Question Which UK-made speakers?

[DiggyGun]

Notwithstanding your view on Chinese assembled speakers, a large number of components that go into British assembled speakers (other Hi-Fi components) are sourced from China.

DG…

 

[Sanglier]

Notwithstanding your view on Chinese assembled speakers, a large number of components that go into British assembled speakers (other Hi-Fi components) are sourced from China.

DG…

That's bad news. It doesn't have to be this way. I've used Røde microphones for years and recently bought that company's venture into (corded) headphones - excellent performance. The firm is Australian, and started out (80s or 90s) building mikes using Oz-manufactured electronics inside bought-in Chinese casings. They made a business & ethical decision to go full domestic, and I'm very happy about this. UK firms should emulate the domestic production model. I and many others would be happy to pay more for UK-built (or at least European) kit.
Interested that you run Qobuz on your PC; I tried all the major streaming systems and went for Qobuz because of its concentration on high-res files, and the facility to buy same at very decent prices. Plus its library is excellent. I'm interested in a suitable amp to link with either my laptop or my A&K SR35 DAP. If you have any thoughts on this, or recommendations, I'd be grateful.

 

[DiggyGun]

That's bad news. It doesn't have to be this way. I've used Røde microphones for years and recently bought that company's venture into (corded) headphones - excellent performance. The firm is Australian, and started out (80s or 90s) building mikes using Oz-manufactured electronics inside bought-in Chinese casings. They made a business & ethical decision to go full domestic, and I'm very happy about this. UK firms should emulate the domestic production model. I and many others would be happy to pay more for UK-built (or at least European) kit.
Interested that you run Qobuz on your PC; I tried all the major streaming systems and went for Qobuz because of its concentration on high-res files, and the facility to buy same at very decent prices. Plus its library is excellent. I'm interested in a suitable amp to link with either my laptop or my A&K SR35 DAP. If you have any thoughts on this, or recommendations, I'd be grateful.

Im based in the UK and vast number of components are sourced from China. Indeed, this iPhone I’m using is made in China. It’s just the way of world now , it’s just got smaller.

Yes, been using Qobuz for a while now, both in my main system and office system, mainly as we listen to Jazz and Qobuz purportedly has the largest number of Jazz recordings with a high number of Hi-Res recordings.

My main system is a Linn Selekt DSM; Edition Hub (Scottish), active into Kudos Titan 606 loudspeakers (English), though no doubt with some Chinese components.

However, my office system is the PC into a SMSL SU-1 DAC into SA300 Amplifier (both Chinese). For the cost of these the sound quality and the build quality of them is very good. The loudspeakers are Q-Acoustics Q2010i (Chinese), now discontinued. Consequently, I can thoroughly recommend the SMSL amplifiers as they are very good, as above, but also have a very small footprint, but may not be suitable for you.

For information both the Linn and the SMSL are both Class D amplifiers.

DG…

 

[Revolutions]

I can't imagine anything electrical where the majority of circuitboard components aren't made in China.

 

[DiggyGun]

I can't imagine anything electrical where the majority of circuitboard components aren't made in China.

I used to audit cable companies in China for BASEC as their Certification Manager.

These companies made electrical cable to BS and EN specs, primarily for the Hong Kong market where BASEC approved cable was specified for most of the building projects.

We would not only audit the site for production of the cables and ISO 9001, but we’d also select cable samples to be independently tested to the various BS and EN specs at our UKAS accredited test laboratory.

The companies would then receive UKAS accredited Product Certification certificates for their cables that is verified by an on-going audit and test programme.

DG…

 

[Jasonovich]

That's bad news. It doesn't have to be this way. I've used Røde microphones for years and recently bought that company's venture into (corded) headphones - excellent performance. The firm is Australian, and started out (80s or 90s) building mikes using Oz-manufactured electronics inside bought-in Chinese casings. They made a business & ethical decision to go full domestic, and I'm very happy about this. UK firms should emulate the domestic production model. I and many others would be happy to pay more for UK-built (or at least European) kit.
Interested that you run Qobuz on your PC; I tried all the major streaming systems and went for Qobuz because of its concentration on high-res files, and the facility to buy same at very decent prices. Plus its library is excellent. I'm interested in a suitable amp to link with either my laptop or my A&K SR35 DAP. If you have any thoughts on this, or recommendations, I'd be grateful.

In 50s to early 70s the consumer goods were mostly sourced from the USA.
Capitalism evolved, they got greedy. Cheaper to produce in the Far East, bigger profit margins and lower overheads and liability.

This obviously benefited the economies of China, and today the old Emperor wants his clothes back. This possibly explains the discord of the world today.

You mentioned an amp for your A&K SR35 DAP, have you given thought to active speakers. These tend to have small form factor and probably more suitable for your laptop.
German brands like Elac, Adam, Eve and Hedd make amazing active speakers. 🙂

 

[Jasonovich]

Im based in the UK and vast number of components are sourced from China. Indeed, this iPhone I’m using is made in China. It’s just the way of world now , it’s just got smaller.

Yes, been using Qobuz for a while now, both in my main system and office system, mainly as we listen to Jazz and Qobuz purportedly has the largest number of Jazz recordings with a high number of Hi-Res recordings.

My main system is a Linn Selekt DSM; Edition Hub (Scottish), active into Kudos Titan 606 loudspeakers (English), though no doubt with some Chinese components.

However, my office system is the PC into a SMSL SU-1 DAC into SA300 Amplifier (both Chinese). For the cost of these the sound quality and the build quality of them is very good. The loudspeakers are Q-Acoustics Q2010i (Chinese), now discontinued. Consequently, I can thoroughly recommend the SMSL amplifiers as they are very good, as above, but also have a very small footprint, but may not be suitable for you.

For information both the Linn and the SMSL are both Class D amplifiers.

DG…

SMSL A300 you really can't go wrong with that.
Great little amp for my diner set up 🙂

 

[Sanglier]

Yes, been using Qobuz for a while now, both in my main system and office system, mainly as we listen to Jazz and Qobuz purportedly has the largest number of Jazz recordings with a high number of Hi-Res recordings.....

DG…

Thanks. I'd noticed Qobuz is good for jazz - possibly because it originates in France, and the French have always been great jazz buffs. I attended a concert here in Alès on Wednesday, Fabrice Tarel Quartet with Brit Tom Ollendorff up front on guitar, very good indeed. Though my general preference is for older stuff, bebop etc and early Brubeck/Desmond. I don't yet know whether I need an amp or just a DAC to feed from my A&K SR35, will research.
Thanks again for the info.

 

[Sanglier]

In 50s to early 70s the consumer goods were mostly sourced from the USA.
Capitalism evolved, they got greedy. Cheaper to produce in the Far East, bigger profit margins and lower overheads and liability.

This obviously benefited the economies of China, and today the old Emperor wants his clothes back. This possibly explains the discord of the world today.

You mentioned an amp for your A&K SR35 DAP, have you given thought to active speakers. These tend to have small form factor and probably more suitable for your laptop.
German brands like Elac, Adam, Eve and Hedd make amazing active speakers. 🙂

Thanks - I know nothing about active speakers but will look into them.

 

[daytona600]

In 1825 China was the world’s largest economy & by a significant margin.
Chinese economy was six times larger than Britain’s and twenty times larger than the USA

Victorian britain & USA started to outpace china in the mid to late 19th century and lead the world for a century

UK & USA in the 1940s started to build products in japan
Japan in the 1960s started to build products in Korea
UK , USA , Japan & Korea in the 1970s started to build products in china

200years later 2025 China is again the worlds largest economy

 

[RayP]

My recently acquired Spendor D7.2 loudspeakers are made in Sheffield. They also make cabinets for other companies. Outside your budget but if you can source second-hand they might be affordable.

 

[Al ears]

My recently acquired Spendor D7.2 loudspeakers are made in Sheffield. They also make cabinets for other companies. Outside your budget but if you can source second-hand they might be affordable.

I believe they are assembled in Sheffield.
I cannot recall any speakers whose complete components are actually made in the UK any more.

 

[RayP]

I believe they are assembled in Sheffield.
I cannot recall any speakers whose complete components are actually made in the UK any more.

Perhaps this will help. Back in March I decided on the D7.2s but wanted a matching centre speaker. The D was too large but the A didn’t come in Cherry. Doug Brady in Warrington made a request to Spendor. A few days later the reply was Yes, they’ll do a custom A for me, there’ll be no extra charge but the downside was I’d have to wait until mid-May.

Brilliant service and I collected the centre in early May which confirms it was made in England.

 

[manicm]

Actually I forgot - Rega. But they only have 2 main models, a tiny bookshelf, and a medium-priced floorstander.

 

[Al ears]

Perhaps this will help. Back in March I decided on the D7.2s but wanted a matching centre speaker. The D was too large but the A didn’t come in Cherry. Doug Brady in Warrington made a request to Spendor. A few days later the reply was Yes, they’ll do a custom A for me, there’ll be no extra charge but the downside was I’d have to wait until mid-May.

Brilliant service and I collected the centre in early May which confirms it was made in England.

Unfortunately not all of it when you consider all components.

 

[record_spot]

I think, if the OP is looking for a speaker that is 100% UK made, including all of the internal components, that's a tad fanciful in today's market (and has been for the last 30-40 years as offshore parts providers have come to the fore).

Best bet is to go with one of the aforementioned speakers designed and assembled in the UK today, or find a model from years ago - and obviously this'll be secondhand unless by chance you land a new old stock pair - and go with those. Otherwise the requirement will be too restrictive for the end choice.

 

[RayP]

Unfortunately not all of it when you consider all components.

Are you able to prove that?

 

[record_spot]

Are you able to prove that?

Slightly puzzled by this post. The internal components of any amount of audio gear today is sourced globally.

If you can identify the gear out there that's 100% composed of components from one country, that might be more useful?

 

[RayP]

Slightly puzzled by this post. The internal components of any amount of audio gear today is sourced globally.

If you can identify the gear out there that's 100% composed of components from one country, that might be more useful?

I don’t need to prove anything because I’m not claiming Spendor loudspeakers are 100% British. I’m just saying they’re made in Britain. Real wood veneer may well come from SE Asia. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[daytona600]

PMC , Spendor , Proac , Kerr acoustics , Harbeth , Fyne , Talk Edwards , Lockwood , Graham Audio , Quested , Falcon , Jordan , Neat , ATC , Audionote , Meridian , Lowther ,Living Voice , Russell K ,

 

[record_spot]

I don’t need to prove anything because I’m not claiming Spendor loudspeakers are 100% British. I’m just saying they’re made in Britain. Real wood veneer may well come from SE Asia. Nothing wrong with that.

I didn't ask you to prove anything.

I said can you identify the gear that's wholly made in the UK on the back of Al ears comment that not necessarily all of the components in your new centre speaker were made entirely UK made.

You then replied asking for proof and hence my comment in response to that.

 

[The_Lecht_Rocks]

PMC , Spendor , Proac , Kerr acoustics , Harbeth , Fyne , Talk Edwards , Lockwood , Graham Audio , Quested , Falcon , Jordan , Neat , ATC , Audionote , Meridian , Lowther ,Living Voice , Russell K ,

And ALCHRIS AUDIO! Comparable to Kerr Acoustic at a fraction of the price.
Even the crossover components mostly British…..

 

[Jasonovich]

It is a global market, it is the reality of the current markets and it's a necessity that allows UK based manufacturers to remain competitive.
I think for me it's about maintaining British jobs.
If the components are sourced outside but assembled in the UK, surely that should be the main consideration?

 

[Jasonovich]

It is a global market, it is the reality of the current markets and it's a necessity that allows UK based manufacturers to remain competitive.
I think for me it's about maintaining British jobs.
If the components are sourced outside but assembled in the UK, surely that should be the main consideration?

Also in the same breath, if the company is foreign owned but manufacturing based in the UK.
It's the same thing, British jobs!

 

[Al ears]

Yes, I would agree it's all really about British jobs.
The rest is merely semantics as "Made" to me means assembled and built using products manufactured solely in the UK whereas speakers that are put together in the UK from foreign parts are simply " Assembled ".