You know, the prices of the non-trash chinese tube gear has gone up to the point that high-value, domestically built brands like Rogue/Quicksilver/Manley[before their huge price increases]/etc are often more affordable! I know which product I'd rather hook up to my speakers...
I don't ever WANT a product that has to be cherry-picked from a herd of DOA units. That speaks volumes about the (absence of) quality and (lack of) engineering. It belongs in the trash.
Yet audiophiles still buy loads of chinese gear, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of this is based on the assumption that "the HUGE savings in labor costs are being passed on to me, the consumer!". Like with the purportedly huge "we-cut-the-middleman" internet direct companies, when that was the hot new way to do hifi for less. It's only a bargain if they're building something worth keeping...and you might want to do a price check again, while you're at it.
I'm also wary of these "Designed In --nice sounding country--, Built in China" products. What do you think the chances are that this stuff is largely chinese (reverse engineered) design, with custom modifications/tweaks?
I don't ever WANT a product that has to be cherry-picked from a herd of DOA units. That speaks volumes about the (absence of) quality and (lack of) engineering. It belongs in the trash.
Yet audiophiles still buy loads of chinese gear, and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of this is based on the assumption that "the HUGE savings in labor costs are being passed on to me, the consumer!". Like with the purportedly huge "we-cut-the-middleman" internet direct companies, when that was the hot new way to do hifi for less. It's only a bargain if they're building something worth keeping...and you might want to do a price check again, while you're at it.
I'm also wary of these "Designed In --nice sounding country--, Built in China" products. What do you think the chances are that this stuff is largely chinese (reverse engineered) design, with custom modifications/tweaks?