Anyone know anything about these? I've heard they're really good, apparently they have powell headjoints... but other than that i'm clueless, are these flutes any good?

I'm not sure I would classify them as "really good." In my mind, they qualify as decent intermediate instruments. They do indeed have a Powell headjoint, but the body is built in China (in Beijing if I remember correctly). They have had some issues with the bodies, anywhere from small mechanical problems up to larger problems like not having a tonehole rolled during production (which happened to one of my friends who bought an early one), and in my experience have just a decent mech, nothing like the mechs on "real" Powells. Quality may have changed as the company got settled into producing the flutes, though. Really they sell because of the heads. The bodies often do leave something to be desired. Just as with any flute you are considering purchasing, you must playtest these against all the other options you can get your hands on to determine what is the best match for you.

I tried out a few. Not impressed. The mechanism and buid on the body felt cheap to me. I also don't care for the style of Powell head that also comes on it. It is very airy sounding.

I agree with you Ann. Also in that type of catagory, I was really impressed with the Heavy wall Yamaha 674 which just about blew away the Sonare for me when I tried one. Also I just love the new Azumi line. They are fantastic! They are made by Altus. Most people I talk to also don't care for the Powell Signature heads that do come on the Sonare. I just bought a Miyazawa PCM flute which is also wonderful though they are not made anymore. I believe Miyazawa stopped making them last year. If you can get your hands on a used one, that one is a great model. Just my two cents.

I have been thoroughly put off Altus because of the repercussions of the wide, flat surfaces filed on their rolled tone holes. I have not seen this done with any other brand. I optimistically hope that this does not apply to all models. Does anybody know if the (several?) Azumi models are spared this butcherous treatment?

Sure it does...Can you say straubinger pads? If you get a drawn tone hole flute supplied with straubs...that's what you have...filed flat, WIDE rimmed tone holes. Seen them on just about every flute. It is a LOT of effort to thin the rims to acceptable. Right now that has to be done carefully by hand.

I have discussed with at least one tool supplier, some possible ideas for tooling to thin the rims. I have a couple ideas in my head...just no time...So I use the usual tools for finishing but do the thinning by hand..

Just about any flute outfitted with any synthetic pad goes through that procedure and the tech doing the job needs to thin the tone hole rims to prevent this from happening. Either that or you have the other unacceptable proposition of seating on top of wavy tone holes...

The problem is the drawn, rolled, wavy hole. You can confetti shim it in the old style and have the common instability problems, or you can dress the tone holes to account for the higher tolerances needed for the synthetics. The only problem with the latter is that you need to thin the rims by hand after leveling before final dressing, and that doesn't happen often...

Seen it on Miyazawa, Powell, Burkhart, etc, etc...

Choose your poison...

Joe B