Does America Have Something That Will Beat the HiFi Rose RS151 Gen. 2?

This is going to be tough love but the bottom line is America cannot compete in this space. There is scope for products that sit in the "Super Fi" segment. However this is a very small niche market and largely targeted at the super rich where the goal is often statement over performance. China, South Korea and others have invested heavily in R&D, innovation and advanced precision manufacturing. All the while and in general terms, America countered with more protectionism wrapped in a toxic, destructive package of disdain, arrogance and ignorant "Chi Fi" taunting. US HiFi manufacturing, just like Automotive, Aerospace and Defence is under huge pressure of genuine competition. America watched as it spread across the globe thinking the US is too big to fail and immune but now it’s here and it seems America is simply not prepared for what’s coming. 

Oh my. Do we really need to bash America in a place claiming to "enjoy the music"? I’m not enjoying myself. Anyone else?

I consider Audiogon a fantasy land, where guys like me who can’t afford 90% of what we see here, come simply to be informed of the possibilities. My 63 year old ears couldn’t enjoy the top-end even if I could afford it, but the tech is cool.

Please, let me enjoy my fantasy and take the poison talk elsewhere.

Make your day Great!

JR

I don’t know, at this point in time, if I really care anymore about ’buying American’ as a leading principal. Particularly in stereo. In reading the comments through the thread I’m seeing that old, high in the nose notion that only American product gets it right and the other Hi-Fi people around the world, that aren’t European, well they’re just using cheap stuff.  and low quality smoke and mirrors.

Not always untrue, but a lot happened around the world in the 30ish years since the criminal NAFTA legislation was signed in.

I would certainly want to keep it American as a preference, if I can, but not to the exclusion of bypassing interesting and well priced components by sticking my head in the sand and blowing good offshore product and innovation at a competitive sticker price off.

There’s interesting technical stuff going on in Chi-fi and they too happen to be smart and like stereo. There’s also a lot of hi-fi smarts in Europe. Not to mention skilled help in a lot of places in the new smaller world that will get you the sound that you want at maybe a third of the price. I like winning and I like saving money.

My father used to tell his very principled, know-it-all son- ’yeah, principles are great...but can’t eat principle’.

It’s good to have principles, but you’d be a fool to pass good or interesting stuff designed and manufactured in earnest by non-American hi-fi people.

I’m pretty sure a lot of you have, perhaps, softened your thoughts on offshore hi-fi since the 90s...if you were even in this in the 90s.

PS... I saw nubiann’s post after I posted this and he (I think it’s a he) absolutely hits the nail on the head.. I’ve had my head out of the ’90s and ’00s for a long time. The The US put itself out of the Innovation and manufacturing business with NAFTA. The rest of the world filled the gap we sold and gave away- as we who had our eyes open back then said would happen.

https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2905076

Now that my pauper status is fully revealed, I should ask how I might efficiently improve my streaming Channel?

Current setup: Audio Quest (green) cable --> Gigafoilv4 EMI/RFI filter --> Wireworld Chroma 8 interconnect --> Bluesound Node 2i --> McCormack TLC-1 Dlx --> Transparent Audio G1 Musiclink Plus interconnect --> McCormack DNA-1Gold --> plain speaker wire --> Infinity Crescendo CS-3009 speakers.

Currently working on the speaker cables!

You have put together a nice system.  I recommend Blue Jean Cables, they are in the Seattle area.  If you are not familiar with them, check them out. I use their cables, very fairly priced by today's standards and I have found they perform at a high level and as advertised.  Plus they are bespoke, you get to chose the connectors, the conductor in some instances and the length you prefer. Just a thought in response to your post.