Which speakers are made in UK?

[admin_exported]

There are a lot of great UK HI-FI manufactories, like ATC, B&W, etc. Do they design speakers in UK and make them in other countries? Which speakers are made in UK?

Thanks very much!

 

[Thaiman]

just like a options in Lexus 400.........Too many to list!.

 

[Anonymous]

KEF are the obvious ones. Kent electric and foundry, i think.

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="richardjlarby"]KEF are the obvious ones. Kent electric and foundry, i think.[/quote]

Kent Engineering & Foundry, actually, and ever so slightly owned by Hong Kong-based Gold Peak!

 

[Anonymous]

Hyde Park, London! Speakers Corner. Though, not usually made in the UK. D'Oh!

 

[Andrew Everard]

[quote user="Will Harris"]Hyde Park, London! Speakers Corner. Though, not usually made in the UK. D'Oh![/quote]

Good Lord, the drugs do work...

 

[Anonymous]

They should have changed the name on the move to Hong Kong. Or renamed a region, in Hong Kong, Kent.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Well, there is a part of Shenzhen that is forever Wharfedale...

 

[Anonymous]

Thats rater sweet. PMC are all out English aren't they?

 

[Andrew Everard]

Yup!

 

[Anonymous]

I think the KEF Reference series is still made in the UK.

 

[Anonymous]

Neat acoustics,are made in the UK,so are Revolver.Harbeth,Spendor,all top notch speakers.

 

[Thaiman]

Yeb...Neat is properbly one of the best UK base company around (I went there, near Darlington) Bob is a real nice guy and have so much time explaining all different type of cross overs and synergy work to me. Everything is build in uk and even the owner is working in the factory floor.....great day out.

 

[Anonymous]

Sound or marketing?hahaha.

The new 6series are now made in China though,and the woodwork is Scandinavian sourced.

 

[hifikrazy]

Frankly, with most of the younger generation choosing office based professions rather than professions that require skills with their hands, it is not inconceivable that the quality of speakers made in China would surpass those made in the UK...if not now, certainly in the not too distant future.

 

[Thaiman]

[quote user="hifikrazy"]speakers made in China would surpass those made in the UK...i[/quote]
That may be the case but even Non-English person like me still would like to see the traditioanl brands manufacture here in UK. What happen to Linn early on in the year was very sad and it look like more and more brithish brands will get in similar sort of problem.

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks very much for your information.

Anyone has the experience of speakers not made in UK? How they work?

 

[gregory]

wood sourced from scandinavia not so unsual but chinese made b&w's,i also notice that linn komponent are made in china.should we embrace this or be concerned about possible exploitive labour being used to meet our own ends.tricky one me thinks.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Wish to make it clear that there's no evidence as yet that any oif the brands mentioned in this thread are using any form of expoloitative labour. Having spent time at the IAG factory in China, which makes Quad, Wharfedale, Mission and Audiolab, among others, I have to say that what I saw would put most 'Western' factories to shame.

Yes, labour costs are lower there, but the facilities and working conditions seemed extremely good indeed.

It would be foolish for any long-established brand to outsource production to any facility with dubious labour practices, simply because of the kind of suspicions that srping immediately to gregory's mind when 'Made in China' is mentioned. Reputations are hard-won, but easily lost.

 

[gregory]

did not spring immediately to mind, only mentioned the possible use of explotive labour because it is a concern we should all be worried about. i am glad you are so well versed in chinese labour as to put our minds at rest regarding there working conditions.as for a long established brand outsourcing production of it's goods,there has been cases of these practises taking place but thankfully this seems to be on the decline.