Which country has the best hi fi industry in the world

[Arkless Electronics]

British contemporary HiFi does nothing much for me, never did. Some vintage gear is interesting.

Most interesting, to me, audio comes from America, Canada, Italy, Germany and Japan.

I see Poland as an up and coming place for interesting world class products.

OK... So, what is so poor about UK gear but better in gear from the countries you name?

[Frazeur1]

I don't see anywhere in Neils post that he said any of it is poor, but I should probably not speak for him here. I guess though, quite a few of my audio/music friends always ask me why I typically buy British gear and not American. For me, I am happy for those American companies, and have had a lot of gear from here, but I just tend to like different things, not something everyone and their brother owns. Obviously it has to sound good too, and reliability and looks come into the equation as well.

[Spectral Morn]

I don't see anywhere in Neils post that he said any of it is poor, but I should probably not speak for him here. I guess though, quite a few of my audio/music friends always ask me why I typically buy British gear and not American. For me, I am happy for those American companies, and have had a lot of gear from here, but I just tend to like different things, not something everyone and their brother owns. Obviously it has to sound good too, and reliability and looks come into the equation as well.

As you say Timothy I didn't say poor, I just said it did nothing for me personally.

Put simply I prefer the way music is reproduced by the audio gear I have heard and own from the countries I named. I am mainly referring here to electronics, not speakers or turntables, as I have had and have owned such. CD players, DACs, Amplifiers, Tape Decks and Tuners mostly non British/UK.

I am not going to drawn into slag a brand, not going to happen.

[Macca]

I think to judge hi-fi 'by nation' is to generalise to the level were it becomes pointless. Is there a 'House Sound' by nationality? What's a Polish designer going to be doing that is so different to, say, an American designer, just by virtue of the fact that he is Polish? Doesn't make any sense to me.

[walpurgis]

I think to judge hi-fi 'by nation' is to generalise to the level were it becomes pointless.

I tend to agree.

[Marco]

In my experience, equipment produced by different countries often has a fundamental 'house sound', which to some degree reflects the tastes of their respective inhabitants. I've certainly found that German hi-fi, in particular has a distinctive presentation (majors in an upfront, bass-driven sound), as indeed does, say, loudspeakers from the US, if nothing else because they've been designed to be used in much bigger rooms than ours. American speakers also usually excel at soundstaging.

As always in audio, however, there is no "best"; merely different, and it comes down to what suits your tastes/needs. Generally, I've preferred British hi-fi, as I like how it's 'voiced' [the 'British house sound', as it were, in reference to my previous point], especially with speakers, but there's much that I also admire in Japanese and American hi-fi, and as Neil touches upon, some eastern European stuff, where some very clever designers are emerging from!

I also like some French hi-fi, Micromega being a case in point, as their CD players to my ears sound extremely musical, and also the likes of Triangle loudspeakers, although I'm not so enamoured with some Focal designs. As for Italian hi-fi, I'm sorry to say that despite being a patriotic Italian, I've so far not found much Italian hi-fi equipment I could live with, as for me it tends to be style over substance, with much of it having a rather warm and euphonic sonic signature, which isn't my cup of tea.

Unfortunately, in the past, here in the UK, out with of digital equipment, we've not given Japanese hi-fi anywhere near a fair crack of the whip, especially the solid-state amplifiers, speakers and turntables, some of which (especially the best of vintage varieties) can be absolutely stunning. However, forums such as AoS have helped alter some perspectives, in that respect, and we'll continue to do that with anything else unfashionable or 'off-trend' that deserves it!

Marco.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

I think to judge hi-fi 'by nation' is to generalise to the level were it becomes pointless. Is there a 'House Sound' by nationality? What's a Polish designer going to be doing that is so different to, say, an American designer, just by virtue of the fact that he is Polish? Doesn't make any sense to me.

Hi Martin
The designers nationality makes no difference, it is either a good design or its not.

What we see though is a lack of designers, committing to have their ideas stolen by
countries involved in mass production. Which is fair enough.

Yes patents might protect, but patents come with many additional costs where there is
much interest in new ways of doing electronics. Here are a few, Patent attorneys,
registration of patents in numerous countries, Lawyers and barristers to defend your
patent. Travel costs involved with litigation etc etc.

Designers like designing -not attending courts. The best example of a designer
hounded until he sadly took his own life, was Major Edwin Howard Armstrong
http://www.njarc.org/books/man-of-high-fidelity.pdf

So what we are abundantly seeing is designs made 42 years ago in the case of
Quad's current dumping, then being made wrongly, I refer to mk2 405 boards
that have design errors, that original boards made by Quad did not. Noting
the Mk 2 boards were a few years later than Mk 1 from 1975

Also generally, countries involved in mass production totally failing
to freshly design new products.

It is nice to suggest a solution in a topic like this, and I see Creative Commons
evolving eventually to handle the enormity of protecting designers. But also
bodies like the Audio Engineering Society, stepping up to the task.

Meanwhile though, enjoy the many ideas that flourished last century, but be
prepared to learn some electronics skills, when those products need refurbishing.


Cheers / Chris

[Dynamics]

I agree with Marcos asssessment with the different sounds. I think the American stuff is all power and no nuance but who can beat the likes of pmc, atc, linn, naim. It may be owned by different countries e.g. Naim, but it's still British designed.

[walpurgis]

I agree with Marcos asssessment with the different sounds. I think the American stuff is all power and no nuance but who can beat the likes of pmc, atc, linn, naim. It may be owned by different countries e.g. Naim, but it's still British designed.

Funny you should mention makes I'd not even look at.

[danilo]

OK... So, what is so poor about UK gear but better in gear from the countries you name?

As above not that anything is Poor.
Just no longer Advancing/leading edge, enough to be alluring /competitive.. to be blunt.
Helluvalot of Yesterdays' Laurels being reissued. And of lesser than original quality.. just to drive extra nails into the coffin.
There isn't much new or interesting in gear out of the UK in .. Decades.
If such exists, it's unknown out 'here'.

As small example: lookit Quad.. a genuine leader in the 70's.
Currently Few outside the UK would buy quad, if at all.
Same with Linn.. damned few buy the stuff 'here'.
Other boutique types? Completely off the Radar.

Some reference to Polish stuff... which Is on the radar.. Is at least, exquisitely crafted.. suggesting care and concern, which Will garner increasing market share over time.

China doesn't Count, at least not yet.
Only Bottom Feeders actually buy Chinese Junk..and even then, rarely twice.