Many here are totally missing the point. I have no reason to think Hegel is not excellent. And for all I know some world class products come out of China.
The point is that when your are purchasing a high-end product of anything, be it audio, watches, cars or wine, part of the price, above excellent performance, goes to prestige, exclusivity, and refinement.
Do people by a mechanical kilobuck Rolex for precision? A $60.00 Timex quartz is actually way more precise ! (No kidding).
I don't agree with the way Hegel puts a very visible NORWAY identification on the back of their units. Proof is in the pudding here that even a small sampling in this thread feel misled.
There would be nothing wrong with being upfront with your customers in labelling like " Designed in Norway, built in the PRC" (the polite way to prevent people from actually read and say the word China).
By the way, Kentucky Fried Chicken went to KFC to prevent folks from getting stuck on the word "fried".
Back to Hegel, if they went from "Norway" to designed in, made in....it would be much better, but it would cost them money as a made in China label just does not carry the prestige to command the kind of money the High-end thrives on.
I like the BMW example. And by the same token, would a Rolex command the same kind of money if it was designed Europe but made in China, and even if it was more precise than the original? No way.
High-end audio is no longer just about sound, it is about exclusivity and pride of ownership, and this is where the Ayon's and Hegel's are just too expensive for what they offer, in my humble opinion.
