Bad quality of CMS Soto Voce

Bob82

New member
Joined
May 4, 2019
Messages
155
Location
Malaysia
I just would like to bring to you attention the problems faced with the Soto Voce racks that I have just received. I believe these units were mid of last years batch.

1) Poor threads on the center aluminum bar- caused galling of screws.

2) Platform height adjusted were tightened so hard that it cause screws to just round off and released tension with a loud popping.

I am not sure now if CMS is really serious about their “entry” audio racks. At the moment I am in conversation with the dealer to help rectify the problems faced.


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I have had a similar issue with mine.

My frame has also cracked at a top join. Personally I would avoid these racks.
 
I have had a similar issue with mine.

My frame has also cracked at a top join. Personally I would avoid these racks.

Really don’t see why the platform adjusters have to be put on so hard as they have to be adjusted to suit as well.

I am also concerned about the durability of the finish- the matte top coat just rub off when I sanded lightly to get the larger scuff marks.

Don’t take me wrong they are good rack but just seems like a bad sub contractor job.


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Thanks for your posts. It's troubling that such a high end company would have such quality control issues - especially seeing what they cost. Have you contacted CMS and asked for assistance? At times going direct to the source helps ...
 
I just would like to bring to you attention the problems faced with the Soto Voce racks that I have just received. I believe these units were mid of last years batch.

1) Poor threads on the center aluminum bar- caused galling of screws.

2) Platform height adjusted were tightened so hard that it cause screws to just round off and released tension with a loud popping.

I am not sure now if CMS is really serious about their “entry” audio racks. At the moment I am in conversation with the dealer to help rectify the problems faced.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Bob82

We are very sorry you are having an issue with your Sotto Voce. The last thing we want is for you to be disappointed or inconvenienced, We would be very happy to replace the parts you are having an issue with.

If you would be so kind as to contact your distributor, we would be very pleased to get the parts to you. We sell a very large number of Sotto Voce around the world and I guess every once in a while we miss something we shouldn't. All we can say is that we are sorry for that.

Thank you for being a loyal customer of ours and please know we will take care of you.

All the Best,

Joe
 
I have had a similar issue with mine.

My frame has also cracked at a top join. Personally I would avoid these racks.

Hi Eggmeister

I saw Bob82s comment and yours and thought it was appropriate to send exactly the same response to you. I hope you don't mind.

We are very sorry you are having an issue with your Sotto Voce. The last thing we want is for you to be disappointed or inconvenienced, We would be very happy to replace the parts/rack frame you are having an issue with.

If you would be so kind as to contact your distributor, we would be very pleased to get a new parts/frame to you. We sell a very large number of Sotto Voce around the world and this shouldn't happen. All we can say is that we are sorry for that.

Thank you for being a loyal customer of ours and please know we will take care of you.

All the Best,

Joe
 
Thanks for your posts. It's troubling that such a high end company would have such quality control issues - especially seeing what they cost. Have you contacted CMS and asked for assistance? At times going direct to the source helps ...

Calvin,

I have got my dealer on the case with CMS. My dealer will come by assess and perhaps, fingers crossed rectify it. Being halfway around the world in Asia isn’t helping either.

The quality I have seen so far on this rack don’t seem to warrant the asking price.

I might just go the direct route but my dealer has been handling it well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Hi Bob82

We are very sorry you are having an issue with your Sotto Voce. The last thing we want is for you to be disappointed or inconvenienced, We would be very happy to replace the parts you are having an issue with.

If you would be so kind as to contact your distributor, we would be very pleased to get the parts to you. We sell a very large number of Sotto Voce around the world and I guess every once in a while we miss something we shouldn't. All we can say is that we are sorry for that.

Thank you for being a loyal customer of ours and please know we will take care of you.

All the Best,

Joe

Joe

As much as I am extremely disappointed and dismayed by how this rack turned out so far but I have liaised with the dealer here to facilitate the rectification work. Thanks for the reply on this forum.


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Calvin,

I have got my dealer on the case with CMS. My dealer will come by assess and perhaps, fingers crossed rectify it. Being halfway around the world in Asia isn’t helping either.

The quality I have seen so far on this rack don’t seem to warrant the asking price.

I might just go the direct route but my dealer has been handling it well.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hopefully the dealer will be helpful.
 
0c2b9fc6a1e52ef1b2ac6d1b326eb2b9.jpg


We have four Sotto Voce’s in the store, we’ve taken them to shows and bounced them around and they’ve always been great.


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There has been poor manufacturing throughout covid. I have a very good friend who is a general contractor. He's commented on how bad it's been in building materials


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Hi Eggmeister

I saw Bob82s comment and yours and thought it was appropriate to send exactly the same response to you. I hope you don't mind.

We are very sorry you are having an issue with your Sotto Voce. The last thing we want is for you to be disappointed or inconvenienced, We would be very happy to replace the parts/rack frame you are having an issue with.

If you would be so kind as to contact your distributor, we would be very pleased to get a new parts/frame to you. We sell a very large number of Sotto Voce around the world and this shouldn't happen. All we can say is that we are sorry for that.

Thank you for being a loyal customer of ours and please know we will take care of you.

All the Best,

Joe

I have taken your advice and contacted the Australian Distributor, I will keep forum members updated on the progress.
 
0c2b9fc6a1e52ef1b2ac6d1b326eb2b9.jpg


We have four Sotto Voce’s in the store, we’ve taken them to shows and bounced them around and they’ve always been great.


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My dealer is reading off the same script it seems and said the same thing- has 4 Soto Voce rack kicking about in his store as well.

It is perhaps a one off problem as it could well affect an entire batch that has been manufactured.


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Update: Dealer attempted to remove the platform screws - managed 2 out of 4 screws but rounded top 2 screws. The rack had to go back to the dealers for closer assessment.


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I have taken your advice and contacted the Australian Distributor, I will keep forum members updated on the progress.

Eggmeister

I contacted my dealer and the post on this forum seemed to expedite the process.


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Joe

As much as I am extremely disappointed and dismayed by how this rack turned out so far but I have liaised with the dealer here to facilitate the rectification work. Thanks for the reply on this forum.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Bob82

Thank you for your response. Your satisfaction is extremely important. We appreciate the opportunity to respond.

All the Best

Joe
 
This is a very old thread that surfaced an issue I would like to address briefly. We had 2 field failures with our Sotto Voce rack (we have delivered hundreds over the years) and we replaced them. I don't dispute the issue and I support replacing them as the investment our customers make is significant.

I would like to explain the construction of the rack as the core cause of the issue here is important to all wood rack owners. The SV has 4 vertical wood legs running its entire length top to bottom. All of the shear force caused by the load of the components in the rack is transferred to its vertical legs. None of the shear stress is transferred to the horizontal wood runners (and their joints) at the top and bottom of the rack. There is only 1 way you can split the horizontal wood runner joints; fail to completely level the rack. We experimented with this and found that a rack that is not completely level transmits shear force to the joints and given enough load, a joint can fail. This could happen to any wood rack. So, we ask owners (and this is probably good advice for everyone who owns a wood rack) to make sure your rack is level and the spikes are properly seated in their cups and/or in full contact with the floor.

So ends this public service announcement. :happy:
 
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