Will China become the poor man’s dealer for high end audio?

Made in Japan used to imply not good quality. Now the Fender guitars made in Japan are near the top of the Fender line, both in quality and price. The cheap ones are now made in Mexico. Is that okay to say? 😉 

@laoman

No I have not heard AM.

It is always hard to address these outlandish claims, because I would have to be a professional reviewer… and with an enormous amount of time on my hands. But I do have fifty years of experience in pursuing high end audio. As I moved along the path I developed more skills in listening and pealed the onion of sonic understanding so to speak. Additionally, along the way I have tried main stream products and lots of giant killers and budget solutions that were revolutionary. The funny thing is, after hundreds of auditions and with all the pieces I have ever heard, and owned, none of these has ever been true.

Most recently, just to test the big claim that fake Nordost Odin 2 were nearly as good as the real thing. I bought couple pair. No surprise, they were not.

There are a number of reasons that these giant killers are not, is simply because many of the great audio companies of the west have been at it for decades… improving all aspects through generation after generation, using more carefully chosen materials, parts, geometries etc. It isn’t as simple as a cleaver design and cheap labor.

So maybe there is some startling discovery at AM that allows them to produce a component for $2.5K vs $20K component from ARC. If so, it is going to be flashed across the front pages of The Absolute Sound and Stereophile very soon. But for know I have my doubts.

After my last episode with Chinese Dac Company I won’t mention 

never any electronics or speakers Ever again Period !!

I got multiple Chinese equipment and American, some Danish, English, Israeli, Japanese and Portuguese. I could care less where they are made as long as they give me the biggest sound value for the cost. China's Jay's and Gustard products are absolute standouts for me in the digital world.

I don't consider my Audio GD r7 he mkii a poor man's piece of equipment.  I have put it up against Wiess dac 502, dcs Bartok, Berkeley alpha dac, and a few others. None of them sounded dramatically different or better.  A perfect example of well made and designed Chinese products.