What current China import sounds like a CJ??

Isn't GATT the reason we are operating at such an enormous trade deficit? Our laws used to make this kind of competition impossible but we did this to ourselves. Little political gestures like Ferrari's stand against Asian products are symbolically important but all of the high end audio sold in the next century wouldn't approach what Wal Mart brings in this week.

there are 5 "well known" brands of audio gear from china, namely, consonance, shanling, minimax, cayin and antique sound lab. there may be a few more.

as far as i am aware, the distribution of these products is relatively stable. these products have a following. i believe you can purchase some models from each company, used on audiogon.

what say you, china bashers ?

History: Lets see if these Chinese companies are around in the year 2037 assuming they got started in the year 2000. Nearly all of their operating premises is all out of wack relative to the passion, research, and support that ARC and CJ originally brought and continue to bring to the Audiophile World. I strongly suspect some, most, or all of the current Chinese companies will not be around into the next decade, some not long enough to honor warranties and even if they could where is the service network. Cheap price comes with both short term and long term consequences, most of which are not good. "The High Cost of (seemingly) Low Prices".

Audio Research started in 1970 to revive tube electronics as a direct result of mass marketing pushing transistors on us as a cheaper way to great sound. Lets see what happens to the value in the Chinese used products when there is no support for them. Another in a long list of throw away life styles.

My personal feeling is: if you want the sound of a CJ, buy a CJ. Pretty simple.

Although quite a few posts ran a little off topic, I can appreciate the views expressed. I agree that our trade relationship is unbalanced in favor of China. Witness our current trade deficit. Unfortunately this is reality. Hopefully something will be done to address this inequality to create a more level playing field.

And, although the price of Chinese goods in our market is generally low, the price of everything else in the world (oil and other natural resources, even scrap) is rising to fill the demand of Chinese economic growth. So one way or another we are paying for the "cheap" goods.

I'm a firm believer in the adage; "There is no free lunch".

i started attending ces during the early nineties.
i have seen many american companies "disappear" within less than 10 years.

it is difficult for any company to sustain itself, regardless of national origin.

it would seem that a formula for viability is to be able to maintain low overhead, be a small company and have another source of income. if one can operate a business part-time and not rely on the income from the buesiness to pay most living expenses, one can continue to stay in business as long as the will is there and the cost is kept low.

i imagine chinese manufacturers will figure that out, eventually.