Dynaudio - Made in China vs Denmark

Part of the heritage of Dynaudio was the tradition of Danish cabinetry utilizing Danish hardwoods. Denmark naturally (pun) possessed ample old growth forests of hardwood of the highest known quality in the world. For those that aren't familiar, old growth refers to forests with hundred year old trees. The wood is denser, harder, more durable, and more beautiful compared to species of trees grown in conditions designed for quick growth and harvest. 

Due to multiple factors including population growth and climate change, old growth forests are disappearing at an alarming rate. China imports US old growth wood to satisfy it's ultra-wealthy for floors, cabinets, and residential woodwork. Do they import such wood for speaker cabinets? Does Dynaudio export it's Danish wood to China for construction of speaker cabinets? Regardless of loudspeaker manufacturer I believe the answer is no. Doing so would defeat most of the cost savings. I said "I think" because the industry is very secretive about such details. 

Cycling has been a hobby of mine almost my entire life. Not just the physical act of cycling but also bicycle construction and design. Over the last twenty years the manufacture of top tier bicycle frames has transitioned from Italian, French, and US made frames to Taiwan and China. This coincided with the [relative, not absolute] death of hand assembled steel and titanium frames as carbon fiber frames emerged as top of the roost. The fabled brand name of Bianchi is a classic example. For many years their top-of-the-line model still bore a "Made in Italy" emblem on the frame and yet by all accounts they were actually built in Taiwan where carbon fiber mold processes are the most advanced and most economical in the world. To this day many of the most expensive brands of bicycle frame manufacturers (Colnago, Pinarello, Cervelo et. al.) are secretive about where their carbon fiber frames are built.  The audio industry is similar when it comes to the top names that traditionally built all of their equipment in their native country. 

fsonicsmith-

that's a little late regarding how bike manufacturing works. It has been in play since the early 90's on a large scale. I worked for a Taiwanese OEM frame manufacturer that made frames for all the recognized names-Bianchi included. There are a handful of that make the majority of mass market  frames across the board-low end to high.

I doubt there is another person in this thread who gives a damn about bicycle frames but I would and do quibble with your dates. I may not have been in the industry but I know bikes as a former sponsored amateur. Giant and Trek came out with consumer CF in the early 90's but the TdF squads did not widely adopt CF until 1999. I just confirmed for myself that in the '98 TdF most squads were riding aluminum. Those early 90's CF frames were not competitive with Ti and Al. 

And I am no stranger to custom steel and likely know more than you do on that front as I have met close to 50 custom builders at various shows and own four customs, a Weigle, Landshark, Rob English, and Speedvagen. 

@tablejockey 

You are right. I sincerely apologize. 

@m-db 

I once had a Parlee on order, back in my racing days. I canceled the order when I found out I was getting a Bianchi XL for free from a sponsor. As you likely know Parlee and Calfee have a similar heritage. I am not aware that any Pro Tour squad has ever raced a Calfee at the TdF. I take it your reference is to the fact that early on Calfees were built at a "Wrigley factory" before Selva Beach. I had to look that up. France has a custom builder of carbon using by-the-tube construction, too, Cyfac. And John Slawta of Landshark and ENVE both build by-the-tube construction custom carbon fiber frames too. Carl Strong was but just hung it up.