2. amps-preamps
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Has anybody bought or heard a Chinese knock off amplifier?

There are a lot clones coming out of China and power amplifiers seem to be along for the ride.
Mark Levinson, Goldmund, and Accuphase are some of the big names I see replica’s being advertised for sale. These replica’s range in price from $500-$2000. My curiosity every time I see these always is do they even sound like the brand they are trying copy? Another thought that comes to my mind when I see them is, are they even safe or reliable. I myself wouldn’t touch one of these, but that’s me. Has anybody heard one? If so it would be interesting to hear some opinions regarding these amplifiers.
hiendmmoe

Showing 2 responses by timlub

timlub
2,043 posts
 
I've looked at many of these copies,  Dartzeel, Mark Levinson, Accuphase..... Really a bunch more.  Overall,  I don't have a problem with it.... Each and every one that I looked at was advertised as a copy,  no one was trying to get over or lie about what the product was.  They normally had close up shots of the boards,  Output transistor used, Transformer, Capacitors,  bridge rectifiers etc.  I thought they did a good job of trying to represent that they were trying to reproduce a classic.  
If they were truly trying to sell fakes as an original,  you bet,  I'd be upset and would report them to any site selling them.  The ones I saw all looked like good values.  I guess that I had my own biases.  I worried that even the parts shown in these amps were not original and just never pulled the trigger,  But I do believe overall that most of these would be a good value and a decent product.....ESPECIALLY for the buck..... Tim
timlub
2,043 posts
 
@mofojo    
No,  I don't think blatant copying is Okay,  but that isn't what is going on.  Look at the Dartzeel above.  Yes, it looks alot like a Dart,  but with or without volume control.  no balanced,  different boards (Chinese design).  Components inside are different,  However,  I bet it does sound quite good.  The others are the same.  The case on the Mark Levinson copies is a tiny thing,  could never be mistaken for the original.  
According to your post right above this one, Not sure we should be worried about a $300 copy of a $10,000 amplifier.  
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