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Chinese Imports: No Longer Just Cheap and Inferior?
Due to its vast population and its rapidly growing economy, China is often considered by commentators as an emerging superpower. It's the world's fourth largest economy, second largest exporter and there's no wonder why firms are interested in Chinese factories: low cost of production. The recent scandal of contaminated imports raised some concerns about their quality practices. However, are they raising the quality after their sales started falling down?David Lynch from USA Today says
"it would be easy to mock Chinese aspirations to climb the value ladder. But Americans of a certain age recall in the 1960s similar doubts about the label "Made in Japan." Considering the turmoil that enveloped China for most of the 20th century, the mystery isn't why Chinese factories are having some quality problems. China is in the midst of an enormous transformation from an isolated, centrally planned, mostly rural nation into a fiercely competitive economic dynamo. Since joining the World Trade Organization in 2001, the country has overhauled thousands of laws and regulations to bring itself into conformance with the global economy's dictates."
Not sure if it is only me but I'm some how getting convinced that quality has improved over the last few years with Chinese products. Here is an example from my experience. The other day I was roaming around the shops looking for a good quality headphones and I don't mean good quality from its looks but actually sounds good. I was looking for one with higher frequency response than average. They "respond" better to audio, portraying even more subtle layers of sound. In other words, they are high fidelity, enhancing the sound towards perfection. Most are between 20 Hz and 20,000 Hz which is bad because they don't have good bass (low notes), nor good treble (high notes) for that matter. Keep in mind though, some marketed claims of having frequency response lower than 20 Hz can be overstatements.
Outside a shop I saw a collection of American, Japanese, and of course, Chinese goods. The moment I entered the shop, I was instantly attracted to Sony's DJ headphones (in flashy packaging) which had a frequency between 14 Hz and 22,000Hz. I later find out that it is actually the most expensive piece in the shop with a price tag of a whooping $220 . After looking around for a good 15 minutes, I find this brand called "Snopy" in pretty simple packaging. "Another generic Chinese brand" I thought at first and looked at its specs having no hope of finding something that is reasonably priced. To my surprise, this one had even better frequency than Sony: 8 Hz to 22,000 Hz. Like I mentioned before, this might not be an impressive feat and the figures could be inflated. However, I was impressed when I heard its price: only $6!
I had nothing to lose so I bought it without thinking twice but I was curious to find out how it sounded and how long it would last me. When I arrived home and connected it to my computer, it was simply amazing. Seriously! It was so good that I'm going to review it in this post. It's called "Snopy SN-822" and guess what; it's Made in China. Good luck trying to find the official page by googling it because I couldn't. Only a handful of Turkish e-shops appeared in the results leading me to think that the brand was created Apart from the sound quality, I also liked how this headphone was designed with functionality in mind. The large ear pieces, which covers all of my ears, can be folded to save space when not in use. The height adjustment for the head seems to be strong since when I adjust it, it stays there (unlike some previous experiences with loose ones). What's more is that the 3 meter cable connecting the headphone to an audio jack is like a shoe-lacy material so that it doesn't get all mixed up. It is really annoying when you get on a bus just to spend the entire journey fixing the cable instead of listening to music. Oh and it has built-in volume controller (which is really handy) and a microphone that I didn't notice until I saw that there were two jacks at the end of the cable. Good thing it doesn't disturb me at all.
Verdict: I'm quite happy with this Chinese product. It's really good quality when considering its price. Moreover, I feel "safer" using one of these especially when such small electronic devices are expected to fail, break down or steped on anytime now. Even then, it has a two year limited warranty and I'm not worried if I ever do something to it that voids it. I could still buy 36 more of these "Made in China" Snopy headphones with the money I saved by not buying one original Sony headphone.
A country has an absolute advantage economically over another in a particular good when it can produce that good at a lower cost. Trade might not be mutually beneficial, but it's pure economics. I believe in free trade. May the best win!
18 thoughts:
Please note: This is not a paid review. It's just a personal recommendation! =)
I'm suddenly very intrigued. Let me know how they hold up over time. If they last, etc. If audio quality ever goes down, etc.
If they stay that good for a long while I really would love a pair. Do they fit over your ears well?
Yeah, keep me informed. I'd pay 6 bucks for a pair of really good headphones!
Well, I think it is true that not all goods from China are of inferior quality. Some of them are better than those expensive brand names out there!
Yeah they fit over my ears quite well. Its been 5 days now and no loss of quality yet.
I'll keep you informed here in the comments.
Most products in your home, car, even items, you're wearing are made in the far east.
Sony are well known to have a lot of their products made in China as are thousands of reputable companies you know or own goods from.
'but it says made in american or britain on the packaging' is something I hear a lot, but this is just a clever play on words.
The Apple Ipod for example consists mainly of far east technology it was only designed in the US and is assembled in the US.
These parts are all sent over to California to be assembled and in doing so they are allowed by law to print on the packaging 'made in California'.
This is something many companies have done for years.
Congratulations on your find - the earphones you've purchased have the same parts that their expensive derivatives have - only you're not paying for a name like 'Sony'.
Branding and marketing is not the only thing these big companies are good at.
While it's very true that many goods can be efficiently produced by unskilled laborers, precision electronics such as headphones are not among them, in my experience.
Based on the specs that it specifically mentioned (frequency response range) the Snopy unit beats the Sony DJ monitors, but there's a whole ton more to sound quality than range.
There is no objective way to scientifically determine which headphones sound the "best", due to the subjective nature of the perception of sound, but if you look at aggregate review sites such as Headspace, there are definite trends as to which brands and models people think stand out above the crowd.
For a good example of this, it is worthwhile to compare the $6 headphones you have to something that a lot of so-called audiophiles recommend. I myself own a pair of Sennheiser HD-585s, with which I am tremendously pleased.
However, not everyone is an audiophile. Not everyone has the hearing sensitivity, not everyone has the obsession with getting the most they can out of their music, not everyone has the motivation to be so discerning. If you think the $6 headphones sound just as good as the $100 headphones, then you found a great value. All I know is that in my experience, you really get what you pay for with headphones, within reason.
Thank you anonymous. I think you brought forth some great points.
I wonder what do audiophiles look for in a headphone?
All I know is that the frequency response tell me that the wider the interval, the better treble and bass (especially I'm concerned about bass) I will get.
You can click on the image above with the back of the product packaging I got with these headphones to see its specifications. Anything else I should look for?
In my opinion, chinese products is cheap but in the terms of product quality in alots of imitiating from the originals brands.
its not that everything you get from China is cheap and inferior.
you just have to be wise while choosing the quality.
If everything made in China was crap, wouldn't people soon stop shopping at Wal-Mart? Chinese factory owners aren't fools, they know they can sell the high quality items they make without charging big time for the fancy name. Good on them!
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/unsafe-at-any-speed/another-chinese-car-absolutely-failing-its-crash-test-288294.php
I think this video says a lot about things to do with Chinese quality.
Jeremy, I think that video says nothing about things to do with Chinese quality.
Chinese are new into the car industry, actually that is the first car they ever came up with, and making a very durable car from first try without experience.. is difficult if not impossible.
That is unlike Chinese electronic devices in which they have lots of years of experience. They know what people want and can produce even good quality products for cheap without charging anything for the brand.
The only thing they have left to improve, in my opinion, is a sense of design. Hope they will take Apple as an example and learn that some things just don't look good in green and purple plastic.
This car company has been around since 1997 and has backers like General Motors and Volkswagen. This is not their first car and although I agree with you that China is new to the car manufacturing sector, the amount of information available regarding crash safety and what NOT to do when building a car is available even to the layperson. Crumple zones anyone?
I am curious about one aspect of this thread that nobody here, surprisingly not even you Ilker, has brought up: when you buy cheap stuff from China, regardless of the apparent quality or lack thereof, what are you supporting vis-a-vis human rights(within China and without, ie.Darfur), environmental issues and for that matter fair trade practices and the impact on other less developed and struggling countries? I know - idealistic dreaming...who cares when you can get $220 headphones for 6 bucks! But that's where the "thinking" comes in...my 2c.
Tom, yes I thought of fair trade. Actually I wrote at the bottom of the post:
"A country has an absolute advantage economically over another in a particular good when it can produce that good at a lower cost. Trade might not be mutually beneficial, but it's pure economics. I believe in free trade. May the best win!"
Perhaps I should put it above the pics. OK I'll edit it now.
I agree with ilker that made-in-china quality was proving over the years. Sometimes china got the blame for wrong reasons. The magnets falling out toys are design fault, how come the designer and owner Mattel get away from that and everyone blames china? Even for the above lead limit paint used Mattel is accountable because they are the brand owner.
I am supprised Tom links human right to quality issues. As to human right abuse one case stands above everyone. That is Iraq. Since US leaded invasion hundreds thousand, if not millions, iraqis have died. Hundreds thousand lives! Did that even bothers you, Tom? It bothers me a lot. I wish i will see you, Tom do somethng about it. Now US set sight on Iran. I will definitely against my goverments involvement if US wants to invade Iran.
I think its time that Americans JUST SAY NO! to all products made in China. We need to block all imports from china NOW!
Americans have to stop buying them and supporting the chinese.
All americans have to ask themselve is it time to work harder and design and manufacture better products.
we should all get together and protest at all us ports and boarders were these Chinese products enter the US and stop them at all costs!
China is a clear and present danger to USA and the free world.Buying Chinese products and is the same as funding the Nazis prior to WW2 by buying German products.How many times has China voted with the USA on UN resolutions ? We should buy from China only if they buy from us.Those Americans foolish enough not to understand basic economics are selling their future to China which already holds the largest percentage of US foreign debt.When will Americans wake up ? Do we need to have an economic 9/11 to act decisively ?
What do you think? Post your thoughts..