There are many reasons not to buy a Chinese made product when there is a suitable alternative that’s made in a country with a similar playing field to the USA. Where I believe many companies go wrong is they don’t consider that country of origin is important to many of us, and not supporting the Chinese economy is in all of our best interest. Audio equipment is a source of pride for many of us, and something that connects with our soul. B&W is an example of not understanding how many audiophiles think. While the 805 series of speakers are made within their UK factory with pride, you only need to drop down to the 700 series to find they are made in China, and the 705’s cost a whopping $3400! For that price there are a whole lot of other options that aren’t made in China.
As so often happens, when a business becomes too large, or is taken over by a large corporation, the location of manufacturing becomes less important for them, and it’s all about the marketing and incremental profit. A savvy consumer, and someone who is looking for more than a brand name at a cheap price, will seek out quality, and something they can be proud of.
This is certainly a conversation that could go on forever, and if you have time, I’d love to talk about Vice-Grip….