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....)

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



--
Dave xxxx
www.davewhitter.myby.co.uk

Music is Art - Audio is Engineering
Steam is Fun

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.

JustMe 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....)

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.


New Electrostatics always made in China only item still made in UK is QC24
and Quad II-forties

These soon are also if not already being made in China



--
Dave xxxx
www.davewhitter.myby.co.uk

Music is Art - Audio is Engineering
Steam is Fun

Keith G wrote:

: I believe the following speaker 'names' are now *owned* by the Chinese:

What's the big deal? Many businesses businesses, names and all, in many
countries are owed by foreigners.

Dave xxxxx wrote:

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

That's rather annoying to find Quad in there too :-(

--
Andy Hewitt ** FAF#1, (Ex-OSOS#5) - FJ1200 ABS
Honda Civic 16v: Windows free zone (Mac G5 Dual Processor)
http://www.thehewitts.plus.com

"RPS" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:

: I believe the following speaker 'names' are now *owned* by the Chinese:

What's the big deal? Many businesses businesses, names and all, in many
countries are owed by foreigners.


No big deal, I've just got a Chinese valve amp and I'm delighted with it (as
I am with a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 8.2s) and I'm waiting patiently (very
patiently - more anon) for another one.

I'm interested to find out if they are still being designed by 'British'
designers. I suspect not.....

"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.



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.


Tell me about it - I bought a pair of Wharfedale 8.2s just to try them out
for myself and they are quite stunning and have been in and out of use ever
since. My latest Chinese purchase is a valve amp for under £250 and it's
excellent - 'no-frills' EL34 that jumps pumps the music out without any fuss
whatsoever and sounds splendid on a pair of old DM2As.....



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.


Agreed on both counts.

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"RPS" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:

: I believe the following speaker 'names' are now *owned* by the Chinese:

What's the big deal? Many businesses businesses, names and all, in many
countries are owed by foreigners.


No big deal, I've just got a Chinese valve amp and I'm delighted with it
(as I am with a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 8.2s) and I'm waiting patiently
(very patiently - more anon) for another one.

I'm interested to find out if they are still being designed by 'British'
designers. I suspect not.....




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?

"Mike Gilmour" wrote in message
...

"Keith G" wrote in message
...

"RPS" wrote in message
...
Keith G wrote:

: I believe the following speaker 'names' are now *owned* by the
Chinese:

What's the big deal? Many businesses businesses, names and all, in many
countries are owed by foreigners.


No big deal, I've just got a Chinese valve amp and I'm delighted with it
(as I am with a pair of Wharfedale Diamond 8.2s) and I'm waiting
patiently (very patiently - more anon) for another one.

I'm interested to find out if they are still being designed by 'British'
designers. I suspect not.....




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?


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

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.