Dynaudio - Made in China vs Denmark


Hi,

    I  recently Purchased a new pair of Dynaudios. The floor model I auditioned were 'Made in Denmark' but the pair which was shipped out by the dealer was 'Made in China'. They are still boxed. Whats should I do:

1. Swap with the showroom floor model (they were probably a yr or 2 old)

2. Unbox and use my 'Made in china' pair ?

My main concern here is the quality of the product from China. Resale values.

Anyone with experience please chime in. 

 

ryanhere

Part of the heritage of Dynaudio was the tradition of Danish cabinetry utilizing Danish hardwoods. Denmark naturally (pun) possessed ample old growth forests of hardwood of the highest known quality in the world. For those that aren't familiar, old growth refers to forests with hundred year old trees. The wood is denser, harder, more durable, and more beautiful compared to species of trees grown in conditions designed for quick growth and harvest. 

Due to multiple factors including population growth and climate change, old growth forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. China imports US old growth wood to satisfy it's ultra-wealthy for floors, cabinets, and residential woodwork. Do they import such wood for speaker cabinets? Does Dynaudio export it's Danish wood to China for construction of speaker cabinets? Regardless of loudspeaker manufacturer I believe the answer is no. Doing so would defeat most of the cost savings. I said "I think" because the industry is very secretive about such details. 

Cycling has been a hobby of mine almost my entire life. Not just the physical act of cycling but also bicycle construction and design. Over the last twenty years the manufacture of top tier bicycle frames has transitioned from Italian, French, and US made frames to Taiwan and China. This coincided with the [relative, not absolute] death of hand assembled steel and titanium frames as carbon fiber frames emerged as top of the roost. The fabled brand name of Bianchi is a classic example. For many years their top-of-the-line model still bore a "Made in Italy" emblem on the frame and yet by all accounts they were actually built in Taiwan where carbon fiber mold processes are the most advanced and most economical in the world. To this day many of the most expensive brands of bicycle frame manufacturers (Colnago, Pinarello, Cervelo et. al.) are secretive about where their carbon fiber frames are built.  The audio industry is similar when it comes to the top names that traditionally built all of their equipment in their native country. 

If you were expecting made in Denmark and the dealers demo were made in Denmark then I'd not accept them myself. I'm sure they still will sound fine but in the back of my mind I'd always be wondering and it may not be enjoyable to listen to them knowing this fact. But that's me and you asked.

The quality may be the same as Denmark, But, I prefer not to buy from a country that has nuclear weapons aimed at us. I always look at the label to see where its manufactured. As a union worker with 43 years experience , I have been a victim of off-shore shutdowns. Just my opinion  though.

The pro "Made in PRC" camp always bring up personal computers/ Apple products/I phone ect. which is NOT relevant when regarding HEA. There are NO other options for those products that we need to function in society. Yes HEA products use some Chinese made parts PC boards/solder/cabinets ect. even the blue "MAC" meters are claimed to be made in China. Fortunately a few non critical Chinese made parts will not diminish the quality of components manufactured in North America/Europe or Japan. Krell, Sonus Faber and Quad are perfect examples of made in PRC quality control. All 3 companies have had problems with Chinese made products. I love the sound of the Quad 2812/2912 but there build quality is a deal breaker. Thankfully Krell and Sonus have moved all product? out of China. Yes, there could be a few extreme examples of well made Chinese gear. Line Magnetic/Melody appear to have great build quality and claimed top level SQ but I have not seen or heard either in person to make a valid judgement.

Unless the manufacturer offers that exact model still being made in Denmark, the dealer had no choice as to the country of origin. Perhaps he will swap his demo for your new ones, and that way be more representative of current production while making you happier with your transaction.