Last Updated: 26/07/2010

The Loewe TV & Encel Experience

This is an article about Loewe televisions, AV Digitech and International Dynamics / Encel and Alex Encel. Loewe brand TV's were sold by Stereo Supplies (until it shut down) and were also sold by International Dynamics / Encel until 2008 when Loewe pulled the plug on their distribution rights see here All of these stores were/are owned by Alex Encel.

I purchased my Loewe Xelos 5381 ZW (Ser#: 07254, Art#: 59420L) ex-display model for $2999 on 22/12/2001 from the now defunct Stereo Supplies store at Mt Gravatt in Brisbane. Below is the history of my Loewe Xelos TV:

  • Within a matter of months after purchase the set would not turn on. Repairs were carried out by AV Digitech and the O/C fuse was replaced. (still under warranty)

  • A few months later a pixel died on the screen. Stereo Supplies were certain that the whole TV would be replaced. However, AV Digitech (the service agent for Loewe) flatly refused. The picture tube was subsequently replaced. After replacement the picture was noticeably misaligned at the top. I was told to adjust the rotation to fix this. This only made the bottom of the screen misaligned. A technician from AV Digitech came out to look at the problem and I was told to basically live with it because there was nothing that could be done. I was left with this problem for the life of the TV. (still under warranty)

  • In August 2003 the set would not turn on once more. Further repairs were carried out by AV Digitech and the O/C fuse was again replaced along with another suspect part. (still under warranty)

  • Product Safety Recall: In April 2007 it was determined by Loewe that some of the German-made televisions were defective at certain soldered joints which could lead to overheating and, in worst case scenarios, fire. see here, here, here, here and here. International Dynamics subsequently conducted a product recall for the faulty televisions, of which mine was one. My Loewe Xelos 5381 was inspected by AV Digitech and found to be "OK." (covered under warranty)

  • In May 2007 there was a burning smell coming from the TV and it turned itself off. When AV Digitech performed the safety check (see above) it was found that the standby transformer needed replacing which I was charged for. (no warranty)

  • In August 2008 the televisoin lost power and a loud buzzing noise was coming from the TV. Since then the TV has been sitting in the garage unable to be used. (no warranty)

Shortly after my Loewe broke down in August 2008, I rang AV Digitech expressing my concern that a TV of such supposed quality could break down so often. Thankfully, I was reassured that it was completely normal for Loewe TV's to break down on a regular basis! I rang AV Digitech again in November 2008 to try and obtain the service history for my TV as I believe a new TV of such supposed quality with this many faults is unacceptable. I was told that it would cost me $45 to retrieve the service records. I was bluntly told to either get it repaired or buy a new one.

I also e-mailed International Dynamics, Encel and Alex Encel himself in May 2009 and to this day have not received a noteworthy reply. Then again this was only 13 months ago - I am sure this is on their "to do" list. So it looks like this web page will be staying up for a little while longer.

After spending just under $3000 on a TV described by the salesman as “the best TV in the world” I am thoroughly disappointed with the whole Loewe experience. In my opinion the TV should have been replaced when it broke down within the first few months. The TV has overall been used very little and the number of problems I have had from a TV of such supposed quality is simply not good enough. There is no way that I would consider having this TV repaired as I believe it was a lemon from day one. If it is repaired what will go wrong next?

So, I would be very careful when dealing with Loewe, International Dynamics / Encel or AV Digitech. Their service and quality is extrememly poor in my opinion. International Dynamics / Encel are now flogging off brands such as Advance Acoustic, Amphion, Audio Analogue, Carat Audio, Metz, Norstone Design, Olive, Polk Audio, Pro-Ject, Rotel, Schaub Lorenz, Sonus Faber and Tangent. I would not touch any of these brands with a 40 foot pole. Loewe televisions are now sold in Australia by Audio Products Group Pty Ltd (APG). Hopefully they will do a better job than Alex Encel.

I am certainly not the only person to have had problems with a Loewe television set. I have found the following links while searching the net:

audioreview.com
reviewcentre.com
dtvforum.info
phorums.com.au
dtvforum.info
dtvforum.info