Hey there, I am posting to share some of the QA issues I’ve run into with two new TP-7 units. I bought them from an in-person retailer.
The first issue, the software hangs when interacting with some of the sub-menus. The bigger issue between both devices is the Memo button is very difficult to actuate. In fact, I ended up returning the first device because the memo button got stuck!
Yep, that meant it was stuck recording forever as I boxed it up and brought it back to the shop. The second unit has the same “off” feeling in the Memo button. I’m thinking about returning this one to the retailer, and commencing an order from Te directly for one of the black TP-7s.
I have to ask – am i crazy? Two devices with iffy hardware/software…. should I even try to collect a third? What has your experience been?
that stinks. my first tp7 had an issue too, and i bought it directly from TE. but my 2nd one is great and ive been using it a lot and i do love it. i think direct from TE is probably no less or more reliable than a reputable in-person retailer. so i guess proceed at your own risk.
one thing about buttons. the memo AFAIK was specifically designed to be very easy to press and by design has a bit of play/give to it. this is my understanding from conversations around the forum and with TE support.
second comment about buttons. they can feel a bit stiff at first as they have very tight tolerances but with a bit of normal use they will feel totally normal quite soon.
I had the same issues with 2 brand new TX-6 mixers: “Soft/squishy” buttons that might get even worse by time.
I returned both and got a third unit without problems. A lot of hassle, and it took several months…but worth it. Hate to pay that kind of money for a premium product, but still have to participate in a lottery. In the end, the support from TE was great though.
Yeah, the quality issues I observed were less than ideal in my purchase directly from TE. I am on unit 4, and I think this one is mostly good.
I ordered mine during the October “free Medieval” event, and the fist unit had a very firm play button compared to stop and record, little knock sound on the motor like some pointed out but is apparently known/intentional.
The next two units had click buttons that frequently jammed and were sharp.
I finally received a working unit at the end of December, and waiting through the holiday rush was frustrating but understandable for what in reality is a small company.
I’m honestly happy with TE’s direct customer service and I don’t feel burned. I love my TP-7, but I will watch it like a hawk during its first year for flaws covered by warranty. I know statistically someone has to get th bad luck of multiple failures in a row, but TE did get me a good unit, and I feel bad for them with what seems a troublesome QA process.
For comparison, I bought the TX-6 shortly after launch and never experienced any issues with it.
yeah the quality control in manufacturing is hopefully going to improve in the coming months/years. they are hiring for a manufacturing specialist/engineer on the careers page. fingers crossed!
all those button related things you mentioned are just part of the break in process. my unit felt the same at first but over a month or so of normal use they all felt normal. the clickiness and everything subsided. the tolerances on all this custom aluminum field series parts are very tight so the break in can be intimidating at this price point but if anyone else is reading this perhaps it will be helpful to know this.
On my first unit, I measured the play button with a kitchen scale, the two normal buttons took about 200g to activate, where the “firm” play button took 500g.
The second unit’s Mode button was similarly “firm”, not jamming and also took 500g to activate, but the plus & minus buttons jammed and were sharp to the touch (like the burr from machining hadn’t been removed).
The third unit’s Memo button didn’t float in the hole like it’s supposed to, and would pivot on the diagonal and often jammed in the process.
The fourth unit is good, at least what I feel different about the buttons and motor and such don’t seem big enough to offend me like the units above.
I hear what you’re saying about “breaking in period” but TE’s support agreed to replace and I’m happy that I requested attention. You deserve to receive a functioning product when you make a purchase. Be willing to start a dialogue with customer support.
I originally asked if the play button on my first unit was supposed to be this firm, or if the firmness was within the acceptable tolerances they expect. They said after my demonstrating it with a video, that it needed replacement, and I was relieved.
It might gain character with age, but that’s a different topic. The TP-7 is almost a piece of art in itself, and so with the high price tag, I feel an appreciation for it. But similarly I’m not going to toss that kind of money at an object that literally doesn’t do the thing as advertised. I’m sure my experiences were a fluke of “bad luck”, and I did get a good unit.
TE is a small company, despite their price tags and the usually high quality of their work. Be patient and kind with any customer support person, and they will often help more than you would expect.
Thanks for the response! This definitely feels wrong. The first got stuck and stuck for good (resulting in the humorous scenario where it was recording its own return back to the store). The second feels like it could get stuck at any moment.
However, what you’ve shared about the buttons feeling OK with normal use is intriguing to me. I’ve been trying to use the TP-7 and that memo function as much as possible. The button still feels tight beyond what I would expect from something at this price point, to the point where when I press it to capture a thought in the moment, it doesn’t depress and activate.
Could you describe more about what “soft/squishy” means to you? In my case, the Memo button is the opposite of soft/squishy. It seems to stick in itself, and not depress at all. When it depresses, it feels as though it will stay stuck for no reason. I appreciate it may be difficult to describe this; I should aim to post a video perhaps.
Thanks for sharing your experience! FWIW, I have a good amount of TE gear, and have had no issues. This is the first true bad hardware/button experience I have had. With respect, I’m blown away that you’ve had to go through 4 units at this price point before you found something that was satisfactory. I hope I don’t go through that.
In my case, I bought from an authorized retailer. I may consider returning this one, repurchasing it from TE directly, then continuing to deal with them directly if I continue to encounter issues.
Glad to hear you have not had issues with the TX-6 Rock on!
Most of the buttons has a small amount of resistance when depressed. Not as much as you describe, but exactly enough that they are supposed to. They give a satisfying little “click”.
However, one button was without this resistance. What I would describe as soft. It felt as if the physical button was too small for the hole or based in butter , and that it would be worse over time. As if the the button wouldn’t return back to the off position (if that makes sense). The software was working when the button was depressed: It was a physical thing.
I send a video to the retailer I got it from, and they replaced the unit. The second mixer had another flaw (I think it was one of the faders that was a bit loose), and I contacted TE. They asked me to send the mixer to them for inspection, and they replaced the second unit and send me a third full functional mixer. They were very kind and helpful - great support - but it took almost 3 months all in all.
During the time when TE had my second unit, (which was bought from a retailer), the original retailer got confused and also send me another replacement unit, so I basically got a spare free extra mixer. Unfortunately I am too honest, so I called them and returned the free gift - they were surprised. I could have made a good amount of money.
Anyway: Don’t hesitate to contact TE. You should document as good as possible with a video. I think they are into getting a better reputation about the quality control, and they specifically asked me to send the mixer to them instead of the retailer so their technicians could inspect the machinery.
Just to update: Thanks to the advice and suggestions in this thread, I took a vid and contacted TE. They advise I return the unit to the retailer. I will likely then re-purchase from them directly. FWIW, when I showed them the issue their support said it was the type of issue they would offer a new unit for themselves.
Thanks, I’ll update once/if I get a third unit from TE!
Rock on!