Yup, then they are sent here and we again go through them with a fine tooth comb. Same factory that makes Sonus Faber, B and W, and other high end speakers.
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Sonus Faber loudspeakers are designed and built in Italy…maybe you are confused about some of their low end speakers that are made in China?
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Also misleading to allege that Bowers & Wilkins hi-end speakers are made in China. The 800 series is designed and made in England. Sure, their cheap speakers are made in China, but nothing close to $28k is made in China - those are made in England (starting with the $6k 805d4).
I don’t have anything against speakers made in China, but let’s be sure we get the facts straight about it and not shortchange other manufacturers who choose not to outsource their flagship lines.
My favorite, Spendor, makes everything, including all cabinets, drivers, tweeters, everything, in England - in house no less (including winding many of the inductors in the crossover)- for their D series, which tops out at the $12ish-k D9.2.
I guess it would possibly be fair to say that the FR30’s are made in the same factory as Bowers & Wilkins more budget lines of speakers, if that is true, but not the B&W speakers that compare price-wise to FR30.
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The fact that these speakers are made in China, has no impact on the quality. Most of Apple’s high tech products are made there.
US and EU companies have been teaching how to build high tech products in China and Chinese have proofed to be very ambitious and good learners. Today China is leading.
However, many top of the line speakers are Made at speaker brand country of origin. Like Sonus Faber.
The Buchardt S400 are Made in China, the S400 MKII, in Indonesia and the S400 Signature Edition in Denmark.
The Signature Edition are 50% more expensive than the S400 but come additionally with:
- silver wiring,
- silver binding posts,
- cross over with best quality components
- and real wood veneer.
Those goodies and the fact that those speakers were made in Europe were enough reason to go for the Signature Edition.
My NAD M33 high end integrated is made in China.
Country of where equipment is made is not my main decision maker, but an important one.
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agree
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I would prefer to see my neighbors getting the work, especially at the price, and for a company that prided itself on American made products. My most recent speakers were an assemblage of components across the world, assembled in the USA. The market is changing I get it, but I had unrealistically hoped for final assembly in Boulder. All I can say is glad I did not wait it out for the PSA product and pulled the trigger on an entirely different type of speaker. It comes down to personal choice and how I choose to spend my money. There has been a lot of posturing and claims regarding the speakers, the cost and the style. At the price I’d take a real hard look at the Vandersteen line.
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But to be honest it is probably a little unrealistic to expect that a company that had never made a speaker before would manufacture them in house, right? Not surprising, I wouldn’t think. Speakers aren’t just boxes with circuit boards in them. Different animals. I wouldn’t hold it against them.
That said, there are certainly American companies that have figured out a way to do it - Klipsch for example in Hope, Arkansas, with their Heritage line that runs from $3k-15k. But that is a true, established speaker company (if not the oldest, at least one of the oldest)
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A big part of my reaction relates to information put out by PS Audio as this project was initially announced and as it evolved. I understand market realities, that details change as a project progresses. It too thought the upper end of the B&W line and Sonus Faber line that these would compete with were at least partially manufactured outside of mainland China.
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And I agree with that statement as long as the necessary traceable QC plan is put in place.
For me, my issue(s) are more concerning about the IP as someone who deals with it everyday at a high level. Regardless of the factory, regardless of the checks, IP is often stolen quite frequently in that environment where little accountability is.
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This is why I so admire little companies like DeVore and ZU Audio.
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Your money! Your choice!
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I buy local when I can but as we’re finding out, sadly, 30 plus years of supply-chain globalism has had some negative effects on our manufacturing capabilities, While not a fan of their political system, in my working days I traveled to China multiple times on business and saw the insides of manufacturing plants ranging from auto parts to electronics.
The newer factories at the time were world-class. If you want cheap crap, you can get that, too. The old adage applies: you get what you pay for.
And it applies to the counterfeit goods, as well. The good counterfeits can be very good, indeed.
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Amen to that. I’m incredulous when I hear that it’s meaningless to some people.
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Me too. I would much rather pay my neighbor for his talent and have him pay me for mine.
The thought of paying for a transportation system and a slew of middle men does not sit well with me either.
I am sure it is where the world at large is headed but I still don’t have to like it.
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I only know of a handful of speaker manufacturers who assemble their entire line in the U.S.
Magnepan, Legacy, Vandersteen, Wilson and Zu come to mind.
My KEFs are made in China and my Focals are made in France.
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It’s a very interesting discussion. We won’t solve globalization here. It’s solved as soon as salaries converge globally, in which direction ever.
When Paul as probably one of the most ethical orientated manufacturers lets his speakers build in China, it’s probably a consideration of mixture of reasonable insourced and outsourced works (related to country of manufacture), aimed towards the further success and ensurance of jobs in the company.
Who would pay 50-100% more for those speakers to save jobs doing all the work locally. Who would work for half the money locally? Is it possibly at all to have some work steps manufactured locally at all?
We need to think as entrepreneurs to catch the challenge. Without entrepreneurs, there are no jobs.
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Rockport, Magico and I’m sure many others especially for speakers over $20k. Both have models less expensive than FR30.
May be (just guessing) harder to find American speakers with msrp over $25k that are made in China versus here in USA. I can’t think of one, but I’d be surprised if this were the first. But I can’t think of another
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Besides skill and cost there is the huge issue of capacity. Most shops capable of doing much of this work in the US are small.
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I don’t really agree with that. Many very very complicated things are built in the USA. A speaker is so simple compared to those items. That’s not an excuse if there is reasonable volume which based on PSA history I’d say there is.
Further, that speaker shop could also make other items for their offerings. I’m sure PSA has run the numbers every which way and made a business decision based on the totality of the situation.
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I am not saying that the US lacks skills, or that we cost too much—we are competitive in those areas. It’s just that we don’t have enough capacity for many of the parts/techniques involved. The lacquered top covers for many PS Audio units are also made in China.
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