Has anyone tried any chinese driver clones?

[mr_push_pull]

I hope the content of this thread isn't illegal or something
I keep hearing that some chinese cloned drivers, Dynaudio clones for instance, are not that bad. But, since the chinese philosophy as we know it seems to be: "make it look like the real thing (from the distance), not work like it" I'm suspicious. You probably get woofers looking like solid Dyna ones, but with poor magnets, 2 cm coils, and so on.
If some of you have some experience with chinese clones, please share it.

[tktran]

perhaps you can be more specific.

Yes, in the past there were many inferior quality lookalike products, but in recent times there have been some progression. The workforce was always eager, and now is increasingly well educated and trained. There are some very good products coming out of the East.

The new Dayton Reference Series (RS) series available from US based Parts Express is actually sourced from Taiwan, with solid build quality and excellent performance, comparable to Seas Excel at 1/4 the price.

Usher is another Taiwanese company making very good drivers at competitive prices (with similar looks AND performance to ScanSpeak classic series)

What clones are you thinking of? URL?

[mr_push_pull]

Originally posted by tktran
perhaps you can be more specific.
This is the first I have heard of this:
"... the chinese philosophy as we know it seems to be: "make it look like the real thing (from the distance), not work like it"

How so? I have to remember you that I'm talking about clones.

Of course that many companies manufacture their producst in China because of lower cost, but cloning is another domain. I don't know how can this be a source of confusion, but for the record, in this context, by "clone" I understand something that looks like the original but not necessarily more than that.

I'm especially curious about Dynaudio clones, but other info is welcomed, like SS clones, etc.

[jackinnj]

Chinese drivers are particularly good for atonal music --

just parenthetically, in the New York area, radio station WNYC has a great program called "New Sounds" -- from time to time that music not on our western system of scales will figure prominently. (For those outside the listening area, you can get it over the web at www.wnyc.org)

[madinoz]

Mr Push pull, you have answered your own question haven't you?
A respondant stated that they are aware of some Chinese sourced speakers which look like Scanspeak and are good. You seem to then respond by saying you aren't referring to good ones , only rubbish ones.
So the answer to your question is:
The good ones sound good and the rubbish ones sound rubbish.

I don't think the request for a URL is out of place simply because there are differnet standards of 'clones' available. Therefore, if you don't refer people to a particular brand or origin then they can't give you an accurate answer!
How long is the peice of string I am holding?

[mp006ltk]

While we're on the subject... I was looking at Max fidelity, has anyone used these yet?

[mr_push_pull]

Originally posted by madinoz
Mr Push pull, you have answered your own question haven't you?

No, I think I haven't. I can't see where I'm saying that I'm referring to rubbish. Quite the contrary, I mentioned specific names I am interrested about, Dynaudio and Scan-Speak. And I also said that other suggestions are welcomed.
What I'm referring to is chinese (or, more generic asian-made) driver clones that offer some quality, at a price that justifies them being called "clones".

[madinoz]

Yes, you have mentioned the names of reputable manufacturers but no others. This hardly helps others to offer you with evaluations on cloned units.
As for your statements regarding other's confusion:

"I don't know how can this be a source of confusion, but for the record, in this context, by "clone" I understand something that looks like the original but not necessarily more than that."

"I keep hearing that some chinese cloned drivers, Dynaudio clones for instance, are not that bad. But, since the chinese philosophy as we know it seems to be: "make it look like the real thing (from the distance), not work like it" I'm suspicious. You probably get woofers looking like solid Dyna ones, but with poor magnets, 2 cm coils, and so on."

These statements seem very confusing to me and obviously others as they seem to be stating that your definition of a clone is one which aesthetically resembles an established brand but which offers inferior sound and performance.

I don't think you'll get much constructive feedback in the context of your posts so far.