Buying Straight from China?

[nightflier]

I continuously see postings for gear from mainland China, at typically great prices but costing a small fortune for shipping. This one caught my eye:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=370191051881

I realize that some of the brand-name items, like Audioquest cables, are perhaps cheap knock-offs or unauthorized, but there's also a lot of interesting gear hailing from China from reasonably well know names like Yaqin, Dussun, and Xindac. Some that caught my eye this week are:

http://cgi.ebay.com/XDSE-EL34-Class-A-Valve-Tube-Integrated-Amplifier-SV_W0QQitemZ180349323886QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defa ultDomain_0?hash=item180349323886&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/DUSSUN-T2-INTEGRATED-STEREO-AMPLIFIER-WITH-USB-DAC-New_W0QQitemZ400013240777QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item400013240777&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bada-HD-23-Tube-CD-Player-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ350107529828QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCD_Min iDisc_Players?hash=item350107529828&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Many of these sport specs that are typically seen in components at a much higher price point, not to mention that the Chinese seem to have a real fondness for tubes. So this has piqued my curiosity, especially now that my finances are a bit tight. Has anyone here ordered from a Chinese distributor? What was your experience?

[Worf101]

Interesting subject. Couple of observations.

1. Most communist of former communist countries have a fondness for tubes cause they've many factories that werel making them for military use. Most musicians will tell you that they've used some Sovtek tubes over the years.

2. The prices might be low, even criminally low, on purpose. The Chinese live and die by imports if they can establish a toe hold by flooding the CE market with cheep but superior analogue equipment, they'll do it in a heartbeat in hopes for riches down the road.

3. I still wouldn't do it personally but I'm mucho interested in hearing how things turn out.

Da Worfster

[mijs]

I'll be interested to see this develop.

Recently, I bought a Cayin tube amp from a U.S. distributor. (Very high quality amp, BTW.)

I'm not willing to order a high dollar item directly from China just yet.

They should get people who speak better English to write their ads. They aren't exactly confidence inspiring.

[Hyfi]

I recently found and visited Quest for Sound in Bristol, PA.

http://www.questforsound.com/index.htm

They have a lot of gear I was unaware of including the line of JAS electronics and speakers.

http://www.jas-audio.com/Joomla_en//index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1

Also they have other foreign gear not able to be seen nor heard in most places. I was highly impressed with the JAS gear. If you want to buy Chinese gear, buy it here in the us from a reputable dealer instead of taking a big chance.

[nightflier]

Any reputable dealers here on the West coast?

[Hyfi]

Any reputable dealers here on the West coast?

Just went back to the site and it seems QFS is the only american dealer. Looks like a road trip is in order.

Contact Stephen Monte @Phone: 215-953-9099 and see if they are sold anywhere else as he is the importer. Some really cool and impressive stuff from the 2 hours I spent looking and listening.

[nightflier]

Well if they do mail-order and they provide decent service, I suppose I could chance it.

So is there anyone else out there who bought something straight from the Far East and would like to share their experience?

[twc644]

I continuously see postings for gear from mainland China, at typically great prices but costing a small fortune for shipping. This one caught my eye:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&item=370191051881

I realize that some of the brand-name items, like Audioquest cables, are perhaps cheap knock-offs or unauthorized, but there's also a lot of interesting gear hailing from China from reasonably well know names like Yaqin, Dussun, and Xindac. Some that caught my eye this week are:

http://cgi.ebay.com/XDSE-EL34-Class-A-Valve-Tube-Integrated-Amplifier-SV_W0QQitemZ180349323886QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Defa ultDomain_0?hash=item180349323886&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/DUSSUN-T2-INTEGRATED-STEREO-AMPLIFIER-WITH-USB-DAC-New_W0QQitemZ400013240777QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_Def aultDomain_0?hash=item400013240777&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A0|293%3A1|294%3A50

and

http://cgi.ebay.com/Bada-HD-23-Tube-CD-Player-Brand-New_W0QQitemZ350107529828QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCD_Min iDisc_Players?hash=item350107529828&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1234|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A13 18|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Many of these sport specs that are typically seen in components at a much higher price point, not to mention that the Chinese seem to have a real fondness for tubes. So this has piqued my curiosity, especially now that my finances are a bit tight. Has anyone here ordered from a Chinese distributor? What was your experience?



Two years ago I ordered a Little Dot MK III tube headphone amp.It's also a very competent preamp.For the fantastic low price of $200.00 + $45.00 for shipping. I could not ask for better service and a great product that should be priced at least $100.00 higher.This I speak for Little Dot from my personal experience.I cant comment on any of the other companies mentioned.

[noddin0ff]

Don't know much about all the various brands myself. I've purchased from
http://www.pacificvalve.us

and been very happy.

[Poultrygeist]

I have a Bada tube hybrid amp and a MHZS 66F tube cd player from China which I purchased from Pacific Valve in Chicago. At the time I bought them I would not have saved that much by buying them off ebay directly from China.

Hope to soon have a Yaqin amp won on ebay which is currently on a slow boat from China. I paid so little for the Yaqin that I can afford to be patient.

Conversion to US voltage ( often rumored as problematic ) is made at the factories in China so I have no reservations about the power supplies not being up to snuff.

Dealer/factory support is not great whether buying from China or in the states. The cost to ship these heavyweights would make repair quite expensive. The build quality however is so high on most of the gear reliability is excellent.

I had a great experience with a Chinese ebay seller who sent me a double supply of banana plugs as one in the initial order was defective. So far I have no reason not to buy direct if the seller's feedback rating is near 100% positive.

[nightflier]

Yeah, but those eBay ratings are easy to fudge by getting a bunch of friends to give you good feedback.

[Poultrygeist]

Hard to find hundreds of friends from all over the world who would fake purchases in order to give a positive feedback. I sell on ebay and positive ratings are your life blood.