In article ,
JustMe writes
I believe the following speaker 'names' are now *owned* by the Chinese:

Wharfedale
Quad
Rogers
KEF
Celestion

Is this correct?

Also, I know they certainly manufacture various or all of the models in
the
various ranges, but does anybody know if they are actually designed in
China
now?

Also, does anyone know of any other 'names' (speakers or other equipment)
now in the hands of the Chinese? (Not just manufactured there - that's
almost everybody now, from what I can see....)

I believe that IAG (International Audio Group) own Wharfedale & Quad
together. They also now own Tag and all that comes with that. The owners are
Chinese, the products are manufactured in China (excluding the Quads
Electrostatics which, I believe, are still built in the UK) but all the
design is carried out in the UK.

Kef and Celestion are under one roof (and have been for a few years) but I
don't know in whose hands they lie.

Don't know about Rogers.

Is this a crisis?

Politically you may despair for the oppressed people of China and may
consider that they are being used as a cheap labour force by the West. You
may be concerned at a loss of jobs in the UK.

But, in absolute hifi terms, I believe that the latest speakers from
Wharfedale and Quad (looking at the Quad "L" and the Wharfedale "Evolution"
ranges) are outstanding value for money, are beautifully built and finished
with incredible attention to detail, sound superb and outstrip the
competition at the price.

Of course that's just my subjective opinion, but they would cost a lot more
to buy if manufactured in the UK and I don't believe that the QC would be
any better.


Which begs the question when the Chinese take over the design too, what
are we going to be doing?.....


--
Tony Sayer

In article , Keith G
writes

"JustMe" wrote in message
...
I believe the following speaker 'names' are now *owned* by the Chinese:

Wharfedale
Quad
Rogers
KEF
Celestion

Is this correct?

Also, I know they certainly manufacture various or all of the models in
the
various ranges, but does anybody know if they are actually designed in
China
now?

Also, does anyone know of any other 'names' (speakers or other equipment)
now in the hands of the Chinese? (Not just manufactured there - that's
almost everybody now, from what I can see....)

I believe that IAG (International Audio Group) own Wharfedale & Quad
together. They also now own Tag and all that comes with that. The owners
are
Chinese, the products are manufactured in China (excluding the Quads
Electrostatics which, I believe, are still built in the UK) but all the
design is carried out in the UK.

Kef and Celestion are under one roof (and have been for a few years) but I
don't know in whose hands they lie.

Don't know about Rogers.


Yes, Rogers are AFAIK....


Is this a crisis?


Not to me, I'm a big fan of Chinese audio gear - low on 'bull**** factor' if
nothing else.


Politically you may despair for the oppressed people of China and may
consider that they are being used as a cheap labour force by the West.


Absolutely not - I'm delighted for the Chinese.


You
may be concerned at a loss of jobs in the UK.


Nope.

Well Keith, perhaps you should be?. Are you retired?, and if you are and
you rely on a pension, or perhaps you made squillions and have salted
that away, your pension is going to be funded by the present British
workforce, so perhaps you should be a shade more concerned.

Or are you or would you be happy with the same standard of living as a
typical Chinese family?, and it isn't that good, according to a Chinese
person I know....

--
Tony Sayer

Not being anti-british but I bet the build quality will improve
considerably.... and it may no be too long before China rules the audio
roost...too clever by 'arf eh?

Yes, perhaps they may make a better job of running UK Ltd.......



--
Tony Sayer

"Dave xxxxx" wrote in message
news
Keith G wrote:
I believe the following speaker 'names' are now *owned* by the
Chinese:

Wharfedale
Quad
Rogers
KEF
Celestion

Is this correct?

Also, I know they certainly manufacture various or all of the models
in the various ranges, but does anybody know if they are actually
designed in China now?

Also, does anyone know of any other 'names' (speakers or other
equipment) now in the hands of the Chinese? (Not just manufactured
there - that's almost everybody now, from what I can see....)

They belong to two brothers Michael and Bernard Chang from China they
own
http://www.internationalaudiogroup.com/

http://www.internationalaudiogroup.com/iagbrochure.pdf



'Kinell!

That's like a 'Who's who?' of the best in British audio!! (Apart from the
Apogees of course - they ain't up to much....)

The build quality is fine - ask Tony Sayer about the Chinese-made Quad 11Ls
I sold him. (He always has a little problem with that - he like to think I
*recommended* them to him...???

The only problem I have with them Keith is that they are not made in
Huntingdon any more, for all the obvious reasons;(

And In fact I'm not being racist or anything like that before anyone
interprets my earlier comments, I have a lot of time for Asian and
Oriental people, as there're very industrious!.

Nothing to do with you recommending them at all, or where you got them
from either, or the fact they have been contaminated by Valve
electrons;()..

They used to belong to Ray Keattch.....)

Who he?..

The amp I've got is absolutely fine, but it is the 'plain Jane' style, much
like NAD gear. This amp was actually designed by the German importer who
went over to China to develop it and set up production with an established
and experienced manufacturer, apparently.

--
Tony Sayer

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...
Not being anti-british but I bet the build quality will improve
considerably.... and it may no be too long before China rules the audio
roost...too clever by 'arf eh?

Yes, perhaps they may make a better job of running UK Ltd.......


Aha, now you are getting it! ;-)

(We are only as good as other people force us to be.... ;-)

"tony sayer" wrote

You
may be concerned at a loss of jobs in the UK.


Nope.

Well Keith, perhaps you should be?. Are you retired?,


Yep.


and if you are and
you rely on a pension, or perhaps you made squillions and have salted
that away,


Jeez, you bin here - do I look like I've got 'squillions' salted away???


your pension is going to be funded by the present British
workforce, so perhaps you should be a shade more concerned.


Nah, my pension is a pittance - I *earn* the 'pocket money' I get. I'm not
relying on the IT pussies/call centre creeps for my existence - I've paid
MILLIONS out in salaries, I've had a grand a week 'spending money' coming
in, in the past, and spent it all and I couldn't give a **** about money.
The less I've had, the more fun I have. Life's a **** sight too short to
worry about money, believe you me!!


Or are you or would you be happy with the same standard of living as a
typical Chinese family?, and it isn't that good, according to a Chinese
person I know....


Back in the fifties everybody was broke and living standards were poor by
today's and this country was a damn sight better place than it is now or
will *ever* be again. For example, the best music, the best audio kit, the
best artists, musicians and performers have all been and gone.

Don't believe me? Have a little think about it and come back and shoot me
down. Name one area where things are really *better* today!

(Start with 'broadcasting' if you like..... ;-)

"tony sayer" wrote in message
...

The build quality is fine - ask Tony Sayer about the Chinese-made Quad
11Ls
I sold him. (He always has a little problem with that - he like to think I
*recommended* them to him...???

The only problem I have with them Keith is that they are not made in
Huntingdon any more, for all the obvious reasons;(

And In fact I'm not being racist or anything like that before anyone
interprets my earlier comments, I have a lot of time for Asian and
Oriental people, as there're very industrious!.

Nothing to do with you recommending them at all, or where you got them
from either, or the fact they have been contaminated by Valve
electrons;()..

They used to belong to Ray Keattch.....)

Who he?..


'Mr Bitsy' - a damn nice chap (6'5" tall - I told you) who got bitch-slapped
off this group by Pinky et al for his 'enthusiasm' when he rediscovered
vinyl at mine....

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"tony sayer" wrote

You
may be concerned at a loss of jobs in the UK.


Nope.

Well Keith, perhaps you should be?. Are you retired?,


Yep.


and if you are and
you rely on a pension, or perhaps you made squillions and have salted
that away,


Jeez, you bin here - do I look like I've got 'squillions' salted away???


your pension is going to be funded by the present British
workforce, so perhaps you should be a shade more concerned.


Nah, my pension is a pittance - I *earn* the 'pocket money' I get. I'm not
relying on the IT pussies/call centre creeps for my existence - I've paid
MILLIONS out in salaries, I've had a grand a week 'spending money' coming
in, in the past, and spent it all and I couldn't give a **** about money.
The less I've had, the more fun I have. Life's a **** sight too short to
worry about money, believe you me!!


Or are you or would you be happy with the same standard of living as a
typical Chinese family?, and it isn't that good, according to a Chinese
person I know....


Back in the fifties everybody was broke and living standards were poor by
today's and this country was a damn sight better place than it is now or
will *ever* be again. For example, the best music, the best audio kit, the
best artists, musicians and performers have all been and gone.

Don't believe me? Have a little think about it and come back and shoot me
down. Name one area where things are really *better* today!

(Start with 'broadcasting' if you like..... ;-)




Chinese built hi-fi )

"Mike Gilmour" wrote in message
...

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"tony sayer" wrote

You
may be concerned at a loss of jobs in the UK.


Nope.

Well Keith, perhaps you should be?. Are you retired?,


Yep.


and if you are and
you rely on a pension, or perhaps you made squillions and have salted
that away,


Jeez, you bin here - do I look like I've got 'squillions' salted away???


your pension is going to be funded by the present British
workforce, so perhaps you should be a shade more concerned.


Nah, my pension is a pittance - I *earn* the 'pocket money' I get. I'm
not relying on the IT pussies/call centre creeps for my existence - I've
paid MILLIONS out in salaries, I've had a grand a week 'spending money'
coming in, in the past, and spent it all and I couldn't give a **** about
money. The less I've had, the more fun I have. Life's a **** sight too
short to worry about money, believe you me!!


Or are you or would you be happy with the same standard of living as a
typical Chinese family?, and it isn't that good, according to a Chinese
person I know....


Back in the fifties everybody was broke and living standards were poor by
today's and this country was a damn sight better place than it is now or
will *ever* be again. For example, the best music, the best audio kit,
the best artists, musicians and performers have all been and gone.

Don't believe me? Have a little think about it and come back and shoot me
down. Name one area where things are really *better* today!

(Start with 'broadcasting' if you like..... ;-)




Chinese built hi-fi )


OK smartarse...

Make that "Name one area where *British* things are really *better* today!"

(You know wot I mean...!!!)