PrimaLuna Dialogue Premium Preamplifier. DESTROYS SPEAKERS!!

@fsonicsmith

Where was your GTI made - Mexico?

I drive a 2017 Golf R that was made in Germany and so far not a single issue in six months. I was a bit nervous given all the reports in the press about VW but this car is as solid as any vehicle I have ever owned except for perhaps my 20 year-old Toyota Land Cruiser that is totally indestructible and unbelievably problem free.

"But now the problem is not of Chinese origin but a high-end problem from diverse artisanal producers."

Yes this is always an issue with very small production runs. A multitude of manufacturers and designers with a bell curve of design quality. The safest approach is to go widely used reputable pro studio gear as these companies tend to test products more thoroughly before release, and they do not lightly risk tarnishing their reputation. It is one thing to have your personal home toys break down but if your equipment that you and a dozen others need to do your daily job is faulty then you are more likely to be super frustrated and never buy from that manufacturer again.

All good...I was half a sleep when I saw the post :) 

"Back in the day (and maybe still), rockers would intentionally take various sharp or blunt instruments to their speaker cones, too. Don’t know of many audio geeks who are doing that to their speakers. Although too many seem to allow their kids and guests to vintagify their tweeters."

stfoth- was it Link Wray who did "Rumble" that did the slitting of the cones?
https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrTSXd5wM9ZSyAA5im5mWRH;_ylu=X3oDMTBzaWY2azluBHNlYwN...

I may be getting my R&R history mixed up. Anyhow, as a geetar player, I thought the idea was a little odd.During that period guys were still experimenting with how to get that "dirty" sound. Cranking the gain and playing with feedback was just around the corner, or some Blues cat(Johnny "Guitar" Watson or Ike Turner..)
were already doing it and America wasn’t ready yet.

Surprising to find this thread still going. I dig my made in China PL. It sounds just as good(subjectively BETTER, by a group during a blind test) as an equivalent ARC piece that’s "Made in America"
The build comparison is obvious- equal or maybe the PL wins by a notch.

I would love to have a rack full of USA gear, but the reality(value) doesn’t justify it. I do have a VPI(99%-Chinese wall wart for inverter circuit feeding my Classic) and Mac tuner, which is good o USA.

Chinese stuff is junk.  Please throw away your commie Iphones.

btw how picky on placement do you find the 0/93s -- how far out from the wall -- how far apart - anything between

I should check my Monroney sticker, but yes I think so. It replaced a 2014 Golf TDI built in Germany and other than the windshield and the poor design of the mirror (which should be the same as yours-they now fold in an upwards direction and it is the crevice/joint slanted upwards that causes the unintended windnoise), I have yet to notice any difference except that my GTI is far more fun to drive than the TDI. I have owned six VW's and have never had anything but great luck. My wife still drives our 2004 Touareg which is built like a Panzer. 
My turntable, preamp, amp, and speakers are all built by hand in the USA, a VPI Prime, ARC Ref 6, ARC Ref 150se, and DeVore Orangutans. But I have no idea where my AMR DP777 DAC is built, my Aurender N100H was built in S. Korea, and my Thorens TD124 was built in Switzerland. If I had my way, ALL my gear would be built in Switzerland. But ARC is close with middle aged women from Minnesota doing the hand-assembly. Lets face it-no country is immune from hung-over workers assembling stuff on Monday mornings. China has workers from the remote villages out in the country who live in dorms without their families desperate to make money much like US chicken factories that recruit poor Somali workers from all over this country to live in their dorms and do dangerous work in crappy conditions. Impose all the QC you want, without good workers who are happy (enough) and of clear mind, you get sloppy work. Chicken nuggets anyone?