Chi-Fi or British?

[paulf-2007]

Some Chinese stuff isnt very well made, but I guess you can say that about other countries too. Ive had stuff that hasnt been earthed properly for a start.
Companies like Ming Da are very good tho, and i'm sure there are others too.

no earth on a valve amp I have has been the only issue I've ever had with a fair bit of Chinese kit.

[Sir Real]

I've used an SMSL M6 DAC for a couple of years, bought from a Chinese seller on Amazon. Compared to the established hifi manufacturers' DACs, I thought it was a bargain at about £150. The improvement in sound quality over the (cheapo) DAC I had been using was jaw-dropping. I think the electronics were definitely 'as described'. It's been in regular use ever since, with no probs.

Only issue I've had with it relates to design - it uses a 'joystick' control for all functions - volume, input selection etc. Coupled with the Chinglish user guide provided, it made the initial setup unnecessarily challenging. I've also used 4 different Nobsound (where do they get these names from?) amps, (mono and stereo, power and integrated) with no issues, as well as a Nobsound pre-amp.

My willingness to try these products stems from buying a £20 amp online to replace pc speakers (and make use of some unused TEAC speakers I had). When I moved to my retirement home in Fuerteventura, I integrated my sound system, pc included, so that amp was spare. I gave it to my local café-bar, where it's in constant, quite demanding use. It's now 7 or 8 years old, and still going strong. I'm now thinking about a high-end Chifi amp, to see how it compares to my Cyrus 6a.

Cheers,
Chris

[struth]

I've used an SMSL M6 DAC for a couple of years, bought from a Chinese seller on Amazon. Compared to the established hifi manufacturers' DACs, I thought it was a bargain at about £150. The improvement in sound quality over the (cheapo) DAC I had been using was jaw-dropping. I think the electronics were definitely 'as described'. It's been in regular use ever since, with no probs.

Only issue I've had with it relates to design - it uses a 'joystick' control for all functions - volume, input selection etc. Coupled with the Chinglish user guide provided, it made the initial setup unnecessarily challenging. I've also used 4 different Nobsound (where do they get these names from?) amps, (mono and stereo, power and integrated) with no issues, as well as a Nobsound pre-amp.

My willingness to try these products stems from buying a £20 amp online to replace pc speakers (and make use of some unused TEAC speakers I had). When I moved to my retirement home in Fuerteventura, I integrated my sound system, pc included, so that amp was spare. I gave it to my local café-bar, where it's in constant, quite demanding use. It's now 7 or 8 years old, and still going strong. I'm now thinking about a high-end Chifi amp, to see how it compares to my Cyrus 6a.

Cheers,
Chris

Ive an M6 too. excellent dac/headphone amp. the joystick does take a little getting used to

[Pigmy Pony]

I did buy a Yaqin MS22B phono amp about 7 or 8 years ago, but I can't speak for their after sales service as it's run without issues all this time. Apart from changing mains lead and valves.

[AJSki2fly]

I suspect that there are some very good Chinese manufacturers out there if you can find which ones are good. I have an ALLNIC tube amp which is Korean and it is superb build and sound quality, but I dare say some would turn their noses up at a Korean product, just as they would a Chinese one. Just because we may have been first or early on manufacturers of HiFi equipment does mean someone else from around the world cannot come along with a better or improved design which is built to a high standard.

[Pigmy Pony]

I think when it comes to provenance of component parts, pinning down the origin of a product can be difficult. And I mean this in a good way - one of Mrs. P's bikes is Korean (Hyosung), and the engine used is actually a Suzuki SV650. Goes like stink and no complaints No one starts out with a great reputation, it takes time and a bit of faith.

[julesd68]

Big thumbs up for the Topping D70 DAC!

I bought mine from Shenzhen Audio who were excellent - just took a few days to arrive. Of course any gain from the cheap import price needs to be set against postal costs of returning if there are any issues.

[paulf-2007]

I think when it comes to provenance of component parts, pinning down the origin of a product can be difficult. And I mean this in a good way - one of Mrs. P's bikes is Korean (Hyosung), and the engine used is actually a Suzuki SV650. Goes like stink and no complaints No one starts out with a great reputation, it takes time and a bit of faith.

I didn't know hyosung were Korean, always assumed they were Chinese. How old is it as they seem to corrode much faster than jap bikes do these days as do Chinese made bikes.

[Pharos]

Germaine Greer said that Chinese engineering was either very good or very bad. Where she got that from is not known by me, but it may be right.

Arthur of funk has had to go to China to get holes in his turntable platters in the centre, he not able to in the UK, and they are cheaper.

I have a new pair of forks on my road bike made of titanium, in China, and I am terrified.

[Martyn Miles]

The Wharfedale Denton 80th Anniversary model was made in China and they were very good speakers.
Of course, they had British input as they were designed by Peter Comeau.
I owned a pair for a while and liked them.
The new Linton Heritage is also excellent.