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What country builds the best audio equipment?

I remember not so long ago when audio equipment was mainly a home grown product with the exception of Japan here in the U.S. Today it’s a global market with competition from every corner of the world. I use to think here in the U.S was were the best equipment was being built, but now I’m not sure.
Built quality and performance seems to be lacking a little here in the states with few exceptions compared to what’s being produced over seas and up to the north. So what country is the best equipment coming from? Maybe it’s still the U.S, but if pure aesthetics says anything I would say not.
As for Sonics tough to call, maybe still here in the U.S? 
hiendmmoe
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,859 posts
 
Well our stuff is the best, so the USA :)

Seriously though no-one seems to know what 'best' is when it comes to audio as there are too many variables. I really do think our stuff is the best, but that comes with a caveat- our amps are best on speakers on which they are comfortable. Other amps can drive a wider range of speakers, especially those of lower impedance and to some people that is far more important and I will argue that on such speakers those amps will work better than ours.


Now I also like balanced operation because its the best. But there is a standard to balanced operation and many high end manufacturers don't observe the standard. So there is a lot of variability to balanced operation; some manufacturers will tell you single-ended sounds better, and I really do think they think they aren't lying about that.


The bottom line here could be boiled down to 'there is no best' but that leaves out a lot of detail; the story is far richer than that!
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Well, let's see...
Best wire- Synergistic Research, made in California.
Best amps- Raven Audio, made in Texas.
Best speakers- Tekton, made in Utah.
Best cartridges- Soundsmith, made in New York.
Best acoustic tweaks- Synergistic Research, CA.
Best electric tweaks- Krissy, made in NH.
Top contenders for turntables, tone arms- Graham, VPI.
Best digital- Ha! Fooled ya! No such thing!

The USA has been the best for quite some time now. A situation only bound to become ever more obvious over time as the weakness of reliance on global supply chains worsens.  

twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
None of it is the best, because it's not precisely tuned to your two individual ears.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Who can say??USA in the lead though with Germany and England.
213runnin
914 posts
 
Funny question deserves a funny answer.  England, followed by Great Britain, and then London.  Germany was really good but got bombed out of existence in the marketplace some time ago.  

On a serious note, it's not the country but the gifted individuals in the company that overcome hurdles,  cash flow issues, red tape, parts shortages and moody geniuses to give birth to their creations in spite of it all.  
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