Leak Trustream

Well…

Ghosts then..

or is that cheapskate saying :blush:

Maybe I need to have explained these “cheapskate” “slaggin off” or “rubbish” word more precisely - English is not my first language.

Thanks

Enlighten on " attrape nigaud": those who thinks the look or the nice speech make an assurance for a good product.

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The LED light on the front is annoying, but I can’t see it from anywhere I listen, so it doesn’t bother me. I also have a Quad 606 (UK built) and the Artera Stereo (Chinese built) is better than that in my view, although the Quad 606 was better to listen to than the Quad 909 (I think that was Chinese built) that I used before I bought a NAC-N272 and a NAP 250 DR. The Artera is presently driving my SL2s with a UnitiNova as the source/preamp. Sounds fine to me.

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I’ve recently taken to report any ‘review’ on Amazon that includes expressions like ‘Chinese c*ap’ or the like. They are indiscriminate and, as such, latently (or patently?) racist.

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I didn’t know “cheapskate” mean the same as “rubbish”

I thought It would be strange if IAG didn’t use the very same electronics in Leak, Audiolab, Quad etc.. why not,?

Most production moved to China/Asia, was logically about cost savings - otherwise Naim would have made the Muso’s in Salisbury.

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It rather means ‘low quality’.
When you wrote it, what did you think it meant ? :roll_eyes:

Exactly

I looked up rubbish:

The word rubbish primarily means waste material, trash, or things that are no longer wanted

As a 70’s boy I rather like the look of them but not one I would explore as no need for them….

Yes, my view is that if a company such as Naim put their name on something it must be made to the same standard as products made in other factories.
I would expect a Muso or a CI102 to be made to the same standards as my Nait 50 .
Having said that I think a lot of consumers want their premium products to be built in the manufacturer’s own factories.

It’s really irrelevant.
It still doesn’t excuse you from saying what you did (below), when you don’t know what’s inside and you do not know if the product is good or not. You inferred that because it was a Chinese brand, it was of low quality.

Well, there’s hardly any Muso’s made in Salisbury at all - apart from maybe a prototype ?

I would not expect a Muso build to Salisbury standard. Its a clever entry level Naim product, ideal for China/Asia mass production. The 1.st generation wasn’t even repairable.

No doubt Muso’s are build to a point of cost calculation, in a very large number to create profit. Worth mention Muso were also designed to create a customer base further up the range, once people get to know the Brand. I hope Muso has been a smashing success for Naim.

What’s the relevance for mentioning Naim Muso vs the China Quad stuff ?

Quad went another way and to my knowledge continue their range of products but build in China = lower cost.

Without China made Quad, the Brand might not even exist today.

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I think you are nitpicking or trying to create an agenda here.

My own experience is I like the Quad UK products better than the Chinese - personal experience by own and listening to the stuff

Why are Quad, Audiolab, Leak etc. made in China if not to reach lower cost ?

By cheaper parts and low wage/automatic machinery ?

It has been so for the last three, or so, decades, generel manufacture is moved to Asia or other low wage places.

It has been rather catastrophic for many peoples job situation. On the other hand people demand cheapest possible consumer prices.

Quad choose to keep their Brand - which was clever - but change label from “Made in UK” to “Designed in UK” or type “Made in China” - hidden away, low typing in order to make the average customer believe its still a “Quad” product, while the only Quad left is the label.

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Ok, cheapskate actually means person who doesn’t like to spend money, which can translte to not buying something, or buying the cheapest regardless of quality. Inanimate objects like electronics cannot be cheapskate hence my querying whether you meant rubbish. It seems from the subsequent exchanges that perhaps you meant low quality? However, whilst indeed a lot of low quality stuff comes out of China, being made there doesn’t automatically mean that, and some modern Chinese electtonics is very good.

With this aspect of things I share your concern*, but from a different angle, there are some real centres of excellence in China in terms of design and development of electronic goods (E.g. Shenzhen).

* I am sure that there is real poverty in some parts of China, though there is also substantial wealth, and whilst near slavery is to be abhorred, low wages in western terms doesn’t necessarily equate to poverty because you have to take cost-of-living into account, and the cost of living in China is very much low lower than in, say, UK. That said, I believe that discussion further on wage policies of different countries would fall under the banned topic of politics, so probably not much else can be said here.

Ah, thanks for explain the “cheapskate” understanding.

I didn’t know it was related to a person only.

Maybe why somebody got offended when I used this wording previously.

I meant low quality / cheap parts..

Quad did one of their poweramps made in UK and later moved to made in China, was it the 909 or 707 ?

Exactly the same parts was used in the China facility as in UK - except one or two parts, its a well know issue with this amp.

It is not unusual large manufacture companies do their cost-down exercises, recently Technics moved their turntable manufacture from Japan to Malaysia, they continued their range but fx a 1200G had a price rise.

Not only did they save cost, they increased profit.

(Maybe to cover some cost for moving factory.?)

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I came across a sad little tinny Quad valve amplifier when I was buying my XS3. Nothing to do with my tank like 303 power amp or QUAD 304 control unit, that served me for years. It made me quite sad.

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I very much like the vintage look of this Leak stuff, and also particularly the new Quad 33/303. Takes me right back to the 70’s, which is my natural habitat. The Naim CB stuff is also a real favourite of mine. Easily the coolest looking Naim kit IMO. ‘S’ shaped pick up arms, Decca cartridges, music centres and vintage speakers also really float my boat. Yes that’s right - I’m a nostalgic old fool…

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Many of us are :grin:

As for that vintage look of Quad 303/33….kudos to Quad creating these new boxes trying to hit the old look, I hope they sell like hotcakes.

My old 303/33 could be destined into a museum, its such a cool design, along with FM3.

However I do not agree, the new kit is on same level lookswise, you see it clearly once both combos are on same shelf - the old stuff win.

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70s was my decade as well, albeit musically perhaps slewed more to 67-77. There was a Leak amp that was well reknowned when I built my first system in 1969 ( Stereo 30 IIRC), and I recall styling with black and chrome front in a wood sleeve, but Quad 33/303 was the definite amp hifi high point then. Styling wise the Quad of course was the quirky way - maybe the Chord of its day. (As a teenager none of these were within my grasp, so DIY with Sinclair modules was my solution, including first amp upgrades in early 70s). Leak didn’t feature at all in my considerations when later upgrading my amp. Naim did, and I can recall sending an enquiry for more information when the adverts for their first power amp appeared, however out of reach. I did have an interest in Leak’s 2075 speaker at some point, but never heard.

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IAG have some of the most modern production facilities in the Audio world and in PJC a good mind in the driving seat. I used to own an Audiolab 8000S when it first came out in the 90’s. Didn’t like it so sold that quickly. I would be untrue to say I remember how it sounded, that is impossible but it left quickly. I now have a modern Audiolab integrated. Very well built, sounds great to me. It would be nice had it been made here in the UK but that is unfortunately not possible anymore, not for that price. I remember the day I bought it on the off chance, my partner was with me on a quick visit to a RicherSounds in Bournemouth, not planning to get anything. I was fully expecting to return it after the weekend. It has stayed since. Fantastic little thing.

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