gavin et al. plus IGG laughed their way to the bank, at least for a while.

 

And others who profited from the fairly extensive print/online advertising run by LH Labs/Light Harmonic -- if presumably Stereophile, TAS (2 page vaporware LH Sire!) etc. ever actually got paid with funds that were diverted from actually producing products -- as well as customized rugs and Teslas.

 

Jarek, at this point I don't know if you're just further enabling the nonsense, but if you still have any communications with Larry, I have just one word for you to pass on:

 

Karma

 

 

[montpierjazz]

On 3/28/2020 at 3:57 PM, Nzboot said:

The post is odd ...

 

 

With all due respect, the post is "odd"???  I'm sorry but I could come up with a bunch of other adjectives.  Let's try:

• OLD (as in I've lost count of how many similar posts received over the past 5+ years)
• RIDICULOUS (as in we're supposed to be pleased they've supposedly achieved 2 working units)
• DUBIOUS (based on prior Pulse experiences we shouldn't expect those units to be working for long)
• UNCONVINCING (as in this is from the same source that led us to believe these units were shipping 4+ years ago)
• SURREALISTIC (as in is someone perhaps on drugs?)
• FAKE NEWS (never mind, let's not go there, someone else has already abused that term)

I could go on, but let's take a step back.  The prior "update" (I'm using that term loosely) claimed that they had received 5 chassis but 2 didn't work out.  Someone has been futzing with this f#@*ing (apologies mod, but this deserves an expletive) chassis for how many years and still can't get better than a 60% yield rate?  If true, that's a whole new level of pathetic.  (If anyone still thinks LH is a competent designer I have a few bridges to sell you...)

 

And now, since the Dec 21, 2019 post they claim to have a whole 2 of the 3 working?  If my math is right, what happened to the other -- did it blow up?  (Now, that's a picture I would love to see!)

 

So, I have a question for folks:  I've been browsing design theory literature and have not found terminology for when a process is stuck in an endless loop or perhaps the opposite of "rapid prototyping".  Merely being "slow" or "unsuccessful" doesn't quite capture the lunacy of this journey and just labeling this a "scam" somehow feels to me, well, too dignified.

 

And sorry, just posting pictures of clowns or popcorn just doesn't quite do much for me either.

 

Since unfortunately many of us have a bit more time on our hands, I propose we show a bit more creativity in future posts to this thread.  But let's adhere to the forum rules and keep the comments above board, avoiding overt personal attacks or insults and of course, maintaining "social distancing" protocols.  

 

(Yes, Stuck Limo, you're also eligible)

 

Stay safe and healthy all!

[montpierjazz]

9 hours ago, EdmontonCanuck said:

 

Back in the day when I was a software developer and we worked on a project that never seemed to end and everyone knew it was a write-off we simply referred to it as a "death march"

 

 

 

Not bad, but "march" might imply forward movement.  Perhaps one could "death march in place" but again, some movement is suggested. Even a "death crawl" is probably too fast paced to do this justice and maybe too honorable.

 

Thoughts?

[montpierjazz]

40 minutes ago, germay0653 said:

It's called Pretzel Logic or an Endless Loop!

 

That's wonderful! 

 

If I were more creative, might be fascinating to somehow illustrate the twists and turns documenting often false claims of Vi DAC progress, including a special plotting devoted to 5+ years of chassis design renderings, vendor selection, impending prototype arrival, prototype failures, report of a working prototype, impending production ramp-up, production failures, re-design renderings, etc.

 

Would make a helluva pretzel.

 

As opposed to some of the other promised LH Labs "Perks" which were pretty much non-starters aside from LH & Co. pocketing more $ (of course with IGG getting their cut).

[montpierjazz]

On 3/30/2020 at 5:29 PM, spyderman said:

 

... We deserve a detailed explanation of the project operations during the last 6+ years from Larry Ho himself.

 

montpierjazz, germany0653, have you not come to the realization that after waiting for 5, or 6+ years, you will be receiving NOTHING!

 

Yes, thought it was pretty clear I realized long ago not to expect LH to ever deliver a Vi DAC; purchased a Playback Designs Merlot DAC years ago that I'm quite happy with.

 

So at this point I check in intermittently mostly to be amused by the vitriol.  

 

But I kind of wonder why you're expecting a detailed explanation from LH?  People have been requesting precisely that across this and other forums, and even years before on the old LH website forums.  

 

The infrequent responses have either attempted to justify non-delivery due to failings and incompetence and/or have turned out to be complete falsehoods.

 

If Stuck Limo posted a picture of hundreds of Pulse, Vi DAC's, Waves, etc. in boxes ready to be shipped I would be pleasantly surprised but still dubious.  Very simply AFAIC what's left of the company (?) lost all credibility years ago, as the 43 (and counting) pages of this thread so richly document.

 

Still, keeping this thread active is not a waste of time.  Hopefully it does provide a reminder to LH that there are people who have not forgotten his transgressions and just maybe pop up in a Google search of "LH Labs" or "Light Harmonic" to prevent others from being taken in by his scams in the future.  One can only hope at this point.

 

So if posting "evil clown" pictures works for you, be my guest!

 

Cheers and stay well