I think high-end audio’s appeal is obviously based on superior sound quality, but other factors including build quality, long-term reliability (think decades, not just years), servicing and parts, and pride of ownership play a much bigger role when compared to consumer-grade equipment. Most Chinese brands simply don’t have enough history or reliability perception ... yet. Many also worry about post sales service and availability of parts 3-5 years down the road. Just like Japan, I’m sure the Chinese will address these concerns in time. But I don’t think we’re there yet in the context of high end audio.
A few weeks ago, I talked to (in person) one of the guys who works for Raven Audio. We were comparing Primulana with Raven, and one of the points he made resonated with me. The price you pay for your Primaluna includes transportation costs, advertising costs, and dealer markup. Raven, on the other hand, bypasses dealers, spends way less on advertising, and their profit margins are not significant. The differential shows up in quality. Of course, this is somewhat subjective, but when we compared the Primaluna with Raven Blackhawk sitting side by side, the Raven looked a class apart based on looks and build quality. At least during that audition, my impression was that Primaluna sounded more like an SS, but with all the tubey goodness. The Blackhawk had more midrange magic and sounded more lush (in a good way).
A few weeks ago, I talked to (in person) one of the guys who works for Raven Audio. We were comparing Primulana with Raven, and one of the points he made resonated with me. The price you pay for your Primaluna includes transportation costs, advertising costs, and dealer markup. Raven, on the other hand, bypasses dealers, spends way less on advertising, and their profit margins are not significant. The differential shows up in quality. Of course, this is somewhat subjective, but when we compared the Primaluna with Raven Blackhawk sitting side by side, the Raven looked a class apart based on looks and build quality. At least during that audition, my impression was that Primaluna sounded more like an SS, but with all the tubey goodness. The Blackhawk had more midrange magic and sounded more lush (in a good way).