I doubt if any of the 3 bidders seriously believed they were bidding on an authentic item.
I would probably go further and suggest they knew exactly what they were buying as the counterfeit in question went for the same price as an Ali Express version.
the real issue is what % of SQ compared to the original are you getting from the counterfeit which costs 10 times less?
Update, and I’ll try to make this short. I replaced the TCS31/FI-28(R) with DPS4.1/FI-25(R) and listened for about 3 hours. I realise the connectors may be more important than the cable. After I got an idea how the cable sounds like, I found a detailed review on the FI-25 and FI-28 which confirmed on my impressions.
I just realised the FI-28 is actually the superior version of the old FI-25. The bass lost weight and sounds leaner with the FI-25/DPS4.1. Apart from the reduced bass weight, soundstage got narrower as well. The FI-28/TCS31 has more body and sounds richer with a larger soundstage. In brief words, the FI-25/DPS4.1 sounds pale in comparison although it sounds clean and tidy.
I guess I will have to change the FI-25 connectors to FI-28(R) or FI-50(R) NCF at some point of time. The FI-50(R) is too much money for me and I’m not sure if it’s a noticeable or huge improvement over FI-28(R) but will decide in due time. Some say the difference is worth it while some thought it’s minimal. I will listen to the FI-25/DPS4.1 for another week before I switch to the FI-28(R)/TCS31 to reconfirm on my thoughts.
The Furutech NCF booster I have is not the brace. It currently holds the mains power cable connector that goes into the amp. It cleans up the sound a little by reducing some noise and the sound is slightly more dynamic. I was told that excessive use of these devices will remove too much life from the system so I only use one in the system.
Ryder, sounds like your confirming some of the things I’ve said above. When you get to a certain quality of copper, then ends themselves will likely have a larger impact on sound. The DPS-4.1 deserves the 50 NCF (R) ends, if you don’t go with them you are really wasting your money/not getting the performance of the DPS cable. I mentioned above if you have a limited budget, it would likely be better to go for S55N or keep your current TCS31 cable & add the FI-50 NCF R ends, which would likely give you better performance vs DPS with lesser ends.
The DPS when combined with the FI-50 NCF (R) should have a very big soundstage, I’m not a guy who really listens for soundstage but one of the first things I noticed was both width & depth, as well as adding space between instruments & more pinpoint imaging. Bulk for bulk, I haven’t heard the TCS31 but from readings its a very warm cable, so not surprised that when adding inferior ends to the DPS “reduced bass, clean but pale & dull”.
If you can, swap the ends on each of your cables, which should help without any extra cost. Then when funds allow, swap out the ends (can do one at a time), for the 50 NCF R.
I think that plenty of people have been fooled by it and I believe my comments in this thread will hopefully stop other people being fooled and wasting their money on counterfeit fake items.
Personally I thought warning people of counterfeit items and advising them to buy from respected and trusted dealers does help audiophiles and also Furutech.