Do these look similar?
The top one is the plate amp from the Wilson Audio Loke. The bottom one is from Dayton Audio. Granted Wilson Audio probably has some of the better enclosure materials they use, but a $329 plate amp in an $8750 subwoofer? This seems pretty similar to that company that put their case on an Oppo and jacked up the price, a lot.
Showing 3 responses by ghdprentice
Little to question here. Probably made in China. If so.
In this case, if real, Wilson may have designed the piece and gotten their production run without being careful to make sure they protected their design and the finished pieces were sold to Dayton Audio (quite possibly with cheaper parts… so performance will not match Wilson’s). Alternatively a Chinese parts distributor or contract manufacturers can offer designs with options (custom labeling and/or different quality sub components) if you purchase your materials / labor from them. Wilson could have told them what they wanted and the CM then gave them subcomponent options and labeling options, then produced this for them.
I have worked in China and Japan for decades with some of the largest high tech manufacturers. I have been involved in the manufacturing chain of all the portable and automotive electronics you all use every day.
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@artemas_5 Thank you for your complement. One of the scenarios that I described was that. So, an American company submits a design to a Chinese contract manufacturer… they give you a quote… so they set up a production line ( I have been an dozens of these)… there is a tray of components, they set up station after station, some test stations as they assemble the units… think of an in-dash gps… the screen, the printed circuit board, connectors, frame, screws, to put it together… etc. after 500 feet of station after station the thing is assembled and tested. And it pops out the end of the assembly line. It gets consolidated with others, put into boxes… and shipped to… let’s say Wilson. Ok, so. If the company is not careful… there is no reason the contract manufacturer cannot just keep the production line running, but using face plates that do not say Wilson’s. This is one way intellectual property is stolen. A company can prevent this… you have a presence at the site… you have to know the company you are dealing with. Apple has no problem with IP theft… yeah, I know they are bigger.
As far as Wilson. They may have contacted a CM that does audio and explained what they needed. The CM, said… “we can do this” (using and existing design they have used before. I am sorry.. that panel Wilson is using is not remotely rocket science. So Wilson specified the labeling the resistors, capacitors, etc. behind it… and they manufacturers it for them… no IP theft in this case. I don’t know the specifics, but these are the two most likely. I can send photos showing how this works. I would very much doubt the panel in question cost $25 regardless of who it is going to… maybe more with really high quality components behind the panel. The only real difference between Manufacturing in China and the US is that if you do not guard your Intellectual property there is no recourse. In the US or Europe if you are irresponsible, you can go to court after the fact… in China you usually cannot. When I started working in China twenty five years ago a manufacturing executive said to me, “Well, today the steal, to tomorrow as they acquire their own IP… they will start complaining someone is stealing theirs and the will get on board. I have worked for high tech electronics companies that manufacture in China… you have to protect your stuff. You have to do this in the US… and Europe as well. If you are stupid enough to give it away… someone is going to steal it. Sorry for rambling… but that Wilson’s panel is as sophisticated as a rock in today’s high tech world… it’s just a simple panel with some reostates. The IP is in the enclosures, and drivers… so this is all much about nothing. |