Funny/disturbing story about Chinese audio products

chadh · « **on:** 4 Mar 2006, 09:56 pm »

I recently started to research my first potential purchase from a Chinese audio manufacturer: a headphone amp from Cayin/Spark. And within about 48 hours, I've been astonished at the rumors, or maybe (who knows) the disturbing truths I've unearthed. I have no idea how to tell the difference between the two...so at the moment I'm just enjoying the drama of the stories.

The best one involves the firm Cayin/Spark, which manufactures the amp I want to buy. This firm was spun off from some branch of the Chinese military, and now makes audio products that have received quite positive reviews in the West. The story comes from someone who used to deal in Cayin products in the US, but no longer does. First the name: Cayin. It's the name under which the Spark company trades when dealing with the West. It was claimed that the name comes from Chinese Aeronautic YIN (where YIN means music). But I have a feeling that Yin doesn't really mean music, unless I've been misunderstanding the whole Yin-Yang thing.

But the important part of the story was that the Spark/Cayin website was listed on the Department of Homeland Security "do not visit" list, since Cayin is or was or will be involved with the manufacture of nose cone guidance systems for rockets that are capable of delivering a nuclear strike against the US. I was even warned (and I don't know whether this warning was tongue in cheek) that to buy from Cayin was to support nuclear destruction.

Needless to say, I've visited the Spark/Cayin site. Not that it did me much good...it was all Chinese to me! But I think this is the first website I've visited that is notionally on some Homeland Security "do not visit" list. If I'm suddenly whisked away to Guantanamo Bay, you'll know why.

Now, none of this is meant to carry any political overtones at all. It's not designed to advocate for or against dealing with Chinese audio manufacturers, for or against free trade or for or against current US security measures. It's more a message that says different things to different people. For those who buy into such rumors, it's a valuable word of warning the peril of dealing with firms who may or may not be contributing to foreign nuclear interests. For those more incredulous, I hope it just made them smile.

Chad

Watson · « **Reply #1 on:** 4 Mar 2006, 10:42 pm »

And you have knowledge of this supposedly secret "Do Not Visit" list for websites from the Department of Homeland Security?

Uh huh. I'm very skeptical.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #2 on:** 4 Mar 2006, 10:57 pm »

Yin can mean music.

audioferret · « **Reply #3 on:** 4 Mar 2006, 11:39 pm »

That's funny, I just checked the site from my government computer. Normally, I should be unable to tap into restricted sites like the one you describe. However, I can access it without any difficulty. Sounds like your story is bunk.

And yes, "Yin" does mean music - if you pronounce it correctly. I spent over three years studying chinese at unversity. My Major was East Asian Foreign Area Studies. The chinese language is based on a tonal system where a different use of tone can alter the meaning completely.

One more point of note: If you are concerned about missile guidance systems, look at the history of NASA. Like the US, China has a space program capable of placing astronaughts into orbit. The significance of that is that the "Space Race" between the US and USSR was less about pride and more about showcasing Inter-Continental Ballistic Missle capability. If a country can place astronaughts into orbit, they can place nuclear warheads into the US. Thus, the US freaked out when the USSR beat us into space with "Sputnik." An obcure audio company will have little to no impact on a country's space program, much less it's ICBM capability.

I know you hoped to share interesting news, but you should verify sources before making statements such as these. Care to share any sources as to where you got this story from?

-AF

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #4 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 12:39 am »

Well, I'm Chinese, if that makes any difference

Anti-chinese sentiment is ramping up these days.

audioferret · « **Reply #5 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 12:50 am »

Yes, sadly people seem to be turning that way. I feel it is a somewhat short-sighted view of the world. We need to focus on finding ways to work with people, not against them.

-AF

chadh · « **Reply #6 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 04:06 am »

Quote

I know you hoped to share interesting news, but you should verify sources before making statements such as these. Care to share any sources as to where you got this story from?

Actually, I wasn't really hoping to share "intersting news" at all. I thought I was telling a funny story about the sort of nonesense that is generated around a controversial issue. I have no intention of embarrassing anybody by "revealing sources".

Similarly, I wouldn't be interested in revealing sources of the claims that the Chinese mafia is behind all of those internet enterprises that operate solely to arrange for Chinese audio products to be delivered to your door at super low prices. Beware of giving these people your credit card information!!!

Maybe my intentions would have been clearer if we had a "sarcasm emoticon." But I don't want to say too much on the topic, lest my comments breach the "no politics" rules of the boards.

Chad

Watson · « **Reply #7 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 04:35 am »

Quote from: chadh

I have no intention of embarrassing anybody by "revealing sources".

I understand your predicament. I have inside knowledge about the Kennedy assassination, but the sound of the black helicopters gets closer every time I think about revealing it.

Bemopti123 · « **Reply #8 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 12:01 pm »

and we should stop purchasing preamplifiers and amplifiers that use Russian military spec super tubes such as 6h33 (BAT, ARC and others) because the same factories used to make equipment for jet that fill the ranks of anti American, US hostile forces.

Should boycott all things Toshiba, because once about 10 years ago, they were found to be selling technology to aid stealth u-boat development of an enemy of the US.

There are too many companies and countries that are involved with different sort of technologies that can be used either in civilian or military ways, it is virtually impossible to boycott them all.

China is not any different than other countries....To see the extreme myopia we have about what we deem good/permissible and what we consider evil, consider this,

that from the beginning of this year, the US will begin to do business with Libya, whose current president, once until about less than 10 years ago was blatantly financing terrorist organizations, as a type of "soft power" strategy, to further his vision around the world. US oil exploration and drilling companies are already shifting the Libyan desert for oil, that You and I will use in out cars. Shouldn't we boycott driving our cars, if we follow the same principle.

The fact is that we live in a world where there are too many paradoxes...we need to still subsist and sometimes that means choosing not to see what is really there.

chadh · « **Reply #9 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 01:17 pm »

You see, I was worried that saying something like that would get my messages censored!

Chad

PhilNYC · « **Reply #10 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 01:57 pm »

Quote from: chadh

But I have a feeling that Yin doesn't really mean music, unless I've been misunderstanding the whole Yin-Yang thing.

In Chinese, each word has up to 4 pronounciations, or "accents". Depending on the accent, the word means something different. So for example, depending on the accent, "Ma" can mean "mom", "horse", or as a word that indicates something is a question.

"Music" in Chinese is "Yin-Shang"...

dallasstarsfan · « **Reply #11 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 02:34 pm »

Quote from: chadh

You see, I was worried that saying something like that would get my messages censored!

Chad

No worries Chad. Your story made me laugh. Good stuff.

thinh

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #12 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 03:20 pm »

Phil, isn't that more like "audio?" I would typically use yin-yueh (sorry, I don't know the standard romanization.)

viggen · « **Reply #13 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 07:45 pm »

Yah, yin shan is something used to play yin yueh. Ma just so happen to be my surname...

MaxCast · « **Reply #14 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 09:01 pm »

Quote from: Watson

Quote from: chadh
I have no intention of embarrassing anybody by "revealing sources".

I understand your predicament. I have inside knowledge about the Kennedy assassination, but the sound of the black helicopters gets closer every time I think about revealing it.

ooheadsoo · « **Reply #15 on:** 5 Mar 2006, 09:39 pm »

Quote from: viggen

Yah, yin shan is something used to play yin yueh. Ma just so happen to be my surname...

Haha, I always thought something used to play music was musical instruments and not "yin shan"

Dan Driscoll · « **Reply #16 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 02:56 pm »

I read the OP as a quirky little tongue in cheek story. It sounded to me like he was poking some fun at the rumors and innuendo he had heard and I don't think the ton of bricks that were dropped on him by some of the respondents was justified. Some of people just need to lighten up a little.

skrivis · « **Reply #17 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 04:14 pm »

Quote from: Bemopti123

Should boycott all things Toshiba, because once about 10 years ago, they were found to be selling technology to aid stealth u-boat development of an enemy of the US.

There are too many companies and countries that are involved with different sort of tech ...

I'm still avoiding Toshiba products when possible.

If I knew that a particular brand of gasoline was from Libya, I wouldn't buy it. I don't buy gas from Citgo because I don't approve of what Chavez does with the money. (I have family in Venezuela, and Chavez is just plain bad news.)

I have mixed emotions about Chinese products. I have nothing against the Chinese, but I'm certainly not thrilled with the Chinese government.

I'm not thrilled with the current US government either.

randytsuch · « **Reply #18 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 05:11 pm »

Chadh
In the future, use the emoticons

to show when you kidding, or less than completely serious.

Randy

viggen · « **Reply #19 on:** 6 Mar 2006, 07:51 pm »

Stereos are used to play music too.