I'm getting ready to sell one of my three Adcom GFA-5400 amplifiers. Two were manufactured in China and have the round hole perforations in the top cover. The other was made in Japan and has the slotted cooling in the cover.
My gut reaction was to sell one made in China. Then I opened the up a Chinese and Japanese one and really looked at the construction of each. Here's what I found:
Chinese
Japanese
Based on what I found in each, I decided to sell the Japanese version. So my word of advice: Don't read "Made in China" as a warning label. I've come to realize that China's manufacturing sector can build to high standards if that's what they are contracted to do.
My gut reaction was to sell one made in China. Then I opened the up a Chinese and Japanese one and really looked at the construction of each. Here's what I found:
Chinese
- PC board date on silkscreen: 1997
- Connectors on driver board for each channel. Good for servicing.
- Higher quality insulated chassis mount RCA jacks connected via short coax. Good for repair or upgrade.
- Much neater wiring throughout, but especially to the four indicator LEDs
- Toroidal transformer looked a little better made, but perhaps marginally smaller. I suspect that they are electrically identical and the tiny size difference might be explained through the neater windings on Chinese version.
- Chassis marginally lower in physical quality of construction
- Top cover held on with fewer and smaller screws.
- One running change: Series diode/resistor where resistor shown on silkscreen. Good workmanship in both channels, but slightly different technique for splicing the two in series.
- Overall workmanship and soldering was very good.
Japanese
- PC board date on silkscreen: 1995
- Hard-soldered wires on driver boards fore each channel. Bad for servicing.
- Cheaper quality Board-mount RCA jacks. Bad for servicing and not upgrade-friendly.
- Wiring ugly, especially to four indicator LESs, which went off in all directions
- Toroidal transformer looked a little lower quality, but perhaps marginally larger. I suspect that they are electrically identical and the tiny size difference might be explained through the neater windings on Chinese version.
- Chassis marginally better in physical quality of construction
- Top cover held on with more and larger screws.
- Overall workmanship and soldering was very good.
Based on what I found in each, I decided to sell the Japanese version. So my word of advice: Don't read "Made in China" as a warning label. I've come to realize that China's manufacturing sector can build to high standards if that's what they are contracted to do.
Thanks for sharing! Connectors could be a design update between 95 and 97 🙂
Anyway, I agree - China shows good quality more and more often during the last decade or so, especially if there is proper quality management from particular brand.
Example, not related to audio equipment, but very representative in my opinion.'
I've got an electric scateboard, designed and produced in China. It's a tough built board with top quality 500W brushless motor, Li-ion battery and electronic regulator with radio-channel for precise remote throttle control. It's the third year now I use it frequently in tough conditions practically without servicing, and it works perfectly - electrically and mechanically. Bravo China! 😉
Sorry for unwitting advertisement 😀
Anyway, I agree - China shows good quality more and more often during the last decade or so, especially if there is proper quality management from particular brand.
Example, not related to audio equipment, but very representative in my opinion.'
I've got an electric scateboard, designed and produced in China. It's a tough built board with top quality 500W brushless motor, Li-ion battery and electronic regulator with radio-channel for precise remote throttle control. It's the third year now I use it frequently in tough conditions practically without servicing, and it works perfectly - electrically and mechanically. Bravo China! 😉
Sorry for unwitting advertisement 😀
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No doubt, and probably one brought about by re-examining the manufacturing costs of point-to-point hardwiring.
If you want a product manufactured to the lowest possible cost, China will do it. If you want them to product products built to the highest standards, they are becoming quite capable of that, too. I'm learning to not make the assumption that China = Bad and Japan/USA = Good.
I have Chinese-made adjustable levers for my sport bikes and the fit and finish is astoundingly good. I've got some Chinese-manufactured tools that show tremendous quality of design, workmanship, and materials.
I get into way too much trouble on motorcycles. But that does look like a seriously fun toy. I was looking at hub motors from China to build a custom electric trike. Never got around to it, but very impressed with the quality and performance of their offerings.
I've lived and worked in both Japan and China.
If you want to see Japanese electronics engineering at its best take a look at an SLR camera - specifically a Pentax or a Canon. Or NEC comms gear.
Chinese companies also make superb quality products. I've looked at Huawei boards - amazing assembly a design quality. Same for Oppo products.
So, both very capable of 1st class products.
Indeed 'made in China' does not mean bad quality, but,you gets what you pay for was never truer!
If you want to see Japanese electronics engineering at its best take a look at an SLR camera - specifically a Pentax or a Canon. Or NEC comms gear.
Chinese companies also make superb quality products. I've looked at Huawei boards - amazing assembly a design quality. Same for Oppo products.
So, both very capable of 1st class products.
Indeed 'made in China' does not mean bad quality, but,you gets what you pay for was never truer!
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Invariably there will be improvement over time.
For years Japan was infamous for lo quality.
However I remain skeptical as China is Fixated/driven by cost cutting. Frustratingly they are becoming very adept at 'moderne' cosmetics.
Appearance supercedes content
Things like metallurgy are simply Not in the lexicon.
Phifer recently demonstrated that the Fake 'eastern' Viagra Pills are better looking visually than their genuine Phifer product, which at least does not contain toxins.
For years Japan was infamous for lo quality.
However I remain skeptical as China is Fixated/driven by cost cutting. Frustratingly they are becoming very adept at 'moderne' cosmetics.
Appearance supercedes content
Things like metallurgy are simply Not in the lexicon.
Phifer recently demonstrated that the Fake 'eastern' Viagra Pills are better looking visually than their genuine Phifer product, which at least does not contain toxins.
I guess that my three-decades-plus as an engineering professional have left me unable to evaluate something like this. I guess that I am easily fooled by "'moderne' cosmetics."</sarcasm>
No, China is not fixated/driven by cost cutting. They are fixated/driven by profit. If you wants to pay them to produce a high-quality amplifier, they will do so. If you want a cheap amp slapped together at a minimal price, they will produce that, too. Neither product is indicative of what you should expect from the other.
Maybe Bessey, Snap-on, and Sears, all of whom have tools manufactured in China, lack your understanding of metallurgy. But I doubt it.
You clearly follow that topic much more closely than I do.
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