Primaluna and Rogue

Interesting thoughts, Viridian. Personally, I'm not as familiar with Quicksilver as I am with the other two companies. And while this is not directed at you, I learned about Rogue through a dealer recommendation and audition. Primaluna, I admittedly learned about through advertising and reviews here on the 'Gon. That said, I'm open to suggestions of quality and affordable gear.

Yes, they don't advertise, but have been around more than twice as long as either of the two companies that you are considering. They are made in America and are completely wired point-to-point without circuit boards. You might want to have a look at their website, which is as minimalist as the amps and, if you like what you see, and if the design ethos is consonant with your objectives, have a read on some of the audio chat sites and get some user feedback. I don't own Quickkie amps, but were I in the market, I would purchase them over either of the other two marques. But that's me and doesn't help much; the reason that all three are around is that they all offer good value and performance, with different sound qualities and various power outputs.

Buy the equipment with the best sound to your ears. It should never matter if equipment was made in China, in the US, or if it was made by dancing dwarfs. Those companies try to sell you something and a company that doesn't advertise doesn't automatically make better products. All companies worldwide want to make a profit, and some will go to greater length to achieve a profit and some will be happy accept less of a profit.

But in the end it doesn't matter, we all get the product we deserve. It may no be what we want.

Sorry for my rant, but I grow tired of comparing products not on their merits but one who, where, etc build them. If we keep doing that we will all drown in our own shit faster then you can say "made in the USA".

For some of us, made in America, or France, or Korea, or China is a merit. We may want only something made in our own land, to keep our citizens at work, or we may appreciate the workmanship from some other country, or feel that yet another place has lower labor costs and that is of merit for us. Just as having a black or silver faceplate that matches the rest of our gear, or a width that fits our rack may prove of merit. Sound quality is important, but I would always choose a product that is better built than one that sounds best to my ears. Perhaps your one dimensional method of selection works for you. But it doesn't work for all of us.

But how do you determine build quality? The place/country of production says nothing. Great and crappy products may even come from the same factory. So unless you open the gear and you are an expert on the field it is hard to say how well something is made.
I have Japanese, German, US and Dutch brands in my system, but I have no idea where those parts have been made, nor do I care.