My Letter to Akai (FYI)

I found it kind of interesting that 6 months after I wrote this letter Akai came out with the MPC2500. I'm sure it has nothing to do with it and of course I never recieved any reply back from them on this issue.

Anyway, it seems my prayers were answered. Everything I asked for in the letter and more came on the mpc2500 (except for full memory expansion).

I still think the price is too high, bone dry. So, I will wait a couple years for it to sell on eBay.

Here is the letter if anyone cares:

Darren L.: Akai Customer

Akai Professional America
200 Scenic View Drive Ste. 201
Cumberland, RI 02864

Dear Akai Professional:

This letter is to inform you of my evaluation of a recent purchase. I am rather disappointed with my purchase of the MPC2000XL. I thought this letter would be a great opportunity to express myself and also provide you with a personal review of this product.
I purchased the MPC2000XL from an authorized dealer for $1,699.00. After doing some research I thought this item would best suit my needs. So, I saved every penny I had, because I had to buy it brand new. This way it would be as up to date as possible with no defects and a warranty. I knew this was a very powerful machine, but I soon discovered it was not worth the money I paid.
After using the MPC for a while I can’t help but feel cheated. I expected something for that price to be fully optimized. The essential accessories should have come with it. Also, certain areas of the MPC are outdated.
The main disappointment is the lack of the 8 outputs + digital I/O expansion. I do not see a need to sell it separately for the high price of $249.00 new. It feels bad to have paid over a thousand dollars for this piece and to look at the 10 place holders on the back for the “optional” expansion. I have been searching for one for months and every body is out of stock. This is an unnecessary hassle for the high price of the MPC2000xl. Also, every other piece of recent audio equipment I have purchased all has had a digital I/O. This should be industry standard by now.
The effects card is also sold separately. This is not as disappointing as the lack of the 8 outputs board, but it is still annoying. Again, for this price I believe at least a couple of effects should have been preinstalled. Also, the memory should have been upgraded to the fullest.
The SCSI port is an archaic output. I do not understand why Akai upgraded to a Flash card reader, but cannot add a USB port. USB should also be industry standard.
The SMPTE is also from a bygone era. I believe it is unnecessary on the 2000XL. I would rather have a USB port instead or any other I/O.
In conclusion, I feel like a sucker for buying this item at full price. If I could do it again I would purchase it on eBay for cheaper with the 8 outs, full memory and the effects card. I really do not understand the pricing of this item. Especially when compared to the MPC1000. The 1000 has 4 individual outputs already installed. It has a ton of memory, onboard effects, USB, footswitch inputs, digital I/O, NO USELESS SMPTE, and is portable. Why then is the 1000 sold for almost ½ of the price of the 2000xl?

Here is a price list of the items needed for full satisfaction:
$40.00 (memory)
$249.95 (8 outs)
$349.95 (FX)
$300.00 (Flash RAM)
$935.90 Total
If you add this to the price of the MPC2000XL you get $2634.90. For this amount of money I could buy the MPC4000 which has 10 times more capabilities than the mpc2000XL.

If the MPC2000XL came with the 8 output board I would not be writing this letter. Although, even if it did, I would still believe the 2000XL is outrageously overpriced for such an archaic machine.

Sincerely Disappointed,
Darren L.
*****@yahoo.com

Some of those prices you listed are a little high. The Flash RAM costs only $220 now, and the memory is probably $20. AKAI used to sell the 2000XL Studio Plus model with everything for about $1,700 if I remember correctly. Times changed and they discontinued that model. It's a complex issue. Over the past couple years the American dollar fell against other currencies. The decline meant higher prices of some goods. Take a look at the high end Nikon cameras. They cost twice as much as they did a few years ago.

If you can wait a couple of years..then you mosty likely won't need it. New MPCs have been dropping at least every 3 years.

Guitar Center around my way are still selling MPC 2000XL-MCDs for $1700 and MPC 1000s for $999. No MPC 4000s or MV-8000s in stock.


Only if you visited the forums earlier..you would have saved at least $1000. I would say that 90% of the people in the forum are using MPCs with expired warranties. These machines stand the test of time. I would never hesitate buying a second hand unit in good condition.

Well, I lied when I said I bought my MPC new in the letter. I bought it used. I thought my complaint would have more weight if I pretended to be a customer.

I couldn't imagine anyone paying full price for an MPC2000xl.

Anyway, I like the mpc2500 from my research so far. It is everything I wanted and more.