Without having a stock Cayin in front of me, I have no way of verifying the assertions in this thread. And, while I'd surprised (and disappointed, yet again), after dealing with the Chinese for the past couple of years, I have to say that I'd really not be all that surprised.
As has been pointed out, the Chinese transformers are of pretty high quality. Combine that with using good (or very good) coupling capacitors, and the implementation of classic tube amplifier designs from the 1920s - 1960s resulted in producing good sounding tube amplifiers. They also are capable of putting out some nice chassiswork, provided, in my opinion, it does not cross the line of being cloying.
North American and European customers have bought these products over the past decade because they've previously been inherently cheaper than domestically made products given that level of sound quality. Now that the cost advantage has all but evaporated, and the level of support and customer care (and, actually giving a flying flip) from the Chinese companies themselves has thus far been to put it kindly, indifferent, my opinion is that you are going to see a whole lot less of their stuff imported into our markets as time goes by. In fact, it's already become reality.
I don't want to say too much beyond that now. Suffice it to say that there were reasons for me feeling compelled to give up the line I represented.
As has been pointed out, the Chinese transformers are of pretty high quality. Combine that with using good (or very good) coupling capacitors, and the implementation of classic tube amplifier designs from the 1920s - 1960s resulted in producing good sounding tube amplifiers. They also are capable of putting out some nice chassiswork, provided, in my opinion, it does not cross the line of being cloying.
North American and European customers have bought these products over the past decade because they've previously been inherently cheaper than domestically made products given that level of sound quality. Now that the cost advantage has all but evaporated, and the level of support and customer care (and, actually giving a flying flip) from the Chinese companies themselves has thus far been to put it kindly, indifferent, my opinion is that you are going to see a whole lot less of their stuff imported into our markets as time goes by. In fact, it's already become reality.
I don't want to say too much beyond that now. Suffice it to say that there were reasons for me feeling compelled to give up the line I represented.