In terms of importance currently, I agree with Rives - China. You never know how much proportion of your high-end gear or home appliances are actually made or assembled in China. There are many "proudly made in USA" products in US, but I believe that most of them have something from China inside, therefore the quote should be "proudly designed and finished in USA".
Going back the time for 2 decades, it would be USA, Britain, and possibly Japan, all as major consumer markets as well as designers and manufacturers. I agree that Philips has been making a great contribution (I thought it was a Dutch company, btw), but it is truely a global company and its playing field for BOTH of digital components and contents has been actually all over the world, so not sure Dutch should be mentioned.
Ah, Italy, Germany, and France - those "Old Europe" according to official US standard - where great music and instruments were created and fostered. I am now talking about 2 cinturies, NOT decades. Audio designers in these countries have gone and still going a great stride to re-produce the "true" sound of their land's / ancestors' music. Who else are more entitled to that?
Lastly but not least, worth nominating are Taiwan (may not be a country), Hong Kong (again, not a country), and Singapore, who are becoming major markets for high-end audio products (meaning more and more rich people are being made). Never underestimate the power, width, and depth - thus contribution to audio - of Chinese-speaking community outside China (no, I'm not a Chinese descendant).
Ken
Going back the time for 2 decades, it would be USA, Britain, and possibly Japan, all as major consumer markets as well as designers and manufacturers. I agree that Philips has been making a great contribution (I thought it was a Dutch company, btw), but it is truely a global company and its playing field for BOTH of digital components and contents has been actually all over the world, so not sure Dutch should be mentioned.
Ah, Italy, Germany, and France - those "Old Europe" according to official US standard - where great music and instruments were created and fostered. I am now talking about 2 cinturies, NOT decades. Audio designers in these countries have gone and still going a great stride to re-produce the "true" sound of their land's / ancestors' music. Who else are more entitled to that?
Lastly but not least, worth nominating are Taiwan (may not be a country), Hong Kong (again, not a country), and Singapore, who are becoming major markets for high-end audio products (meaning more and more rich people are being made). Never underestimate the power, width, and depth - thus contribution to audio - of Chinese-speaking community outside China (no, I'm not a Chinese descendant).
Ken