Quote Originally Posted by PDN
Pixelthis: Many companies are building their products in mainland China. It's just the way it is right now. I wouldn't be at all suprised if that's where Marantz units are now made. But again, the 3 year warranty on Marantz products is excellent. B&W is now making their new 600 series loudspeakers in China at the same plant as the Classe and Rotel components are manufactured. It's truly unfortunate but manufactures feel they will not be able to compete going forward if they don't.
I knew that B&W was making their cheapest line (what passes for the 300 series these days) but their classic 600 series?
LORD
and Classe? SOMEBODY SHOOT ME

This is a mistake of literally global consequence. I read that Chinese consumers are looking for foreing brands, they think they are higher quality!!!

It was different when the Japanese got into the hi end audio field, they didnt just clone
western brands, making cheap copies of what were once name equipment.

Its NOT that the Chinese cant make products of similar quality.
My 602 s2 b&w speakers are made in England, as are my 305 towers.
Guess I'll cherish them even more now.
Never has the world seen this.
Its like George orwells novel, 1984, except that instead of inconvienent facts going down the "memory hole" our entire civilization is being flushed down the toilet.
What happens when there is no one left in western civilization that can build decent gear?
I have seen this "designed in america, england, etc, built in China CRAP, its cheap,
looks great but not built with the same care. You cant transplant a devotion to quality.
You dont even care enough to build your own product, why should I give a flying fig?
My B&w SPEAKERS ARE GOING ON SIX YEARS OLD, still look like new, my
"designed in America, built in china" Klipsch had the black vynil finish shreding off after six months.
I once almost bought a Heathkit, an integrated amp, remember those?
Guess if I want any more decent gear I'll have to get up the parts and build the stuff myself,
if I can find the scematics.
And how are people going to buy this stuff if they dont have any jobs?