HEGEL - Is it really made in Norway ?

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.

"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.
Sonicbeauty (Reviews | Threads | Answers | This Thread)"

Not for me it isn't. I really don't care about exclusivity, and pride of ownership isn't a term that applies to high end only. Many people are proud to own a modest system that they enjoy very much.

Zd542,

That's a good one hahahaha (making use of the loop hole)

Sonicbeauty,

You stated, "Hegel's are just too expensive for what they offer". I fully agree. They want to benefit from the Made in Norway cachet without being made in Norway.

Knghifi-My point is IF Opera Audio(Consonance)is making the Hegel gear they can build very good sounding products.

Good for Opera Audio. So what's your point?

The problem is they(Hegel) are over priced when considering other competing Chinese made gear.

Then buy the other competing Chinese made gear?

The deception comes from the spartan Scandinavian aesthetics which is in contrast to the over the top "goofy" appearance of many Chinese made audio products. This could easily sway the buyer to assume it's made in Norway(I was fooled). If they would just slap a "MADE IN CHINA" label on the gear this thread would cease to exist and we could clearly judge Hegel for what they are!

I'm confuse. So you based your Hegel purchase on the spartan Scandinavian aesthetics? So anything with a "MADE IN CHINA" label is automatically junk? Next time try AUDITION/LISTEN before purchase.

I prefer/bought H30 over Bryston 28sst2 and Pass XA160.5. The free market will have the ultimate say whether Hegel is over priced. I know many many satisfy Hegel owners.

I still don't understand the deception issue.

When I buy my Mercedes, I have a certain level of expectations. It never crossed my mind to ask the dealer if it was built in Alabama, Germany, Poland, Mexico, Iran ... I could care less. I know wherever it was built or whatever label, it has the same level of quality. Same with Porsche, Hegel, TAD ... I think my TAD Evolution Ones were assembled in China but not important to me. I love the SQ and build quality.

I also have a VAC SigMKIIa pre and ARC Ref250 that were built with by good old Americanas and a "MADE IN THE USA" doggie tag LOL!!! and the H30 has similar quality.

BTW, I've own many many high power SS amps and H30 is the 1st one that doesn't have a transformer hum or HF hiss coming through the tweeter.