What components are manufactured in the U.S.A.?


Long time no see...I know. Sorry.

I've been hanging out in Economics forums for the last couple years. One thing that comes up over and over by the people in these forums is that we don't make *anything* here in the U.S. anymore and *definitely* not audio equipment.

I'm not trying to bash any country or foster an atmosphere of geocentricity in this thread. I myself have components from all over the world.

I just want to be able to point them to this thread so they can see it. I suspect most of them have never even been introduced to high end audio even though they are a bunch of engineers and techies so we might get lucky and get some of them on board so they can see what they are missing...even at the entry level...like me.

I'm not just looking for American manufacturers but the specific components that are made with U.S. labor. I recently purchased a Martin Logan sub and was surprised that it was made in China rather than Kansas.

It would also be great if people could put the rough price category so that the newbies who see this thread can see that there are reasonably priced components and stratoshperically priced ones.

Thanks for your replies in advance...much appreciated...and enjoy your systems wherever in the world you might be!

Ellery
ellery911
Right on Lrsky, and so is French's fine mustard, which is certainly not French to start with, but equally is not likely to be terribly much American, as 80% of world production of mustard seeds cometh from that fine Land North of the great 49th, which brought us the likes of Glen Gould, Briston, jet-liner feeding geese, and. . . Ms. Anderson.

Reality is that we live in a deeply interdependent world-wide economic system, where claims of national production autarchy are growing less and less meaningful and even relevant.
Lrsky

Glad you could come back and clear that up for us...again.

Let me write that on the back of my hand...

"Any item made in the USA may be comprised of parts that were made in other countries"

Got it.

anyhow....let's move on to the topic of reading comprehension.

If you would care to read my original post...you will see that I said nothing about "parts content". In fact, I specifically mentioned labor (noooo...the guy unloading the truck doesn't count ;^)).

I was not ragging on the fact that we live in a globalized world nor was I stating my opinions in it. In fact, I didn't want the conversation to be about that at all.

I was just trying to show a a whole group of people who have made statements in an Economic forum such as...

"When was the last time you saw an electronic component that was MANUFACTURED in the U.S.!?!"

These people must think that if it's not at Circuit City...it doesn't exist...and that there isn't a pair of hands in the U.S. that is working on Stereo gear other than whoever is fixing their Dad's old Fisher reciever. I'd bet that most have never heard of the well known (to us) names such as Krell, Mark Levinson, Jeff Rowland, Pass Labs etc.

To them...McIntosh is an Apple product.

I just wish some of the answers would point to the budget minded gear as I can tell you for certain that NONE of these guys are going to be buying LAMM gear.

So...I hope that may have cleared some things up for you Lrsky.

I'm sorry that your products don't seem to be on the list.

My purpose was not to single out anybody or make anyone "the bad guy".

You could have come in here and said something like "Krell" and it would have been a legitimate answer.

How did your responses answer my original question?

Would you care to try again?
Ellery, the problem is that the whole issue of "Made in XXX" is a false problem, and the folks in those economic fora should know better than to raise such red herrings. The national or State flag of the plant where the final screw of my JRDG 312 has been fastened is but the final link in a manufacturing chain of many transactions, companies and nations. Take for example fine Barilla Italian pasta, which can be purchased in the US for a moderate premium over domestic brands. The protectionist gourmet crowd shall clammer about our national duty to eat what's made at Home. . . Yet, Barilla must buy most of its Durum wheat outside of Italy, including Russia, Canada, Argentina, and the USA, if it wants to fulfill the demand of more than a mere fraction of its domestic customers. . . Thus, our screamers for feeding purity should be happy, right? . . . Wrong of course. . . the fertilizer for that Durum may be made from fine guano from. . . Peru, stolen from under the seat of its rightful producers. . . as it was lovingly dropped then shaped into a nest by a mated pair of Sula variegatas (Peru Booby). . who in turn had been feasting on innocent migrating offshore Sardines. . . . and things get murkier and murkier as we pursue the seemingly infinite chain.

Perhaps those folks should have a closer look at the gleaming front panel of my beloved US made Rowland 312, made from aircraft grade Aluminum alloy, whose major constituent was extracted somewhere in the World from Bauxite ore. . . Problem is that, according to Wickipedia, "In 2007, Australia was the top producer of bauxite with almost one-third world share, followed by China, Brazil, Guinea, and Jamaica." Where's the USA? Or ask them to examine the nickel which plates that final screw that fastens the top plate of the same amp. . . Is that extracted in the USA? naah, most likely shipped from frigid Sudbury (Canada), the French speaking little island nation of New caledonia, or from quasi undemocratic Russia. . . but tell them not to get their panties in a bunch yet. . . that bit of Nickel is most likely of meteoritic origin. . . from Outer Space, that is. G.