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Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?

172.9.116.164
Posted on December 27, 2016 at 19:12:27
Ross
Audiophile

Posts: 1814
Joined: January 24, 2000
 Reading that they are made in the same (chinese) factory, with nearly identical parts etc.

Is this another example of a foreign (Japanese in this case) company contracting with a Chinese company to produce an item, then the Chinese company begins to sell a nearly identical item under their own name ?

Thanks, Ross

 

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RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on December 28, 2016 at 03:36:49
PAR
 As both companies offer a very large range of products do you have any particular model or models to cite that you think are rip-offs from the other brand?

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on December 28, 2016 at 07:22:54
airtime
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Posts: 11287
Location: Arizona
Joined: February 4, 2003
 Did you ever consider it the other way around. It could have been a Chinese company with a Japanese label on it to begin with.

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on December 28, 2016 at 09:49:34
Ross
Audiophile

Posts: 1814
Joined: January 24, 2000
 No. Triode is a Japanese company that builds in china. Designs are Japanese.

From a review:

"Back in 1996, Mr. Junichi Yamazaki founded the company in Koshigaya which is situated about 30 km from Tokyo in Japan. Mr. Yamazaki left his previous occupation as an engineer for the Japan National railway wanting to pursue his passion, which is his love for music. Evidently, for many years he enjoyed tinkering with old stereo equipment in an effort to understand them and to improve the sound. His designs were successful and have been well received by the market, both locally in Japan and more recently around the world."

Line Magnetic dates to 2005 and is distinctly Chinese.

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on December 28, 2016 at 10:01:54
Ross
Audiophile

Posts: 1814
Joined: January 24, 2000
 TRV 845SE / LM 518ia

TRV 88SE and SER / LM 216ia

 

Reading? Where?, posted on December 28, 2016 at 10:10:43
Rick W
 Linked is the Line Magnetic lineup - at least thru Tone Imports. Which of their offerings is nearly identical to Triode TRV products using the same parts? So far you seem to only be mentioning two examples. As you can see in the link, LM makes more quite a bit more than two products.

Dunno if you're right or not, but where does your info come from?

 

NONE nt, posted on December 28, 2016 at 11:32:07
Frihed89
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Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 nt

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on December 28, 2016 at 12:08:39
Mick Wolfe
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Posts: 3364
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 FWIW, Line Magnetic appears to be a South Korean company that manufactures in China.

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on December 28, 2016 at 12:28:12
Mick Wolfe
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Posts: 3364
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 Aside from both amps using 845's, I don't see it. The 518 uses tube rectification and completely different pre-amp and driver tubes. Also it doesn't have balanced outs like the Triode. I give you that the chassis's look "somewhat" similar though.... aside from the color. Not saying LM doesn't build the Triode amp at their facility. Just that they look like two completely different designs.

 

Perhaps..., posted on December 28, 2016 at 13:36:01
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8445
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007
 But according to this article from Stereophile says so otherwise...

In 2005, two brothers established the Line Magnetic Audio Co. Ltd., to manufacture in their own factory in Zhuhai, in China's Guangdong Province distinct ranges of CD players, DACs, amplifiers, and loudspeakers. They were motivated by the excellent sound and build qualities and elegant appearance of vintage Western Electric movie theater electronics and loudspeakers.

The elder brother, Zheng Cai, is in charge of Line Magnetic's Classic models, which include high-quality reproductions of such vintage Western Electric gear as the renowned 91A and 86A 300B amplifiers, as well as other WE-inspired inventions of Cai's own design. His younger brother, Zheng Xi, is in charge of a team that creates Line Magnetic's Silver and Gold lines of more affordable audiophile products, including the LM-518IA ($4450), a single-ended-triode, line-level integrated amplifier, based on the 845 triode tube. The LM-518IA has been at the heart of my reference system for more than a year.


Read more at http://www.stereophile.com/content/line-magnetic-audio-lm-518ia-integrated-amplifier#3oyPh0yc8LMvkMcz.99

 

RE: Perhaps..., posted on December 28, 2016 at 17:40:43
Mick Wolfe
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Posts: 3364
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 Yep, I always thought they were a Chinese manufacturing operation from the start, but when I was researching the Line Magnetic LM 502 CA DAC, Positive Feedback( issue 74) states they're a South Korean company manufacturing in China. With that said, I could care less one way or the other. The Line Magnetic 218ia has been my main amp for nearly 4 years and I did end up purchasing the above mentioned LM 502 CA DAC.

 

You're going to enjoy..., posted on December 28, 2016 at 18:06:22
kootenay
Audiophile

Posts: 8445
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Joined: October 16, 2007

listening to these...

The attached photo is from our local Line Magnetic dealer. He said that the speakers were constructed and spec'd by Line Magnetic based on his own taste parameters. The LM field coil speakers were driven with the top of the line Line Magnetic equipment as seen on the photo, which include the LM field coil power supply on the foreground between the two speakers.

How does it sound? IMHO, they sounded like music, very visceral and the presence of its presentation reminds me a lot like the Wilson Alexandria speakers of which he does carry as well. He also has the KEF Blade speakers for comparison as well.

BTW, he's asking $65,000 for the pair.

 

RE: You're going to enjoy..., posted on December 28, 2016 at 21:33:44
Mick Wolfe
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Posts: 3364
Location: AZ
Joined: October 10, 1999
Contributor
  Since: September 4, 2000
 That's my fantasy car budget. Love to hear that set-up though.

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on December 29, 2016 at 05:50:27
fantja
Audiophile

Posts: 15518
Location: Alabama
Joined: September 11, 2010
 Ross,

this is the problem w/ gear made in china.

 

Here it is, posted on December 29, 2016 at 12:47:25
Ross
Audiophile

Posts: 1814
Joined: January 24, 2000
 Factory tour of Line Magnetic, clearly showing assembly of Triode amplifiers in the LM shop....scroll down and look for the red chassis equipment, then compare to what is shown on the Triode website.

Once again there is cross pollination between equipment consigned to a chinese company for construction, and what is eventually produced by the chinese company under their own name.

I saw a reference to this arrangement, was curious, and discovered that it is true. How does this affect both companies ? I don't know. I suppose it cheapens the some of the products from Triode because of the similarities to products sold by LM, at lower price points. That said, LM components have been universally praised for sonics and build quality. These are not chinese firecrackers sold factory direct..... LM has dealer representation in the US, and has been reviewed by US mainstream publications. Triode has very little representation and has been reviewed in english by online publications only.

Unfortunately this is an area where the press could do a much better job of informing the public. Instead the press takes everything at face value and will only admit the emperor has new clothes when directly confronted with evidence. Yes it is possible to claim massive similarities where none exist, but the press has the resources to vet the information for the benefit of the reader. If they don't who will ? If the reader is left in a situation of caveat emptor, is it any wonder why so many are hesitant to believe all of the hype that is thrown around by manufacturers and the press ?

Disclosure: I own a Triode TRV P845SE. I became aware of the amp and of the company when I visited successive AXPONA shows. Triode amps and the rooms they were in were among the best sounding rooms in the shows. I recently found the amp referenced above at a net price that was too good to decline. I am happy with my purchase. The amp sounds great, and seems to have excellent build quality. I posted a review several weeks ago. I can also say that foreknowledge of the above information would NOT have changed my decision to purchase this amplifier. However I also believe that the information should be available so other potential buyers can make an informed decision.

 

I don't see any Triode Equipment, just Line Magnetic Nt, posted on December 29, 2016 at 17:39:27
Frihed89
Audiophile

Posts: 15703
Location: Copenhagen
Joined: March 21, 2005
 Nt

 

RE: I don't see any Triode Equipment, just Line Magnetic Nt, posted on December 29, 2016 at 18:19:44
R Browne
Audiophile

Posts: 1710
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: January 14, 2002
 The items pictured with the signature red chassis appear to be Triode Corp. products.

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on January 4, 2017 at 16:02:48
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 I spoke to the dealer in Hong Kong when I bought my LM 219 - Line Magnetic manufacturers (OEM) for several companies including Triode - however, LM makes their own amplifiers they do not sell the same Triode amp under their own name. A Triode amp has no equivalent LM amp for less money. Vincent/Shengya for example have the same amps/CD players and causes issues because the former states they originally design a product but that product strangely existed 4 years prior to Vincent being a company. So who copies who?

LM has two separate divisions - the classic series which is built on WE designs and the second half which is more mainstream like the Silver and Gold lines shipped to the US. They OEM for some other companies - I believe Unison and others. LM apparently (according tot he same dealer) hired the head designer of a big Chinese brand a decade back - Cayin.

 

RE: Perhaps..., posted on January 4, 2017 at 16:07:44
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001
 In Korea, Line Magnetic is called Korea Magnetic.

 

RE: Relationship between Line Magnetic and Triode TRV ?, posted on January 4, 2017 at 16:14:25
RGA
Reviewer

Posts: 15177
Location: Hong Kong
Joined: August 8, 2001

They look a bit the same - but if you look at the back they're not alike.

Plus they are quite different under the hood

Above picture is LM 518

This link shows the Triode (Scroll down)

 

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