[SoundGame]

Oh - I have to add that I hope I never see Bryston get bought out by foreign company (U.S. companies included).  I like Bryston here in Canada - just a couple hours away from me.  And, it's great to hear that our U.S. neighbours love Bryston products (the lions share of sales by far are to the U.S.)

API (you may know them by their brands i.e. Energy, Mirage, Athena) was a wonderful Canadian home-grown speaker company - one of the worlds largest.  A few years back Klipsch bought them outright.  The manufacturing was done here in Canada, in fact in the Greater Toronto Area and just a few minutes from my home.  Almost immediately after Klipsch aquired them, the manufacturing went to China.  Since then, the high quality Energy line went down the drain.  The great Energy Veritas line is no longer "great" and is sold out of big-box-stores.... 

Shame on you Klipsch for that 

[headshrinker2]

 

  Since I have stopped buying mags seeking comparisons and looking for the ultimate i have enjoyed the Brystons immensley. It shows that people who are looking for comparisons mean either they are not happy with what they have got or cant kick the audio habit. For me i am happy. As long as there is communiction with the music then there is bliss. Bryston have done this for me and i dont need a mag whose aim is to sell to tell me that the newer product is a revelation. Many a time i have been disappointed and wondered what the fuss is about. My grip is getting the best production from the music so that the system can bellow.   

I am not not biased in any way and am settling into old age. The Bsst was the great improvement in the bryston rang and the square giving a certain polish which although good was not major in my opinion . Dont worry about Classes . Naim, etc.. you are in good stead with the equipment you have. Rest assured and enjoy the music.

[95Dyna]

Since we're on the subject of a Bryston competitor moving manufacturing to China I recently read a review of Mac's new MC452.  In addition to +50 wpc there have been a significant number of other improvements over the MC402 yet the list price has dropped $500.00 in a period where other manufacturer's prices are increasing.  The review didn't say but this makes me wonder if Mac has made the same move.  Anybody heard anything to that effect?

[spinner]

I hope and pray that Paridiygnm ( can't spell this stupid name) is still in Canada. Yes , Energy Veritas was on my short list a few years ago but now they only produce low -fi junk. Too bad, I haven't heard about Totem going over seas. So, I am proud to own a super good JBL kit. (Northridge, California 1988 Ti's)

[rmurray]

My dealer here  once told me that B&W was trying to buy Bryston as it's electronic division but that was just after Bryston signed up with PMC.! Perhaps James can tell us more (if this is even accurate). Anyway, they soon got Classe' instead.

[john1970]

My dealer here  once told me that B&W was trying to buy Bryston as it's electronic division but that was just after Bryston signed up with PMC.! Perhaps James can tell us more (if this is even accurate). Anyway, they soon got Classe' instead.

I really hope Byrston stays independent forever.  Whenever a small company is purchased by a larger  company the first thing they usually do is relocate manufacturing to the least expensive location.  Cannondale bikes used to made in Bedford PA.  Recently they were purchased by Dorel Industries and production was moved to Taiwan.

[BruceSB]

Manufacturing in China is not always a good thing for a company.
I believe that Chinese manufacturing cost PS Audio very badly.
I understand that all manufacturing is now back in the US and they are very happy.

[SoundGame]

Manufacturing in China is not always a good thing for a company.
I believe that Chinese manufacturing cost PS Audio very badly.
I understand that all manufacturing is now back in the US and they are very happy.

Even better when it's manufactured in Canada.... 

[Laundrew]

Even better when it's manufactured in Canada.... 

I would be very happy with North American made 

I was recently interested in purchasing a new CNC milling machine made by Tormach. During my correspondence with the company, I learned that they manufactured this product in China. I am really on the fence about this purchase with respect to quality concerns and I have started to examine purchasing an existing manual machine that was made in North America and converting it over to CNC capabilities myself.

Understanding that we have had this discussion many times before, I am very concerned that we are slowly starting to witness the de-industrialization of North America. I look at our friends to the south who have a national debt that will never be paid off and it makes me wonder how long it will take for the same process to become imbedded in Canada.

What I find to be very ironic is that it was not war, famine or terrorism that financially ruined North America along with its sovereignty, but us who were blinded by greed.

I am very happy that my speakers were manufactured in the USA and it is a shame that the company moved their production to Mexico *sigh* and of course, my Bryston gear was made right here in Canada only a couple of hours away from where I live.   

Be well...

[jackman]

I really hope Byrston stays independent forever.  Whenever a small company is purchased by a larger  company the first thing they usually do is relocate manufacturing to the least expensive location.  Cannondale bikes used to made in Bedford PA.  Recently they were purchased by Dorel Industries and production was moved to Taiwan.

Yep, this is true. Keep in mind that Dorel is a Canadian company. They bought a company that made most of their bikes in the USA and moved all production to Asia, the same place the rest of their POS bikes are made (Schwinn, GT, etc).

What do you think of that Soundgame?  Canadian companies play that game also.

[vegasdave]

My dealer here  once told me that B&W was trying to buy Bryston as it's electronic division but that was just after Bryston signed up with PMC.! Perhaps James can tell us more (if this is even accurate). Anyway, they soon got Classe' instead.

Yes James, please let us know about this...

[vegasdave]

  Since I have stopped buying mags seeking comparisons and looking for the ultimate i have enjoyed the Brystons immensley. It shows that people who are looking for comparisons mean either they are not happy with what they have got or cant kick the audio habit. For me i am happy. As long as there is communiction with the music then there is bliss. Bryston have done this for me and i dont need a mag whose aim is to sell to tell me that the newer product is a revelation. Many a time i have been disappointed and wondered what the fuss is about. My grip is getting the best production from the music so that the system can bellow.   

I am not not biased in any way and am settling into old age. The Bsst was the great improvement in the bryston rang and the square giving a certain polish which although good was not major in my opinion . Dont worry about Classes . Naim, etc.. you are in good stead with the equipment you have. Rest assured and enjoy the music.

Great post. I agree.

[SoundGame]

Yep, this is true. Keep in mind that Dorel is a Canadian company. They bought a company that made most of their bikes in the USA and moved all production to Asia, the same place the rest of their POS bikes are made (Schwinn, GT, etc).

What do you think of that Soundgame?  Canadian companies play that game also.

Oh, no denying that Canadian companies do it.  I see it all the time but it's still a shame when the quality goes down and/or it doesn get better for the consumer in term of prices - the old value/cost ratio should improve - when it doesn't it's a terrible shame.  I don't oppose outsourcing but I'm against poor or greedy outsourcing.

[vegasdave]

I don't oppose outsourcing but I'm against poor or greedy outsourcing.

Most of it is due to greed and the bottom line, however.

[jackman]

Most of it is due to greed and the bottom line, however.

I'm sure it's more complicated than it seems on the surface.  Greed plays a role in many cases but it's difficult for  many legitimate companies to compete against products manufactured in places like China, a country that illegally manipulates the value of its currency, often employs child labor or unsafe labor conditions for its workers and often allows companies to disregard pollution and quality standards.  Companies who gain a competitive advantage by moving production to such places often force competitors to do the same in order to compete and stay in business.  It's a race to the bottom and great brands and quality are often sacrificed for cheaper cost of goods (which are rarely reflected to the consumer).   

The Cannondale case was a tough one for me, because they made a big deal out of their products being made in the USA.  They made great bikes but an ill-advised foray into the motorcycle market wiped them out.  They were bought out of bankruptcy and eventually sold to Doral.  Trek is now the only mainstream US company making bikes in the US (and they only make their top of the line 6 series in the US).  Even expensive brands like Cervelo make all of their bikes in Asia.  Sad...

Enough ranting for today.  Congrats to Bryston for being a legitimate audio company.  I'm thankful there are still companies like this around and hope people reward them by purchasing their products.   

[vegasdave]

I see. Point taken. Yes, a big congrats to Bryston for not giving into making a fast buck.

[JBLMVBC]

As an aside, Germany is a world leader because they kept their high value manufacturing at home. When you buy a Neumann microphone it is "made in Germany" and even if the price is above the competition you know that you'll get every penny of it in quality. At a time of choice, you don't want to make the wrong one being penny wise and pound foolish.
Keeping quality manufacturers at home also means that the public is properly informed on the quality of the product offered to them and that could be a challenge since marketing sometimes what appears like sexier products is very tempting for magazines, distributors and a whole number of intermediaries.
So educating the public is as important as producing a great product.

[vegasdave]

Very good points made. Quite a number of UK audio companies have relocated manufacturing to China as well. So it isn't just the US and Canada sending production overseas.

[Deftone]

B&W too moved to China a couple of years back for their speakers. But now they are back to their homeland.

[vegasdave]

B&W too moved to China a couple of years back for their speakers. But now they are back to their homeland.

Ok, my understanding is that the 800 series is made in England, while the rest of the lineup is made in China. I could be wrong...