Octave vs Ayon integrateds

I was just looking at a review of the Ayon Triton amp on Stereomojo. The reviewer asked the owner of Ayon where his products were made. The owner of Ayon stated that his product is designed and built in Austria, not China. Has something changed?

As an Octave owner I do not agree with the 6moons review. I started with the V70SE and have upgraded to the V110. With the V110 running the KT120's I find a lot more speed with those tubes than the 6550/KT88/KT90. Personally I don't care for the KT120's because the mids are too forward and dry sounding compared to the 6550/KT88/KT90. The bass is a lot punchier. Now if I switch to 70W mode over the 110W and using the KT120's the mids are a hair better and not as dry but the speed is no better than any other tube I have except for the Ei KT90 type2. I do have a black box and although I don't notice much of a difference in headroom it really lowers the noise floor. Currently using the KT90's in 110W mode and really like them. But for a to die for midrange (like the EL34) but with power - sparkly highs a good bass the vintage Tung Sol 6550 solid black plates. But since they stopped production of the black plates in late 1959 finding quads is very rare and super expensive.

I've never heard the Ayon but the Octave line is fantastic IMO. The protection circuit really works. I've had a few tubes 'arc over' and it goes into protection mode. No damage to anything else other than finding the faulty tube if you didn't see it happen.

Here is a review of Octave 110.
http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-371&lang=en

and Ayon Spirit
http://www.highfidelity.pl/@main-404&lang=en

Ayon is an austrian company. Products designed and manufactured in Austria. The owner acquired a factory in Hong-kong where they produce housings only.

I'm a bit familiar with both. Of the two I'd pick up Ayon amp.

I am a past owner of the Ayon Orion II. It is a beautifull-looking amp but ultimately not very well put together and the protective housing over the transformers are not solidly attached. I also went through 3 remotes - not a big great deal but then, at $ 140.00 a pop, this is not acceptable. The fact that the Ayon's manufacturing origins are somewhat hidden (could not get a straight answer from the manufacturer) also does bother me. For the asking price, I just feel those units are not worth the money.

Sonically speaking, the Ayon does sound nice - but so do others for much less money.

I did have an octave on loan for a week in direct comparison. I eventually went with a hybrid amplifier for convenience reasons.

But let me tell you, the Octave was a whole order of magnitude more refined in every way versus the Ayon.

One of the best amps I've ever heard in my life was an Octave. I've never heard an Ayon.