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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: Cayin USA posted by fstein on July 4, 2014 at 10:33:58:
This is the only real issue I have with Chinese products - And I own Line Magnetic, Audio Space, and Antique Sound Labs.
First dealers - you have to have them and preferably ones that can do on site repairs should they need them. Although tube amps should be easier to repair for technicians as it's basically caps, resisters so should be straightforward.
Second - looking beyond price and determining overall cost/vale. A given Chinese amp may be cheaper than an established name brand but the name brand is likely to be able to be resold at a FAR higher second hand price. So what is the "net cost" to you. In Hong Kong I have been to the Cayin dealer who sells other Chinese brands and the price/build looks appear good but the $4k preamp I was looking at from Meixing is $4,000 and I could pay a bit more for a second hand Audio Note M3. But in 5 years I will sell the M3 for what I paid or perhaps a bit more than what I paid because in 5 years the M3 will still be selling and the price will probably go up 20% by then.
The second hand M3 will retain the value of the increase. So from purchase to sale at the end of 5 years I likely won't lose money. The Chinese preamp that I bought for $4k will be lucky to fetch $1500 in 5 years. Not even that if the model is replaced or Meixing suddenly gets a reputation for using fake parts or has poor failure rates. What are the odds you say? Well, Meixing is Ming Da and the latter was found to use Rudycon caps instead of Rubycon caps. The d instead of b is not inspiring. So with that track record the company seems to have just changed names from Mingda to Meixing. But either way - that sort of thing decreases resale value. Further once the model number is changed or the product is dropped from the company line-up the value drops like a stone.
You say "but Richard you bought three Chinese amps" to which I say it depends on what sort of cost analysis and sound quality you are getting. In my case I prefer the bigger power tube SET amplifiers (211/845) and the LM 219 offered the build, sound and a relatively sane price. My other choice was a $26,000 (Jinro) amp that is more than 3 times the initial price and resale on higher priced goods isn't as good. Further that amp is stocked with $2,300 211 tubes which to retain the sound of the amplifier is going to require investments of $2,300 just for the 211. It sounds better but you have to draw the lines.
There is good Chinese stuff to be sure but I would go through GOOD dealers and see what they carry. I would highly recommend you try Line Magnetic and Melody - these IMO are the top of the Chinese brands as well as Audio Space. Melody has been around longer than LM though and has more track record which gives them a slight edge at this point. But LM is priced a little lower and has more options in tube design choices.
Tone Imports is the LM importer. I think Angel City Audio is for Melody
Start with good importers and dealers.
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- RE: Cayin USA - RGA 20:29:35 07/04/14 (0)
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