Counterfeit Chinese Cables

Seems like the long thread on this subject has been taken down.

I don’t mind using knock-offs, and in this particular field, I don’t mind using counterfeits. I use a pair of knock-offs of Kimber 12TC speaker cables. They are not advertised as Kimber, but appear to be made in about the very same way. I would not mind, nor should anyone, if the maker advertised them as "Compare to Kimber." After all, Walmart advertises their generic aspirin product as "Compare to Bayer" or some such thing.

I have a fake pair of "Nordost Odin 2 XLR cables" on the way from China. Several people have written of their happiness with these cables, here and elsewhere. These are counterfeits. However, given that Nordost charges the price of a small house or a large car for a pair with that name, I’m not losing any sleep over it. Yet I would prefer if the Chinese makers sold them unmarked and advertised as "Compare to Nordost Odin 2."

The moderators may take these threads down from time to time.  However, given how the domestic cable manufacturers have treated us over the decades, we will keep on buying from China.  For there, the prices come reasonably close to the costs of manufacture of these relatively simple products.

@juanmanuelfangioii 

So my new Chinese "Odin 2" cables that are sounding so very good . . . are they going to catch fire one day?  Melt?  Short out?

@juanmanuelfangioii 

I am outside of that set.

For the cable business generally, "ripoff" comes pretty close to describing their exploitation of the audiophile buyer IMO. And they've been doing it for a very long time.  They buy Chinese cable, terminate them and mark them up 20X.  I have no qualms  Some of these cable formulations are 40 years old.

@juanmanuelfangioii 

guess you did not watch the Cardas video. 

What Cardas video was that?

I have no problem with knock-offs. It’s done all the time, even referencing the real thing. Walmart advertises its own brand of small coated aspirin, looking exactly like a Bayer, as "Compare to Bayer." Some of our fellow ’philes don’t care for knock-offs and seem to take personal offense. I’m happy with my Chinese sourced speaker cable that looks exactly like a Kimber 12TC. One industry insider has suggested it is the same and from the same factory as Kimber’s. It costs one tenth as much. With that in mind I do take issue with the Chinese interconnect being marked as "Nordost Odin 2." It is an excellent cable. I can’t say I know what the legalities are. Google, an American company, permits them to advertise this way and is happy to take their money. American capitalism at its . . best. I am confident that no one will think they are getting the "real" Nordost Odin 2 for the price being asked. While the cable and terminations look fine enough (though the XLR connectors are very light in weight), the wooden rings that carry the false labeling seem crudely made compared to pictures of the real ones. So it’s a poor counterfeit. The use of it puts no one in any jeopardy and I do check the cables for conductivity and shorts before using. Nevertheless, as to my personal point of view I hold no brief for Nordost. I can buy a very nice car for what they charge for a 1 meter pair of their Odin 2 interconnects. For the cable business generally, "ripoff" comes pretty close to describing their exploitation of the audiophile buyer IMO. And they’ve been doing it for a very long time.

@rsf507

I do take issue with this Chinese cable being marked as "Nordost Odin 2." I can’t say I know what the legalities are. Google, an American company, permits them to advertise this way and is happy to take their money. American capitalism at its . . best. I am confident that no one will think they are getting the "real" Nordost Odin 2 for the price being asked. While the cable and terminations look fine enough, the wooden rings that carry the false labeling seem crudely made compared to pictures of the real ones. So it’s a poor counterfeit. Nevertheless, as to my personal point of view I hold no brief for Nordost. I can buy a nice car for what they charge for a 1 meter pair of their Odin 2 interconnects. For the cable business generally, "ripoff" comes pretty close to describing their exploitation of the audiophile buyer IMO. And they’ve been doing it for a very long time.

An even better value in a power cable is a Chinese cable available from Amazon. It is the Viborg MBU1606 HiFi Power Cable 5N OFC 6mm² /Core, 16MM Copper Shielding + 2 Layers Foil US Hi-End Power Cord with Pure Copper US Power Plug + IEC C13 Connector (3.3FT/1M) at about $55

I bought one and then 2 more. They are great.

For the amazing internal construction of this cable look here and scroll down.

The only slight negatives are that it is plain looking and stiff.

@roxy54 

You mention Amazon, but your link goes to aliexpress.

Glad to help out.  Just have a look here.

@juanmanuelfangioii 

Audit this. If you are paying any tax on Ali Express it is not being paid to the taxing authority in the state you reside in. only a fool would think that.

I am such a fool.  So I would like to ask what proof you have of your assertion?