Hi Nspei,

Welcome. Not at all. You make some good points. In fact, that is what happened some decades ago with Japan. They started with junk, but kept improving until they became very respectable. Korea the same thing. Now it is China's turn.

nspei - Welcome to the forums and thanks for an interesting first post. I think there's a lot of merit to what you postulate, but, probably only to a given level of customer. The sheer numbers of workers available (and possibly what amounts to slave labour) in China will bring costs down. Quality will increase as long as consumers demand it and vote with their dollars. For mass production goods and cheap home theatre in a box type stuff, the bargain and convenience will always rule for the average, casual buyer. When it comes to high-end, the consumer is more demanding, and this is where things might not get as cheap as quickly as a $150 speaker made of chipboard and some off the shelf drivers. I can also see the entry level high-end being affected by this (heck, manufacturers are already building stuff in China to keep costs down.) But, a certain level of listener will be more discerning, and I suspect this is where the dividing line will be where China won't be able to compete as you suggest. This kind of hi-fi enthusiast will expect the nuances that are delivered through careful voicing of products, whether it's due to some hand wound transformer, or custom doped paper cone, exotic cryo treated wire, or polymer made with Grandma's old dentures. At the last couple of CES shows, a Chinese company has shown a speaker that looks like a B&W Nautilus. I haven't heard the clone, but, I'd be surprised if it sounded like the original. You could throw together some nicely shaped boxes that look like a Watt Puppy, but, you'll never achieve the sound without the proprietary "X Material". At a certain level, there's so much research and custom tuned components that go into a product, that something thrown together cannot be matched, especially if the demand is relatively small. The strength of Chinese production is going to be quantity once the factory line is set up. There's little sense in making a handful of Caliburn clones. I can see mid-level high-end gear getting a run for its money in the next 5 to 10 years (maybe not at a 1/5 of the cost, though.)

You make some good points and to a certain degree, very valid.

The problem with many Chinese products are in consistent quality control. In those instances where foreign distributors are working closely with the manufacturer and demanding a reasonable level of consistent quality, I think the finished products are pretty decent. However, there is a basic and fundamental problem that the Chinese goods will always suffer from, at least to a certain degree. Incorporating a solid work ethic and pride in what you do is not an easy thing to accomplish when the workers are poorly paid and know that the products they are making are going to western markets. I'm fairly confident that this mentality works its way up the ladder as well.

My limited experience with Chinese goods has not been very good. I'm not talking strictly about audio stuff, but a diverse range of goods. In almost all instances, the quality compromises are directly related to reliability and a reasonable level of ruggedness. In short, they are cheaper, less reliable and unable to withstand anything other than very gentle use.

I'm sure there are exceptions and I do expect to see a very strong Chinese presense in the very near future...in audio products. It's already quite strong, but not nearly to the level it's going to be in the next couple of years. When these Chinese products develop a competent service network within the U.S., they will eleviate most of the concerns consumers have about purchasing their products. As it stands now, Chinese products are almost viewed as disposable items.

China will do themselves in, pollution seems to be out of control, as they try to gain production. It's easy to undercut when there are no rules about dumping everything into the waer and ground. When millions are killed and or born with defects, cus they have an out of control enviorment...they will wake up. they are probably 30 years behind the civilized world as far as controlling shit toxic stuff in the enviorment. Nature has a way of correcting for the stupidity of people. So many documnentarys about out of control pollution over there, India too. Europe and U.S. learned to control pollution long time ago. Former USSR is also out of touch....we don't need no stinkin' fresh air and clean water.

Hi, Nspei.

I say buy 'em and give 'em that listen.

I'd also suggest keeping aside an extra 150 bucks for some extra solder, some hot glue, some Elmer's and sand box sand, maybe a few caps and resistors, etc; and consider these new babies your sonic playground to have a fun and relatively cheap adventure into the realm of "just how good can I make these babies sound?"

You may end up starting one of those audio fads that sweep through the hobby each year that send audiophiles flocking to the net to buy some "amazing" performer for almost no money.

Keep us posted!

This is one area where I completely agree with you!

Interesting range of replies...

Everyone should look through Wes Phillip's coverage of the 2006 Guangzhou Hi-Fi show.

http://blog.stereophile.com/china2006/

It took us the better part of a century for the "west" to get beyond the Industrial revolution and "get our pollution under control". I wouldn't bet against China and other "second world" countries doing it in half that time.

After all, they have good references of what you should and should not do

The majority of my equipment is MIC (Made In China), and I'm very happy with all of it. I own a pair of Quad 21Ls, a Jolida 1501RC, and the Jolida JD-9 phono stage.

It may not be the best of the best, but the speakers in particular are very damn good, with excellent imaging and range, while the amp does a nice, "invisible" job (I don't notice it. It just gets louder or softer as required).

I've not had a single QC issue of any kind. Bring on the MICs, I say!

You made a good point Nspei.

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