Nationalism in Audio Products?

It is possible that through tradition, craftspeople congregate in certain areas. Then new craftspeople wishing to learn the trade travel to those same areas in order to learn the craft. It's a centuries old tradition in many areas for many different products. It then becomes a self perpetuating cycle. However, I don't think the world is that small anymore. People and capital are much more mobile now on a world wide basis. We still have pockets of excellence in certain fields in certain areas, but that doesn't mean that some other part of the world isn't doing just as good a job, only without the reputation of tradition. If you can put together a system from one place and you like it and it makes you feel good, that's great. But don't you think that you may be cheating yourself out of the opportunity to possibly discover something better if you widen your search criteria? I don't see the audio world as being limited on the basis of geography.

At one time, my system consisted of an American made transport, French DAC, Canadian preamp, American amp, British speakers and more American and Canadian cables. I guess that evidences a real WWII era Ally bias. When I build my next system it'll be Axis all the way! I know that'll make my Dad happy.

My power amp:
- designer was of mixed French/Japanese parentage
- was built in Switzerland
- was bought in Germany
- was modded in New Jersey
- currently uses USSR and USA tubes
- is regularly biased and balanced in Connecticut

Therefore, um...

Perhaps have opened some kind of can of worms here, though the intention was merely to see if others out there identify with an interest in heritage, tradition and nationality. Some responses have been great, others a little jaded-sounding. Listen, in the end what I would like to put together is a "modest" system under 20 large, and if the cables come from Tibet, that's fine. What I wrote was just something that crossed my mind when sleep deprived, not some kind of Manifesto on nationality. Don't hurt others feelings.

All,

This is a provocative thread. The topic has been on my mind for quite some time.

One point that needs to be made relates to barriers presented to exporters. I'm in the process of obtaining my first dealer who will be in the UK (Artisan Audio) and so this topic is very relevant to me.

Right off the top, we face 17% VAT, which affects a product's competitiveness against local products. If you add a distributor into the mix (which I'm not), you're adding another layer of profit and cost. These factors tend to give local products a home field advantage against imports. A Triplanar tonearm in the UK approaches the price we see a Breuer arm costing in this country.

I think that there is quite a bit of truth to the idea of organic growth in design schools by region, although the internet is virtualizing geography to some extent. Of course, the shortcoming of these virtualized cyber-regions is that you can't get together on a Saturday night to play show and tell.

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There are most certainly predominant national tastes. I've been told that Focal tweeters are a reflection of the way the French like to listen - an etched sound. My friends tell me that the German sensibility leans toward a full range and balanced sound - music that can handle both Wagner and Techno with aplomb.

As far as the US tastes are concerned, I have never enjoyed the sound of American turntables. This is one reason why Peter, Chris and I began making turntables. The other reason is that we're nuts.

Exceptions I've found to expressions of the American design school are the Merrill and the AR.

American rigs in general remind me of the predominant taste Americans had in automobiles in the latter part of the previous century - lots of power, but an automobile which would slide into the ditch at the first curve or the first sign of rain. The metaphor here applies to the ability to convey nuance and microdynamics. The Merrill and the AR were the only exceptions I found to what I consider to be the fatal flaws I identified above.

Others will disagree with me, in the same way that people purchased GTO's, Camaros, etc. instead of Porsches, and BMWs. Ya pays yer money and ya makes yer choices.

Oh yeah ... don't laugh about the hemp mat (the post about Jamaican turntables). Hemp cone speakers rule! The same attributes that allow hemp to make strong rope, paper, etc. contribute to hemp cones being a "better" paper.

Cheers,
Thom @ Galibier