Happy Holidays! - And An Even Better 2016!

It's been an interesting 2015 here at Hilton Audio Products. A lot has changed, and much more change is to come. There is quite a bit of news to share with you all in this Winter 2015/16 Newsletter. So, Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and Good Health to You and Yours!

We are sad to share the news of the passing of former Hilton Audio Products owner, Dick Henschel.

On October, 3, 2015, Dick Henschel, longtime owner of Hilton Audio Products, passed away. We offer our sincere condolences to his wife, Vicky, and his family. Details of Dicks passing were shared by a friend via email and on the Hilton Audio Products website. You can find details and contact information here: http://www.hiltonaudio.com/dick-henschel.html

On Thanksgiving 2015, Hilton Audio Products purchased DOSADO.com

Hilton Audio Products Purchases DOSADO.com

You may have noticed a slight delay in shipping over the Thanksgiving Holiday week. During that week, Mary Ellen and I traveled to Shepherdsville, Kentucky to visit Pam Dillander and purchased all of the "square dance related assets" of Palomino Records and DOSADO.com.

This purchase included all of the vinyl inventory as well as CD's and the DOSADO.com music distribution system. The purchase also included multiple publications, DVD's, the website and equipment. Yak Stack speakers and accessories are also now part of the Hilton family.

We are immediately renovating the website to include up to date information as well as instant downloads of mp3 music. The site will be up and running with limited features beginning December 1, 2015. The full re-launch and "Grand Re-Opening" will be January 1, 2016.

We wish to thank Pam and (the late) Tom Dillander for their service to the activity over the past many years. The Dillanders, as well as Bill and Peggy Heyman and Don Hanhurst before them, have been cornerstones of the square dance activity and we hope to carry on their tradition of service into the next generation.

What isn't included as part of our purchase? The Palomino name, and anything related to the record pressing plant. Pam and Tom's son, Travis, will be taking over the record pressing business as vinyl is enjoying a bit of a renaissance in the Indy music scene.

Limited Sales To Europe Begin Again In January 2016

While we still have no solution to getting a Hilton amplifier approved for sale in Europe, we are prepared to re-introduce Hilton microphone cables, Yak Stack speakers, and accessories beginning in January. These items do not require the same cost-prohibitive CE testing that amplifiers are subject to.

(It is important that you understand that the MA-220 almost certainly passes all of the same CE Certification standards it qualified for in 2009. The design hasn't changed in ways that would typically affect the standard. The only reason we are not pursuing certification again is that it is completely cost prohibitive. Yes, we've heard of a dozen different places that promise to get you certified for just a few hundred dollars. Unfortunately, every time we follow through with one of those places promising certification the cost quickly escalates to tens of thousands of dollars...and well beyond our means.)

Also, let me remind you however, that while we are prepared to start selling other equipment to Europe again...shipping outside of the United States is NOT covered under our warranty. We will stand behind our product and repair and/or replace anything as needed based on our warranty...but we can NOT absorb the cost of shipping. Also, the online store is still not capable of calculating the cost of shipping outside the United States, so all sales will have to be done manually by telephone or email.

Small Inventory of Hilton Microphone Cables in Germany

Walt Burr is currently in possession of a small inventory of Hilton Microphone cables in Germany. He has these available for sale at this time, and he may very well be able to get you a cable quicker than I can from the states. He will have to charge the necessary import and duty charges as well as the cost of shipping. He's also got to make a (small) profit for his services. That said, he might be the best option for you at a very reasonable markup. He will also be doing limited repairs on microphone cables and accessories. Reach out to Walt at [email protected]

New Feet For MA-220's - Shipping In January

If you have purchased a MA-220 since we purchased the company, we will be shipping you a new set of feet for your amplifier. We have had a few complaints (3 so far) regarding the rubber feet coming off the bottom of these amplifiers, and we want to resolve the issue before more folks have problems as well. The new rubber feet have a metal washer mounted inside them, and this prevents the foot from being pulled off as easily. When you do receive your feet, please be sure to replace them one at a time because the screws that hold the feet in place, also hold the top and bottom of the MA-220 case together.

Yak Stack Speakers, Hearing Assist Systems, And More...

Also beginning in January, we will have Yak Stack Speakers available for sale. Cases, stands, adapters, etc. as well as speaker replacement kits will all be available as well.

We are also going to start testing Hearing Assist Systems, and welcome your feedback regarding the system you like best. There have also been requests for wireless microphones so we will look in to those as time permits.

Christmas Special - For Those Who Read The Entire Newsletter!

Anyone who purchases a MA-220 amplifier during the month of December 2015 will receive a blue nylon padded case (retail value $90.00) for FREE. Just include a note saying you read about the free case in the newsletter. If you don't ask for it...you don't get it! Merry Christmas from Hilton! (Use Coupon Code: HiltonNewsDec15 )

Happy Holidays To All,

Paul and Mary Ellen Cote

Hilton Audio NewsLetter
Fall 2015

Happy First Anniversary - Hilton Audio Products of Texas, LLC

As I am typing this newsletter, it is only days after our one year anniversary, and what a year it has been! It started with a giant pile of boxes sent from California, some basic instruction from Dick and Vicky Henschel, and the desire to keep "Hilton Audio" the premier name in quality sound equipment for the dance activity.

To date, we have processed more than 500 orders, including over 100 MA-220's to customers around the world. The response to Hilton Audio at CALLERLAB and at the 64th National Square Dance Convention was amazing. We've still "got a long way to go and a short time to get there", but we're on the right track. Thank you for your support over the past year! Paul and Mary Ellen Cote


Hilton Vacation Shutdown - September 7-11, 2015

VACATION NOTICE - Hilton Audio Products will be CLOSED September 7-11, 2015 for vacation. No telephone calls or emails will be answered during that week as we will be traveling. We will answer any voice messages, process any orders, and return emails beginning Monday, September 14, 2015.


64th National Convention - Keynote Address - "The Duo!"

Once upon a time, there were two 20-Something punks that wanted to become square dance callers. That was 1988. Twenty six years later, those two guys have had a little luck. The first guy, is yours truly. The second, was his best friend, Ted Lizotte of Manchester, NH. (www.tedlizotte.com) Among other things, Ted is the club caller for the Tech Squares of M.I.T. in Cambridge, MA. 

Why am I telling you about this? Well, Ted and I had the pleasure of presenting the Keynote Address at the 64th National Square Dance Convention in Springfield, MA this past June. We won't pretend for a minute to have all the answers, but we hope that we at least provoked some interesting thoughts during our presentation.

If you'd like to see the 64th Keynote in it's entirety (including the 10 minutes of glitches at the beginning) you can see it on YouTube using the following link: https://youtu.be/kGm6JEZfcBo


The Great Pot Debate - And The Winner is Green!

One of the main issues we were faced with when we took over Hilton Audio Products was a volume control potentiometer that was universally hated. It simply could not handle the normal wear and tear that a caller (typically) or cuer (occasionally) puts on it during a night of performing. Within a very short period of time, the volume fluctuated or became scratchy, and the potentiometer needed to be replaced.

We researched more than a dozen potential replacements, and tested several different options. We sent out a couple dozen cables to callers who work "full time", and after 6 months of testing without a single failure, we are now going to commit to this new volume potentiometer going forward. Every Hilton microphone cable produced since June has this new potentiometer already installed.

If you decide you want to convert on your own, the new volume pots are available in the online store. (The only modification you will have to do is drill out your rubber/plastic knob to 15/64th's of an inch, and then the new pot will fit perfectly.) We WILL continue to sell the old blue pots, at a reduced rate, for those of you who don't want to make the conversion. These pots come with NO warranty, and will be available only until our current supply runs out.)

The new "Green" volume pot is NOT going to last forever, however it appears to be much more durable than the old blue style. This is still, and will always be, a "consumable" part. There is NO mechanical potentiometer that will last forever.

Thank you for your patience as we took the necessary time to properly address this troubling issue.
 

New Varieties of FlexCoat Available For Your Microphone Cable

We still do not claim that it will do anything to protect your microphone cable. We don't say it makes it last longer. We don't say it will keep your pants cleaner. (Though these are the kinds of comments we are receiving.) All we can say for sure is that they look cool, and it'll be easier to keep your microphone cable from getting confused with the folks you are working with. Denim, Camouflage, "The Flame", Sherbert, and Reggae are now available. They're a little bit thicker than the other colors available, and after a brief introduction will cost a few more bucks, but, give them a try! ALSO, the neon Pink, Yellow, and Green all glow under blacklight. Fun!



Hilton Mono-Boosters and Platter Pads Back In Stock

We now have platter pads and Mono-Boosters back in stock. You can find them in the "New To The Online Store" section of the www.hiltonaudio.com website store.
 


Hilton "Officially" Cuts Ties with RSC In Europe

We've not yet given up on getting Hilton Audio Products back in to Europe some day. It appears, that if we can get it together, there may be a way to "self-certify" a large portion of the requirements needed for CE certification, and we are pursuing that option. If, and when, we do get back in to Europe, however, it will not be with RSC and Roland Federle. We are in discussions with another representative should we manage to get back in to Europe. Stay tuned!

RSC still has a website up that features Hilton Audio Products equipment, but it has been eight months or more since our last communication. We do not consider Roland an "authorized representative" for Hilton Audio Products of Texas. If you have purchased Hilton equipment from RSC, up to this date, it will still carry the same warranties as usual, however, going forward please be aware that we are no longer doing business.


All Parts And Services For Turn-Tables Now Handled By Dick Bull

Other than the basic foam pad or new style needle for your Hilton turn-table, all Hilton turn-table parts or services are being handled by Dick Bull. Dick is the former lead technician for Hilton, and he has the necessary knowledge and experience to support the old turn-tables. We simply do NOT. As of today, and going forward...if you need a part for a turn-table, contact Dick Bull. If Dick does not have it...it does not exist. I will not be maintaining any inventory of parts (new or used) for turn-tables here in Texas.

I apologize for the inconvenience, but while Stephen is a fantastic electrical engineer, neither he nor I have the experience with the mechanical aspect of the systems prior to the MA's. I'm also not able to invest in new stock that will sit on the shelves for years collecting dust. 
 
***I need to stress this again. ALL Hilton Turn-Tables are now considered "End of Life" products. Dick Bull will coordinate with others who are still doing repairs, but this is all being done independently, and NOT as a function of Hilton Audio Products. If it is a part for a turn-table, and it is not available on the website...it is not available from Hilton Audio Products any more.***

(Dick Bull can be contacted via his website, www.hiltonrepair.com.)
 

A Hilton Amp Costs Too Much? "Let me 'splain it to you Lucy..."

I need 200 of a certain part to complete 100 more MA-220's. If I purchased 200 parts, my cost would be $46.49 each, or $9,298.00. If I bump the number of parts I purchase up to 500, I'll get a discount and they'll only cost me $20.99 each, or $10,495.00. The next price break was at 2500 pieces, and that was over $11,000.00. So, today, I have enough of these single parts to make MA-220's for the next 7-8 years on the shelf.

Even with this absurd amount of stock on my shelf (remember, this is ONE part of 1000 in a MA-220), I can't even come close to bringing my costs down to what the "big-box" stores can get them down to. At 10,000 pieces...I could get that same part that costs $46.49...for just a couple bucks each...but that's enough of that part to make amplifiers for the next 30 years.

I can assure you folks, there is nobody getting rich here at Hilton Audio. We are doing our everything we can to give you the best possible product for your needs as a caller or cuer, and we're doing that at the absolute most reasonable price we can...considering our costs. I know it ain't cheap...but that's exactly what it is...not cheap to make either.
 

Looking Ahead At Hilton Audio Products

After vacation the first week of September, we'll be back to work building up our inventory. We'll continue to test out possible new equipment. We also want to re-introduce more accessories for your dancers. We're looking into Hearing Assist Systems, Wireless Microphones, and Speaker Stands. We're also considering making a Hilton Speaker available again next year. We plan to attend CALLERLAB and the National Square Dance Convention in 2016.


A Small Bump In The FlexCoat Road

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. This is a learning process for us, and there are going to be some minor bumps in the road.

Take a look at the pictures up above. When I first started adding FlexCoats to microphone cables, I thought I would help make those coatings secure by putting the heatshrink tubing over the black plastic wire protector at the base of the mic handle. It made sense to me! Big, deep grooves that the heatshrink could sink in to, right?

Not so much. Over a couple months of use, that plastic piece starts to stretch the heatshrink and loosen the connection. If you let it go far enough, the FlexCoat will end up sliding out of the heatshrink all together...and that's not a good thing.

The good news is, that it's a real easy fix. If you've got a hair dryer, just shrink that black tubing back down, and it's as good as new for another couple months. (The two top pictures show my personal microphone cable before and after a 2 minute visit with my hair dryer.)

Alternatively, you can send your cable back to me, and I'll re-attach the FlexCoat properly (as you can see in the bottom picture). I'll ship it back on my dime within the continental US. On request, I'll cover your shipping UP TO a "Small Flat Rate Box" from the US Post Office. All FlexCoated cables that have been sold in the past several months are now secured as they are in the bottom picture and we've had no further reports of problems.




Have you heard about EGO Recordings?

I'm assuming not...because, well, I haven't sold very much music lately. EGO Recordings is a project of mine that I started about 5 years ago. I wanted to produce some high quality music that was a little different from everybody elses. 

EGO has had some big hits. "Edge of Glory" by Lady Gaga was our first big seller. "Hallelujah" by Leonard Cohen is our biggest seller to date. Most recently, we've released "Story of My Life" by One Direction and "All of Me" by John Legend.

If you haven't had a chance to check it out yet, please take a listen at www.egorecordings.com


Best Of Luck With Your 2015/2016 Dance Programs!

We're heading in to "new class season" and hope you all have successful programs. It's no secret that "square dancing" is a hard sell in 2015, and that's a crying shame. Our hidden jewel of an activity could bring so much joy to people if we could just walk them through the door.

There are lot's of new ideas out there on how to revitalize our activity. In my personal opinion, the only wrong thing to do is "nothing". Do whatever you have to do to to sell what you do best, but above all, focus on that new dancer and make them know that it's all about them. Without them...we don't have much left.

Dance Up A Storm!

Paul and Mary Ellen Cote
www.hiltonaudio.com
www.egorecordings.com
www.paulcotecaller.com

We're Getting Ready For The National Convention! 

Greetings from the soggy south. We’ve had a foot or more of rainfall over the past few weeks here in Houston. A friend, preparing to visit, asked if he should pack a snorkel and mask. We made it through without any water getting inside, but unfortunately some friends were not so lucky. The good news is that we’re not in a drought for the moment.
 
Please Help Spread The Word By Forwarding This Newsletter To Your Friends
 
I won’t ask often, but I’m still getting phone calls from people surprised that they are reaching Houston, Texas and someone not named Dick. It’s been a year since we made the announcement that my wife, Mary Ellen, and I bought Hilton Audio, but lots of folks are still unaware. Please forward this email to your associations and calling/cueing friends and ask them to sign up on the front page of the Hilton Audio website: www.hiltonaudio.com. I’m only going to send 4-6 updates a year, so they don’t have to worry about spam coming from me. Thank You!
 
Report On Hilton Audio Products At CALLERLAB – March 2015
 
We had a successful trip to CALLERLAB in March. My lead technician, Stephen Chauvin, and I were able to meet many callers from around the world and introduce ourselves. We also got to re-introduce Hilton. We made a few sales and did some minor repair work. While we were not able to straight up donate equipment to the CALLERLAB Foundation, we were able to give a significant enough discount that the Foundation was able to add $2000.00 to its fund by holding a raffle for the 100th MA-220 built in Texas. The raffle also included a carrying case and microphone cable and was won by Monk Moore of Angier, North Carolina.
 
Hilton Heading To The 64th National Square Dance Convention – Springfield, Massachusetts
 
Hilton will have a booth in the vendor area of the 64th National Square Dance Convention. Please stop by and say hello. We will be located right next to the CALLERLAB booth. I will have a supply of microphones, microphone cables, and accessories as well as MA-220’s. (IF YOU WANT A MA-220 for EUROPE, JAPAN, or AUSTRALIA, I NEED TO KNOW BY JUNE 15, 2015. ALL SHIPMENTS TO EUROPE ARE ON YOUR OWN.)
 
On a personal note, New England is originally home for me. I’ve got lots of friends up that way, and look forward to calling up there again. I’m honored to have been asked to participate in several of the after-parties…and that’s a good thing because I’m going to be in the booth most of the day!
 
Oh Yeah…one more thing about the 64th National…
 
I’m honored to have been asked, along with my close friend, Ted Lizotte (NH), to be the Key Note Speaker at the 64th National. Ted and I will be speaking at 1:00pm on Friday. Neither of us claim to have the secret to saving square dancing…but perhaps we’ll be able to talk from a slightly different perspective.
 
What Is Going On At Hilton?
 
SUMMER SCHEDULE – Shipping Slowdowns and Shutdowns
 
We will be taking some time away from the office over the summer months. The biggest shutdown will be for our trip to the 64th National Square Dance Convention. We will also take a week off for vacation.
 
Here are the dates:
June 19 – July 6, 2015       Full Shut Down - National Square Dance Convention

August 3-7, 2015               Shipping Slow Down – No international – No custom items.
                                                (I’ll be away, but Mary Ellen can handle small items.)

September 4-11, 2015       Full Shut Down – Vacation
 
GOOD NEWS FOR EUROPE! ONE BRAND NEW MA-220 available in Germany!
 
We still haven’t resolved any of our customs issues with regards to sending equipment to Europe, however, I DO know of ONE brand new MA-220 available in Germany. If you would like this unit, it is available for $1495.00 USD…none of the additional fees you’re used to paying in Europe.  Contact me and I will provide further information.

Also, we are in negotiations with a source in Germany to make Hilton microphone cables and accessories along with local repair work available in Europe again. This does NOT resolve our amplifier issue, but it does help with the smaller items, and some service work. Stay Tuned!
 
A REMINDER – We’re A VERY SMALL Business
 
At one time, Hilton had as many as 15 employees. Today, we’re basically a “one man operation”. Yes, I have Steve building equipment to help, but he’s not in the office. Mary Ellen helps as she can, but she has to maintain her job so I can afford to run Hilton.
 
What does this all mean? Well, it means you’re going to have to cut me a little slack. If I don’t answer the phone right way, it probably means I’m speaking with another customer or a supplier. Please don’t call back 5 times in a row. Leave a message and I’ll call you back. Ultimately, the best method of contacting me is via email so I always have a record of our communication.
 
PLEASE HELP STOP THE RUMORS… There is NO NEW AMPLIFIER being built now or in the near future!
 
Yes…we’ve talked about what we would like to see for features in the next generation of Hilton amplifiers, and as we work towards that goal, we’ll be asking for your feedback. As of this time, however, there is nothing more than a pencil sketch, and a wish-list for a “Festival-Caliber” MA. That’s it! We have nothing more at this time. Any future Hilton amplifier is AT LEAST two years away.
 
Why do I need to stop these rumors? Frankly, because if people start thinking now about waiting for the next generation of amplifier a couple years down the road, then I will never build up enough capital to finance the development of that next generation amplifier. Quite simply…if you stop buying MA-220’s…you will guarantee that there will never be a next generation amplifier.
 
ONE MORE THING TO CONSIDER…
 
When you are out there searching for your more “cost effective” personal solution in a square dance audio system, whether it be other components, powered speakers, Bose systems, or whatever. It won’t take much more than 25 lost sales here at Hilton annually, to really mean the end of the line. You obviously can decide for yourself that saving a few hundred dollars is what you need to do for your personal needs, but if you think just a little further forward, you’ll realize that 100 different callers with 100 different personal solutions will cause damaging confusion. Gone will be the days of walking up to any amplifier, at any dance, or any convention, plugging in, and immediately knowing what to expect.
 
Mary Ellen and I have no desire to “get rich” off of anyone. Our profit margins are very reasonable…but our costs are extremely high because of the low volume we do. We’re not gouging anyone…we just can’t offer a custom unit like a Hilton even close to a generic system purchased from a “box store”.
 
We stepped up to “save” the Hilton Audio tradition because we didn’t like the way it said goodbye last year. We felt it deserved better. We’ll do all we can to keep things going, but that’s going to take your help, and your willingness to continue to support the more pricey (and hopefully still superior) Hilton product.
 
SPEAKING OF A SUPERIOR PRODUCT……..
 
I had a conversation with Eric Henerlau at the CALLERLAB Convention. Eric was one of the first to buy a MA-220 from us when we started producing them at the end of last year. Eric mentioned how he took his brand new MA-220 to a “one night stand” he was hired to perform at, and while unloading his equipment, it was RUN OVER by a limousine. His brand new MacBook was destroyed. There was a tire print running across the face of his new blue nylon case. His MA-220 was bent, and partially crushed…and it STILL WORKED for his dance that night! While I can’t recommend running over any of your Hilton equipment…I’m beaming with pride knowing it still works!
 
New “FlexCoat Wraps” for Microphone Cables Are A Big Hit!
 
A few dozen callers are now on stage with our new “FlexCoat” decorated microphone cables. We make them to order, so it can take a couple extra days to ship to you, but we think they’re kinda cool! Look for 4 new colors next month.
 
Hilton Parts and Supplies
 
We’re in the process of making arrangements with Dick Bull to take over the “older parts” section of the Hilton business. As much as I tried, I just can’t wrap my head around some of the ancient pieces and parts we have in inventory, so I have not been able to provide quality service for parts previous to the MA-150.
 
Dick has 35+ years experience building and servicing Hilton turn-tables and accessories, so he’s the best option we have for making sense of what we have available. Please keep in mind…Dick isn’t a spring chicken, and the parts we have are limited, and in most cases, will not be replaced. When they’re gone, they’re gone on ALL Hilton turn-tables and equipment prior to the MA’s.
 
Hilton Microphone Cable – Volume Potentiometer Tests – Phase 2
 
After three failed attempts at replacing the volume potentiometer currently being used by Hilton, we have finally found one that we’re ready to move on to “Phase 2 Testing” with. We currently have approximately 50 of these new potentiometers being tested by callers. So far, there have been zero reports of failures. Now the new pots aren’t going to last forever either, but they appear to be much better than the one we’ve all come to hate…and replace…and replace.
 
In “Phase 2”, I am inviting any caller in the continental United States who purchased their microphone cable since we started in Houston (August 2014) who would like to try the new potentiometer to send their cable to me and I will replace the potentiometer it and send it back free of charge. Yes, you’ll still have to pay to ship it to me…but I will return it on my dime. “Phase 2” will begin when we return from the National Square Dance Convention on July 6, and run through July 31st. The only thing I ask is for your feedback.
 
PLEASE CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL BEFORE YOU SEND YOUR CABLE BACK…I can’t handle 100 of these things at once. Also…before sending…look at the backside of your volume knob. (Where the microphone fits in to the handle. Is the underside of that volume knob BLUE or GREEN? If it’s BLUE, it’s the old style and we’ll switch it out for you. If it’s GREEN, you’ve already got the new one that we’re testing.
 
WRAPPING IT UP
That’s about all we have to share from Hilton for now. In a nutshell…

• We’re heading to Nationals (Mary Ellen and I). Please stop by the booth to visit and say “Hi!”
• We’re continuing to build up our inventory to better serve our customers.
• We’re bringing much of the work back “in house”, again for quicker service.
• We continue to search for a solution to our TOO consumable volume potentiometer issue.
  • We’ve been testing a new potentiometer for a couple months now.
  • If you’ve bought a cable from us in the past 9 months, we’re inviting you to test too.
• Dick Bull is going to organize and make “vintage” parts available out of his office in California.
• Any future amplifier designs are nothing more than a “pencil sketch” at this time. In order for those future designs to become a reality, we need you to continue to buy now.

We realize that calling the newsletter that we are sending out the first week of March our “Spring” newsletter is probably wishful thinking, but this newsletter is full of wishful thinking so perhaps it’s appropriate. The Northeast United States has seen record amounts of snow this Winter and we’re feeling pretty cold even down here in Houston. With that in mind Spring will be welcome any time soon.


Hilton Audio Is Heading To CALLERLAB – March 28-31, 2015

We look forward to meeting many of you at the CALLERLAB convention in Springfield, Missouri this year. This will be our first opportunity to introduce a couple of the new faces involved with Hilton Audio Products of Texas. We will have a well-stocked booth displaying MA-220 amplifiers, microphones, cables, and accessories all available for you to purchase and take home with you. On top of saving the shipping costs, we’ll try to have a couple special offers too.

• We WILL have 5 “European” style MA-220’s with us at CALLERLAB. While Hilton cannot currently ship to Europe due to CE regulations, what you buy while you are in the United States is your business. If you want a European MA-220, please understand that while the warranty is valid, the responsibility of getting the unit to and from the United States is yours alone. Please contact me in advance to reserve a European unit for pick up in Springfield, MO.

Aside from shaking hands and kissing babies myself, I will also be bringing my lead technician and “Grand Wizard”, Stephen Chauvin (Shaw-ven) to CALLERLAB with me. Steve is an electrical engineer, and the man (physically) responsible for carrying on the Hilton name as he personally has built every new MA-220 since I purchased the company in August. Steve is a great guy with a lot of ideas for future Hilton products. He is a square dancer, but is, as yet “un-initiated” with a big group of square dance callers…so take good care of him!

“Specialty” Mic Cables To Be Introduced At CALLERLAB

We’ve been teasing some new “Specialty” microphone cables for a while now. These new cables have a special flexible coating/wrap on them that comes in 16 different color varieties. The colors range from hot pink to red, white, and blue striped. This flexible wrap can be added to any black microphone cable for an additional $30.00 (with or without reset/mute button). We will be making these cables to order at CALLERLAB. (While the major impact of these new color choices is cosmetic, several callers have noted that the coating makes the cables much less likely to get tangled.)

Hilton Shipping Suspended While At CALLERLAB
As we will be at CALLERLAB, we will not be able to ship orders from March 27 through April 2, 2015. The online store will remain open, and I’ll answer the phone when I can, but nothing will be shipped until I return from CALLERLAB on the April 2nd. Again…as always…your best method of contact is email.

We Have Finally Fulfilled All Of Our MA-220 Back-orders!
As of March 1, 2015, we shipped the last MA-220 that was back-ordered and we’re starting to build up our stock of MA-220’s. It’s my long term goal to always have units “on the shelf” ready to be shipped immediately on order. It’ll take a little while to get enough product on hand to start “promising”, but we’re on the way.

Building Our Stock Of Accessories
If you haven’t checked out the www.hiltonaudio.com online store lately, there have been lots of additions made to our accessories. We now have speaker cables available in different colors and lengths, adapters, splitters, replacement volume potentiometers, foam turn-table pads and more. We are expecting more product in the coming weeks, so be sure to check back for new items.

Inventory Is FINALLY In Progress
Immediately after being laid off from my “day job” they brought me back as a contractor to finish a couple projects. That didn’t work out the way we expected, so I am now “officially” finished with my day job. While I continue to explore options, I’ll take this time to begin work on inventory. I know many of you have been looking for older parts. I will make these available in the online store as I figure out what we have on hand. I know I’ve said this before…but I now have the time to dedicate to this mammoth project.

Hilton In Europe – It’s Still Not Looking Good
While we are not giving up, every avenue to pursue CE Certification has proven to be cost-prohibitive. The CE Certification process is extensive, costly, and will require a re-certification process any time a modification as small as a resistor is made to the design. Every new design (as I hope to offer more than the MA-220 down the line) would require the same process and expense.

I’m going to be as honest as I possibly can regarding Europe folks…Hilton may very well have made its last sale to Europe. The thought is not pleasant for anyone, but we simply do not have pockets deep enough to fight this battle. Our forecast for sales in Europe was 6-9 units a year. It doesn’t take a mathematician to figure out that the numbers just don’t work. I hope to have better news by the summer update. In the meantime, what you bring back from the states on your own is not restricted.

So, What’s Ahead For Hilton?
We are working on some shorter and longer term goals with Hilton Audio Products in the coming months and years. Here are a few tidbits…

1. Hilton will have a booth set up at the 64th National Square Dance Convention in Springfield, Massachusetts. Mary Ellen and I will be there all week and hope to meet old friends and new while back in New England. (By the way…in case you haven’t heard, I’m also the Keynote Speaker at the 64th National…not because of Hilton, but because of my history in New England. I’ll be presenting with my longtime friend and fellow caller, Ted Lizotte of Manchester, New Hampshire.)
2. We would like to introduce a new Hilton speaker by Fall 2015. I’d love to say we’ll have it ready for the Nationals, but I’m not ready to make that promise yet.
3. There is a new Hilton amplifier in the works. This will be a “festival caliber” unit, and it will not be available for at least another year. The MA-220 will continue to be the preferred choice for most callers, but this new amplifier will handle the biggest venues. Expect something Spring/Summer 2016. (And no, it won’t be cheap.)

Thank You!
Thank you for your continued support of Hilton Audio Products. We continue to be a “work in progress” but look forward to helping you with all of your dance audio needs in the future.


Paul and Mary Ellen Cote
www.hiltonaudio.com

While I am generally pleased with the progress we are making with Hilton Audio in the USA and most of the rest of the world, we have hit a fairly significant roadblock in Europe. I will detail the issues we are having later in this email, but the bottom line is that ALL Hilton sales to Europe are on hold indefinitely.

What Went Wrong?
Due to my inexperience with international sales, I put the CE certification paperwork required for sales in Europe on the OUTSIDE of the box of a MA-220, instead of the INSIDE. I also didn't put the little CE sticker on the actual unit. Unfortunately, this seemingly small mistake, was enough to "raise a red flag" and have the inspectors take a further look.

Once they investigated further, they found that the CE certification paperwork Hilton has been providing since 2009 does not qualify for newer, more stringent CE standards. They refused the package...sending it back to the United States after a 6+ week delay. Since then, they have given our European representative a hassle even on small parts and microphone cables as well.

What Does The European Union Want?
In a nutshell, they want me to invest in a completely new CE certification that includes new standards that will likely require thousands of dollars worth of up-front costs. Further, any change I make on a unit...even something as small as changing a resistor, would require further re-certification.

What Am I Going To Do?
I'm going to continue to research my options, and consider what to do next. I am proud to be able to provide Hilton products in Europe. That said, the volume of sales in Europe does not justify thousands of dollars worth of certification. If I am not able to recover my investment in certification in 18-24 months, I will not re-certify. The state of the business simply will not allow me to consider a longer term investment.

When Is This Going To Happen?
While I will continue to research the associated costs, I am not prepared to begin the process or invest the money required until I return from CALLERLAB in March 2015. IF things go well at CALLERLAB, and IF the costs are within my forecasted sales, and IF the testing and approval process takes less than 3 months, I would hope to be able to sell to Europe again around the time of the National Square Dance Convention at the end of June 2015. These are a LOT of IF's, and if any one of them does not work out, then there is a very good chance that Hilton has shipped it's last unit to Europe. This is why I say that all European sales are on hold "indefinitely", and this is the best answer I can give you at this time.

What About Bringing A Hilton Product To Europe On Your Own?
What you do on your own is your business, but let me be perfectly clear. Until we can legally ship to and from Europe, Hilton will NOT ship to or from Europe. If you buy a Hilton product in the United States and bring it to Europe, it is AT YOUR OWN RISK. If there is a problem or issue (whether under warranty or not) it will be YOUR responsibility to get the unit to and from the United States. Your warranty will NOT cover shipping to or from Europe until we can do it legally.

In Closing...
I'm very disappointed that this happened the way it did. I have nobody but myself to blame. The fact of the matter is, however, that Hilton products does NOT have the proper certification (and didn't have the proper certification when I bought the company). Unfortunately...I'm the one who got caught.

I am open to your (legal) thoughts and (legal) suggestions to work through this problem. Unfortunately I don't believe that there will be any quick solutions.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Paul Cote
www.hiltonaudio.com

Happy New Year From Hilton Audio Products! – January Newsletter
 Mary Ellen and I hope that you and your families had a wonderful holiday season, and that 2015 is a great year for us all. Here is a quick update with what is going on at Hilton Audio Products of Texas.

First Run Of MA-220’s Has Shipped – Positive Feedback All Around
 The first run of 50 MA-220’s shipped in December as promised. Callers, cuers, and dance leaders from around the world received their new MA-220 and we’ve had a lot of great feedback. My lead technician, Steve Chauvin copied the Hilton specs exactly. We used all of the same vendors. The MA-220 you bought from Texas is exactly the same as it was from California.

While feedback was, overall fantastic, we had one unit come back that lost all of its microphone channels. Fortunately, that ended up being a single loose screw. We also had a couple questions about speakers and Ohms. (The MA-220 requires a minimum of 4 Ohms to operate correctly…see details on the www.hiltonaudio.com website.)

ONE LAST CHANCE FOR YOUR MA-220 AT 2014 PRICE – 
FINAL DEADLINE JANUARY 15, 2015
 I had planned one last notice at the end of December to give “fair warning” of the impending price increase for the MA-220 in 2015. I didn’t get that final notice out, and since the first of the year, I have had a couple requests for me to honor the 2014 price. In the interest of fairness to all, I am extending the 2014 price of $1420.00 for a MA-220 until January 15, 2015. This is the absolute final extension. On January 16, 2014, the price will be $1495.00. NO EXCEPTIONS. This is your LAST chance.

Here’s the direct link:
http://www.hiltonaudio.com/store/p47/LAST_CHANCE%21_Hilton_MA-220_-_Mixer%2FAmplifier_at_2014_PRICE%21_%28Thru_January_15%2C_2015_only%21%29.html

Next Run Of MA-220’s Is In Production – January 31, 2015 Delivery
The next run of MA-220’s is underway, and we expect to be able to start delivering by the end of the month. As we complete this run, it is our plan to be able to start building an inventory of amplifiers so that waiting an extended period of time for your amp will be a thing of the past. It is my goal to always have several amplifiers “on the shelf” for same day, or next day shipping.

New Microphone Cables? Not Exactly…
 Many of you may have noticed some travelling callers come through your area with a “new” microphone cable from Hilton. The actual cable itself isn’t new, but we are making several new colors available by using a special flex-coating around the cable. I’m naming these new coatings after some friends and calling heroes of mine.

Keep an eye on the website for a dozen new colors that I hope to have available this month. The coating has to be added manually, so it’ll take a couple days. The cost will be $30.00 more than whichever black cable you choose.

All Hilton European Sales On Hold – Indefinitely
 Unfortunately, due to my inexperience in international sales, particularly in Europe, we have run in to an issue that will prevent Hilton from shipping to Europe indefinitely. The certification for MA-220’s is several years old, and there are new certifications, costing thousands of dollars, now necessary to do business in Europe. The costs appear prohibitive, but we are investigating our options. As of this moment, Hilton will not ship any product to Europe.

I’ve already heard several options for “getting around” the rules, and I’m not interested in that. If we can’t ship legally, we won’t ship. I am not prepared to risk long term ramifications to make a few short term sales.

In the meantime, if you want a Hilton product in Europe, and have a means of getting it there, please understand the following: Your Hilton warranty ends in the United States. If you have a problem, it will be your responsibility to get the product to and from the states.

Hilton Service
 Please remember, if you need service on a MA-220, especially under warranty, that will be handled here in Texas. Any other MA product can be serviced here as well.

If you are looking for service for any TURN-TABLE, contact one of the authorized repair people you’ll find on the “Service/Repair” tab on the www.hiltonaudio.com website.

Hilton Parts
 I’m continuing to struggle with inventory for old Hilton parts. There simply have not been enough hours in the day. I have agreed to complete one final project with my “day job” and that has really slowed me down. That project ends the first week of March, and I’ll be able to focus solely on Hilton.

In the meantime, Mary Ellen and I have set aside the next several Sundays as “Hilton Inventory Sundays”. We’re going to dedicate several hours each Sunday afternoon to digging through this inventory and making it available online. I know it hasn’t been easy on those who are waiting. Please keep an eye on the site for new items as they become available.

CALLERLAB – Springfield, Missouri – March 2015 – Please Visit The Hilton Booth
 We’re planning our trip to Springfield, Missouri for the CALLERLAB convention this March. We’ll have a booth and equipment available for sale. Please make it a point to stop by and visit.

Hilton Audio Products of Texas – We’re A Work In Progress
 Folks, I want to thank you for your patience as we grow in to this business and try to live up to the Hilton name. Those of you who know me personally know that I’m slightly “off-center” and perhaps “an acquired taste”. This is a new venture for me and my wife. This is NOT my background, but with the right people in place to handle the technical aspect of the business, we’ll get things together very soon.

I’m going to make some mistakes along the way. There are going to be issues I’m sure. That said, we’ll do everything we can to make things right, and take care of our customers and friends as best as possible. Thank you for helping us keep this fantastic name and product alive for the next generation.

Thank You,

Paul and Mary Ellen Cote

Hilton Audio Products of Texas – November News
 
The Online Store Is Closed – November 21 thru November 29, 2014
No Service – No Calls - Will Re-Open November 30, 2014

Mary Ellen and I are going on our belated honeymoon cruise, and we will be “off the grid” from November 22 thru November 29, 2014. I will open the online store back up on the 30th.

The MA’s Are Coming! The MA’s Are Coming!

Yes, we’re on schedule to start shipping our MA-220’s on December 1, 2014. I hope to get them all out the first week of December by US Priority Mail. The second run will ship the week of December 15, 2014 as promised.

If you placed a deposit on an MA-220, expect an email or call from me with all of the final details including payment options and shipping details.

MA-220 Buyers – Discounted Carrying Bag and Accessories

MA-220 Buyers are entitled to a 10% discount on microphones, cables, and accessories for 30 days after their purchase. Also, the blue nylon Hilton carrying case can be purchased for $75.00 instead of the normal $90.00. (If you buy the carrying bag at the same time as the MA-220, you’ll save shipping too.)

The First Run of MA-220’s is SOLD OUT.
Next Run Available To Ship In January 2015.

When the online store opens back up on November 30th, we will begin taking pre-orders for the next run of MA-220’s that will start shipping the first week of January 2015. BE SURE TO PRE-ORDER before December 31, 2014 in order to get the current price of $1420.00. On January 1, 2015, the price will go up to $1495.00.

MY SINCERE APOLOGIES

There have been some requests for parts that have slipped through the cracks as I try to get things up and running. We have been so focused on getting the MA-220’s available again that I haven’t been able to really dig in to the inventory.

I am taking most of the month of December off from my “day job” with Hilton Inventory my sole focus. I will make every effort to catalog what I have for parts and make them available in the online store. If you have requested parts and I haven’t gotten them to you…PLEASE…remind me via email, and I’ll make sure you are taken care of during the month of December.

Holiday Greetings and Well Wishes

Mary Ellen and I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your families the best of Holiday Seasons. We will continue to work to rebuild Hilton Audio Products here in Texas, and have some great ideas going forward. Thank you for your patience during this transition.
 
Paul and Mary Ellen Cote
www.hiltonaudio.com

Hello Hilton Audio Fans,

Things continue to come together for us down here at Hilton Audio in Houston! Don’t get me wrong, we still have a LONG way to go, but things are definitely on the way.

Here’s the latest news:

Hilton MA-220’s are in full production…
…and available for pre-order. Our first run of 50 MA-220’s is in process and on schedule for a December 1, 2014 delivery date. We reached out to everybody on the back-order list, and gave them first opportunity to reserve their unit. As of today, 32 of the first run of 50 are already reserved. That leaves 18 more available for the December 1, 2014 shipping date.

Reserve your MA-220 here:

http://www.hiltonaudio.com/store/p23/Deposit_For_New_MA-220_-_To_Be_Shipped_December_1%2C_2014.html

More Hilton MA-220’s on the way!
It is obvious that this first batch will run out very quickly, so we’re not waiting! We have already begun ordering parts for our next run of 50 more MA-220 units. These will not be available until January 2015, however, anybody who puts a deposit down before December 31, 2014 will still get the current pricing of $1420.00. On January 1, 2015 the price of a MA-220 will go up to $1495.00, and will not rise again for at least the next full year.

The Hilton Audio Online Store – www.hiltonaudio.com - 52 Sales in the First 30 Days!
I’m thrilled to report that we’ve shipped 52 orders over the past 30 days since the Hilton Audio Online Store opened! Visit www.hiltonaudio.com, and select the “Store” tab at the top of the page. In the store, you will find ElectroVoice Microphones, a wide variety of Hilton Microphone Cords, Needles, Cartridges, and replacement parts for microphones. We will continue to make more items available in the coming months.

The Month of November – Limited Availability – Shipping Delays
One of the reasons I selected December 1, 2014 as our “Official” opening date is that my month of November is completely crazy. First, I will be (mostly) unavailable from October 28 thru November 9th as I relocate my mother from New Hampshire to Florida for the winter. (Dad passed away in June, so this will be her first trip solo.) During this time, I will still be able to answer calls, and receive online orders, but shipping will be sporadic at best.

Also, in November, is Mary Ellen and my “belated honeymoon cruise”. Long before we decided to purchase Hilton Audio, Mary Ellen and I put a lot of money down on our honeymoon cruise, so Hilton will be 100% CLOSED from November 22 thru 29, 2014. No calls. No emails. No orders processed for this 8 day period. (PS….this same week, Mary Ellen celebrates a very important birthday…but she’d kill me if I told you which one it was.)
 
Replacement Parts – Not Yet Available – Hopefully January
I’ve had a few requests for replacement parts for older Hilton equipment. I DO NOT have these parts available at this time, and will not likely have them before January. I’m sorry…I just don’t have enough hours in the day to get through the inventory and figure out everything I have.

General Information
Folks…I have to continue to work my day job at least until the end of the year. We’ve invested a TON of money in getting Hilton back up and running, and until the MA-220’s start shipping, I have to continue to pay the bills.

What does this mean to you? Email continues to be THE BEST line of communication with me. While I will try to answer your phone call during the day, the Hilton line (713) 955-5911 forwards to my cell phone, and my cell phone reception is spotty at the office. Also, I’ve got to keep my day job my priority during the day, so I might have to let your call go to voicemail. I can almost always return an email within the hour.

Yes, I realize that this is not always convenient, but it is the best I can do until Hilton starts to generate some income. For those of you most upset about this, I again ask you to consider the alternative…Hilton was GONE…completely out of business.

Recent Questions – Asked and Answered

     Q.           Will Hilton make any more turntables?
     A.            No. Turntables are much too expensive to produce in such small quantities.

     Q.           Will you continue to produce replacement parts for turntables?
     A.            Yes and No. Some parts are reasonable to continue to produce in small
                    quantities. Some are not.      The older the unit gets, the more prohibitive
                    the cost.

     Q.           Will you sell Hilton speakers again?
     A.            Yes and No. I don’t think we’ll sell the speakers that have been produced
                    in the past, BUT, we ARE investigating some new designs. Do not expect a
                    Hilton speaker produced in the next 6 months to 1 year.

     Q.           Will there be new alternatives to the MA-220?
     A.            Not in 2015. We have some ideas on the table, but earliest they could hit the
                    market would be sometime between January 2016 and CALLERLAB 2016.

     Q.           Have you “fixed” the MA-220’s so they won’t cut out when you connect
                    2 Yak Stacks?
     A.            NO. There's nothing to fix. You can’t break Ohm’s Law. It’s a LAW. When you
                    connected 2 Yak Stacks to the old MA-150, you were over-working the amp, and
                    eventually many of you blew out an entire channel…leading to a costly repair.

                    The MA-220 has a built in protection circuit to prevent it from blowing out that
                    channel. If you want to run 2 Yak Stacks on a MA-220, you MUST use the
                    Series-Y connector that we provide with each unit we sell. 4 Ohms is the minimum
                    safe load in to the MA-220.

Till Next Month!

Paul and Mary Ellen Cote
email: [email protected]
call: (713) 955-5911
www.hiltonaudio.com

Hello everyone! Today, we're officially opening the Hilton Audio Online Store. We hope you'll be sure to bookmark it for all your square dance needs.

We're starting with the very basics. Microphones, microphone cables, turntable needles, and cartridges. As we work our way through the inventory, we'll make more items available online.

For now, the online store is for US residents only. We hope to add international sales in the near future, but we're not ready for that yet.

Also, the MA-220 is still on schedule for a December 1st shipping date. We will keep you informed on how to get your MA-220 in the coming weeks. Be sure that you are signed up for our mailing list to be kept up to date.

Thank You!

Paul and Mary Ellen Cote