So what's the better deal (honestly)?

Anyone can build an expensive speaker.

The biggest challenge in the industry, by far, is to create high quality low priced speakers.

What’s the other one that we would recommend all the time.....

Japanese...Mogami. Mogami Neglex it was and is. And Mogami cables in general.
Clarity cable. Sensible sound. Etc.
That is, if someone does not want to buy a liquid metal cable from us, we recommend the above two. If they don't want to spring for that, then mogami and canare are excellent choices. Buy the wire, self terminate the cables, etc.
There are others. Obviously.

cheap speakers are a bit tougher than all that, though.