I have some experience in this area--not much, but some.
First off, true knock offs--posing to be something they are not--are not too common. There are clear examples, like Mistral’s B&W knock offs.
In my view, most of the China HiFi market is made up of four types.
1) clear knock offs--not that common. I define this as something that says it’s a Mark Levinson amp--not a cloned circuit.
2). Clones/Kit Using Legendary Circuits.
3) Discrete New Products. I define these as Line Magnetic, Doge Audio, Cayin, Willenston, Denafrips, and so on. These are organically designed and made in China products with strong corporate back stories. Also, these products use high quality components and should not be judged without listening or "popping the hood". The quality in these products is near exceptional.
4) US/Canadian/European Companies. Many household name companies design their products in their home sovereign then build them in China, under contract with a factory. The list of these is massive.
As to the OP’s question, I have heard some clone amps. I heard a Mark Levinson clone and a couple Pass clones. A friend built a Marantz clone from a PCB sold by China-HIfi. All were pretty decent, but of varying quality. Some of them are really, really nice. I think ones that use a tried and true circuit from an older product--e.g., Citation, Marantz M7, etc.--are pretty decent. Those products trying to be a facsimile of a product (see clear knock offs), are less likely to impress if compared to the real thing.
I hope that makes sense!
First off, true knock offs--posing to be something they are not--are not too common. There are clear examples, like Mistral’s B&W knock offs.
In my view, most of the China HiFi market is made up of four types.
1) clear knock offs--not that common. I define this as something that says it’s a Mark Levinson amp--not a cloned circuit.
2). Clones/Kit Using Legendary Circuits.
3) Discrete New Products. I define these as Line Magnetic, Doge Audio, Cayin, Willenston, Denafrips, and so on. These are organically designed and made in China products with strong corporate back stories. Also, these products use high quality components and should not be judged without listening or "popping the hood". The quality in these products is near exceptional.
4) US/Canadian/European Companies. Many household name companies design their products in their home sovereign then build them in China, under contract with a factory. The list of these is massive.
As to the OP’s question, I have heard some clone amps. I heard a Mark Levinson clone and a couple Pass clones. A friend built a Marantz clone from a PCB sold by China-HIfi. All were pretty decent, but of varying quality. Some of them are really, really nice. I think ones that use a tried and true circuit from an older product--e.g., Citation, Marantz M7, etc.--are pretty decent. Those products trying to be a facsimile of a product (see clear knock offs), are less likely to impress if compared to the real thing.
I hope that makes sense!