Interesting how this forum more or less died in 2025 around the time AI started becoming popular.

Many people will use the free AI services built into their computer/phone or the free versions of ChatGPT etc., to ask troubleshooting questions about their Decware components, and I can assure you that 50% of the answers are either incorrect or misleading because they scrape the internet for the answers.

I have created an AI that I myself have trained for every tube based component that we make.  It doesn't have all the answers, but it's far more accurate than even the high dollar AI you pay for, because the information it uses is solid.  I recommend you use this, instead of random AI to solve your middle of the night troubleshooting problems!

Here is the link:  https://www.decwareproducts.com/techsupport

-Steve

I feel the same as Steve. I'm sure that the usage had dropped by close to 50% from it's peak.

There isn't near as much traffic coming through here and the same 4 or 5 users are the only ones putting new content up.

Like I have said before, a huge number of the old posters have dried up and not too many new users have joined in.

Times change, older users fade away into the either and younger people aren't interested in  "old time" fourms.

I have to say that, even with the reduced traffic, I still regard this forum as a valuable resource. And if that makes me an old guy, well hell…I AM an old guy. But I trust the information that I get here a lot more than what I find on the wider internet.

Randy

I’m one of the newbies. I literally check in on the forum everyday
I’m sitting at 2 and a bit years in my wait for my amp and to me the forum  helps to keep me calm while I wait
Reading others experiences and ideas, thoughts on tube types to try and other products and brands to dig into just helps to keep me focused on the end goal and all the fun that that will bring
As a newbie I don’t feel I have a lot to offer in terms of posting, as at this point I don’t have the exposure to the product to feel able to “add to the conversation”
I love what the forum offers in terms of genuine “tested” knowledge and as Steve says, it’s far more reliable and real than AI
As a newbie I’d personally say to the long time posters please keep at it, I love checking in on what Lon’s been listening to, to Donnie’s project and CA James expertise on tube options and compatibility
Please keep it up, my days are better for it

UYes there has been a drop off in forum participation over the last few years. I'm guessing it can be attributed to a number of factors, but without some meaning empirical information (i.e. member polling) the reasons for decteasing participation is just speculation on our part. Also people lead busy lives and sometimes just don't have the time.

We used to get a number of new participants who order a new piece of Decware equipment and  then post during the wait period. I would offer that the 3+ year wait time has just worn out some folks inquiring about information related to their planned purchase.

I'd also speculate that, with no disrespect to Steve, that the long wait time may frustrate newbies with some.order cancellation as well, particularly when final payment comes due.

The 300B Sarah amp in particular requires seems to require careful matching with speakers that have a high (+97dB) due to audible hum. There have been enough credible long time member/posters frustrated by this situation. This may also have caused some long time.forum members to simply lose interest.

I don't mean to bash the product or Decware just sharing some.of my personal observations and offline discussions.

HK

Yes, I post on three other bulletin boards and I think that the format is too "old" for many, participation has dropped on all the others as well as I noted above.

Facebook, reddit, X, Instagram etc. seem to have made an impact drawing many away from forums and bulletin boards.