I know that Wendell has hauled the newer Brystons around to shows...
curious what you really want
curious what you really want
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Bryston is a better amp than the Acurus, but I wouldn't get either. If you just want something to hold you over, get a pro amp. A QSC GX3 would be a good choice. Guitar Center sells them for $299 brand new. It has more than enough power to drive your 1.7's and its made in the USA. CG gives you 30 days to return it. Its not an audiophile amp as far as SQ goes, but it will get the job done. |
I’ve owned a QSC GX3 for a few years and sometimes use it on pro audio gigs, and it’s a great sounding and really well designed friggin’ amp. It’s a bargain certainly and a real workhorse built like a tank, but for me its fan noise is way too loud for studio or hifi stuff unless you hide it under something maybe, and it’s NOT made in the USA (China) which is why it’s so inexpensive. Balanced and unbalanced inputs, level Note that if you use one for home listening be careful as pro amps like these really swing the juice and can instantly blow the drivers out of pretty much any hifi speaker. I saw one of these in a pic from an article about the Magico factory so I guess they like ’em too. |
No one ever bets money with me, so here's the info. "QSC expertise is also evident in its advanced manufacturing and quality control processes. The company manufactures in its 81,000 square foot, state-of-the-art facility, located in Costa Mesa, California. Utilizing a compliment of demand planning, parts procurement, operations and logistics, computer-controlled precision assembly, and rigorous testing and control, the QSC facility is designed with build-to-order flexibility, giving the company unprecedented ability to respond to customer needs while keeping both parts and finished goods inventory at well-maintained levels. Select partners in Asia provide additional manufacturing." That's from their website and here's a pic of the back of the amp. If you look on the white card, it says Made in USA. I don't have mine anymore, but it did say Made in USA on mine as well. http://www.qsc.com/resource-files//productresources/amp/gx/q_amp_gx_img_rear.png |
On the back of my QSC GX3 (which I actually DO still have) is a clear little sticker showing the wattage, barcode, mentions Costa Mesa, and also says Made in China. The amp you show in the pic is a GX7 from the QSC site "images" and made me wonder…hmmm...seriously…an under $300, 400 plus watts per side pro amp made in the USA? Dream on…Again, QSC makes great stuff, China or Costa Mesa, but implying their stuff is USA made seems like baloney from QSC (and obviously misleading to consumers), but not surprising really as this sort of thing isn't uncommon. |
I just was poking around on Ebay and the first QSC GX3 (just like mine!) amp shown has the "Made in China" label visible, but weirdly many of the other GX amps either don’t show the back of the amp or the sticker is missing…conspiracy? Consumer fraud? OH NO! I actually own plenty of great stuff made in China so that’s not an issue, but otherwise…hmmm…look at pretty much any newish QSC product (powered speakers, etc.) sold by consumers on Ebay and the Made in China sticker is there, and stuff sold by dealers with what might be a QSC sourced pic has the sticker conveniently missing…the plot thickens... |
" The amp you show in the pic is a GX7 from the QSC site "images" and made me wonder…hmmm...seriously…an under $300, 400 plus watts per side pro amp made in the USA? " All of the GX's are made in the same factory and are the same size. The same case gets used for the 5 and 3. Do you seriously believe that they would split the line up and have some of them made here and some in China? That's silly. The assembly of all 3 amps is almost identical. It would cost them more to make them in China if they already make them over here. Maybe you got a knock off, or gray market. And if I'm not mistaken, you live in NYC, the gray market capital of the world. Either way, mine said Made in USA. How could I make a mistake like that? I thought it was made in China too, so it was a huge surprise when I saw the label. Why would I need to make something like this up? This is my last post on this topic. If you agree with me, that's fine. If not, that's OK too. If you go to QSC's home page they clearly state their factory is in CA. All of their other locations are listed as offices. Now, if you go to QSC's website and navigate to the GX3 and click on the pic for the rear of the amp, you get this web address. http://www.qsc.com/resource-files//productresources/amp/gx/q_amp_gx_img_rear.png That pulls up the pic of the GX7 that you were so quick to point out. So is it a mistake? No. If you look at the address, its not labeled GX7, they label it in a way that covers multiple amps, not just the GX7. So its either a conspiracy started by QSC to fool all of us as to where the amp is made, or its just made in the US like the one in the pic and mine shows. |
For clarity and possible help in your seeming dilemma, I suggest you research comments from QSC in their forum where a QSC rep points out that some lines are of Chinese manufacture (the GX included) and others are from Costa Mesa. My wonderful Chinese made QSC amp came from a local Guitar Center in MA…if it’s grey market they certainly are doing a good job! Maybe you should go to a GC location and look at the labels on QSC stuff…I have actually done this recently as I was considering some of their powered monitors…all of those are labeled Made in China by the way (is Guitar Center capable of making their own QSC clones? Bastards!). The silver label in your pic DOES say GX7 and the pic was provided by QSC (sneaky) who seemingly have succeeded in pulling the wool over your eyes anyway, and you no longer have your GX3 to make your point…right? Thanks in advance for not responding, but since I’m here to help you understand international manufacturing processes, feel free to respond anyway. Just maybe do some research first. |
" Thanks in advance for not responding, but since I’m here to help you understand international manufacturing processes, feel free to respond anyway. Just maybe do some research first." Lets do just that. " The silver label in your pic DOES say GX7 and the pic was provided by QSC (sneaky) who seemingly have succeeded in pulling the wool over your eyes anyway" To me it looks like you are pulling the wool over your own eyes. Here is a direct quote from my last post, word for word. " Now, if you go to QSC's website and navigate to the GX3 and click on the pic for the rear of the amp, you get this web address. That pulls up the pic of the GX7 that you were so quick to point out. So is it a mistake? No. If you look at the address, its not labeled GX7, they label it in a way that covers multiple amps, not just the GX7. " http://www.qsc.com/resource-files//productresources/amp/gx/q_amp_gx_img_rear.png I know for a fact that you can read all of that and most likely understand it. But just in case, I'll try and clarify the obvious. 1. If you go to QSC's website and navigate to the GX3 product listing, and then go to the pics for the GX3 and click on the pic for the rear of the GX3, the pic that they show is for the GX7. I can't make it any simpler. Yes, I think that we can all agree that it says GX7. When you click on the pic for a GX3, you get the pic for the GX7. When you click on the pic for the GX5, you get the pic for the the GX7. When you click on the pic for the GX7, you get the pic for the GX7. ***Please read that 5x*** 2. This next part is confusing so pay attention. If you look at the web address that links you to the infamous pic of the GX7, you can clearly see that the link was not for the GX7 specifically. Its labeled for the entire GX line (amp/gx/q_amp_gx_img_rear.png). Just to be clear, that means the one pic that says GX7 on the label is used for the entire line (GX3,5,7). If the GX3 and 5 were made in China and not in the US like the GS7, they would have to use a different pic. But there is no need to because all 3 amps are made in the same factory. ***Please read that 5x*** Yes, I realize that you're going to chose to not understand 1 word of what I just said, but can you please make your reply a bit more entertaining this time so we can at least have a good laugh. |
Then why does the amp say Made in USA on it? The pic is directly from QSC's website. Is your need to be right so bad that you won't consider the possibility that there may be a perfectly reasonable explination? Maybe they moved production from one country to another. Companies do stuff like that all the time. |
Per the QSC Audio Forum, which I had never heard of before this, the answer to the question Where are QSC amps manufactured? was answered as follows (ON MARCH 1, 2007 caps for emphasis): Hi dominik Bob Lee |
Then, on May 31, 2011 someone else added: The GX3, GX5 are made in China. The new GX7 is made in California. The GX7 can be thought of as a repacked, reformated PLX1804 which is being discontinued... I don't work for QSC but I can tell you that the GX series is for entertainers on a budget. It comes with a 6 year warranty which shows that QSC is willing to back their stuff up. I owned the GX5 but switched to a PLX which I feel is better at driving bass frequencies such as subwoofersEnter your text ... |
" "I would never buy junk from china." Curious if you mean audio or if you check everything you purchase for its country of origin?" I have no idea why this such a big issue. Arguing over facts is senseless. Fact: Someone put a label on my GX3 that said Made in USA and it wasn't me. " I accidently actually included a link to it, how cool." " Per the QSC Audio Forum, which I had never heard of before this, the answer to the question Where are QSC amps manufactured? was answered as follows (ON MARCH 1, 2007 caps for emphasis):" That's great information, but if you'll notice, its 9 years old. Is it me, or does it seem like some people really don't want the right answer? Just to put an end to this ridiculous conversation, I called QSC (800-772-2834). Select option 3 from the menu for amps. A live person answers immediately. No waiting. I told them I have a GX3 that says Made in USA, and my friend has one that says Made in China, and asked them what the difference was because I wanted to buy another one. I was told the amps were identical. Depending on when the amp was made, the country of origin will either be USA or China. They started producing the GX line in the US, and moved production to China a few years ago to save money. For me, the great QSC GX3 amp conspiracy of 2016 is settled. I fully understand that for some, the conspiracy will live on, and I wish everyone the best as they continue with the ongoing debate. |
China used their junks to sail all over the world. China can make to spec. (ask Apple) and if you need 5,000 engineers to work on something next week - it can be done; not even India can match that yet. China today is about where Japan was in the 1950s before they implemented rigorous quality control across all export industries. maybe some here are old enough to recall their parents cursing "cheap jap junk"?? The US was in the same situation in the mid to late 1800s. It made cheap crappy low grade wooden furniture and mostly exported to England. Today the US is a leader in high quality turbines, industrial equipment, pharma & etc. But not in most consumer goods. Maybe Japan will continue as a maker of high-quality consumer goods, tho many Nikon lenses are now stamped made in China or Thailand. |
Bryston arrive 2 days ahead of schedule, thank you Stereo Exchange and UPS. First disc, Pink Floyd Division Bell. Maggies never sound so open and free. I should be happy for a while what with the new amp and traveler turntable. But most of us know how it is when you look at the classifieds and see something a little better. Serenity now..... |
That all is a 100% accurate, Randy. I think the issue many have is not the quality (or lack thereof) but the concern that China will do to the US what we did to the British economically in the early 1900’s (and worse). It is now right at the 100 year economic transition cycle that tends to repeat itself. Starting in the 60’s and perhaps even well into the NAFTA treason, America could have continued to enjoy stable economic growth and at least delayed the beginnings of the trade deficit era by manufacturing superior consumer products, including automobiles, instead of Japan had they listened to Deming, which, of course, the Japanese did. Best to you Randy, Dave |