Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Systems Made in China

Following on from the IAG thread, what would be your view of Meridian if they retained their design and support staff in the UK but got the equipment made in China by a specialist subcontractor and just marketed it in Europe and the USA.

Would this change your view of the brand or its values?

This is the way things are going in our "knowledge economy".

When IAG bought Mission, all existing stock was/is being sold off at massive discount over their original asking price. For example, a pair of Mission Elegante E83's previousy sold for �2,000, but can now be had for �800. Those owners that paid the original price less than six months ago are reportedly 'spitting blood'.

Once current stock is depleted my understanding is that 'cheaper' production/materials will be used when Mission loudspeakers are manufactured in China.

My local Meridian dealer, who initially stocked the renewed (IAG) AudioLab brand have very quickly stopped selling this particular brand due to their poor reliability.

If the product performance, fit and finish and quality were of the same or greater level then Id have no objection to it. I can't imagine any consumer would. That said- I do like the romantic idea of the gear being built right there in the UK- it does give it some authenticity- but the fact is we here buy Meridian because we think it has terrific performance- and thats really due more to intellectual property than anything else.

best regards,
Jerry

Quite a philosophical question really. What is "Made in the UK" ? Pretty much all of the solid state devices inside our M boxes are made in China, and I suspect probably most of the connectors, wiring, and plastics are too. So at what point does soldering components to a board stop being "Made in China" ?

Regards

Mark

Good question, we are in a global market, so who knows where many components come from anyway.

As for Meridian, If they had to go East to stay in business, I would be all for it.

Its quality control that counts, and to be fair a factory could be anywhere, its what goes on inside that counts.

On the other hand, I do like the idea that Meridian products are as near as practicaly possible 'Hand Made in England'.

Better for the UK Economy, better for Jobs, better for prestige.

I can see a day when perhaps some products are made in the east, (F80, iPod Dock etc Perhaps)and the main focus in the UK is the G series, 800 series, DSP speakers and the like.

Who knows, the times they are a changing.

Cheers, Chris

A little further thought experiment.

If Ferraris were made in a factory in China, imported to Italy and then marketed by the Scuderia, what would you think?

Is this Italian heritage? Would the Ferrari name lose its cachet and thus its brand value? If you were spending �150,000 would you care where it was built?

To follow that with a British theme, is a TVR a TVR when it's built by Bertone in Italy?

To me, no. But many folk in the US are excited about the prospect of paying $120k next year for a Sagaris. They will probably be a better car in all honestly, but they still loose some of the aura. Hugh Grant's speech in Love Actually springs to mind. There again, I'm sitting 4800 miles away

Unfortunately, I need to sell my '79 Taimar due to the upcoming birth of our first child. What a fun car. We're also selling our Mini Cooper S too. So even I'm selling out my Britishness!

Getting a bit far off topic here.

Let's not let the forum look like it's "Made in USENET".

George- LMAO!!!


best regards,
Jerry

OK. Back in Meridianworld.

If Meridian decided to get its products made in China, what effect do you think this might have on secondhand prices?

Would old units go up as they would be perceived to be "better" or would the whole market be depressed as, surely, the new unit prices would have to fall with the China tag on them.

One element to the second hand prices is the quality of the units, which is and is perceived to be, high. So I imagine there may be a feeling that the old UK-produced is better quality than those built in China (whether this is founded or not.) However, it's going to take a couple of years for the newer units to hit the second hand market.


Another big element to the used market (IMHO) is the fact that Meridian have fantastic post sales support, for many years afterwards (and completely independent of the original owners). So the big question is where the support would be located and whether Meridian would be able to maintain it to its present level. If not, then I imagine all used values would be hit.

Cheers,

Ed.

Hi, I seem to recall a thread that suggested DSP5200 cabinets were made in China.

Regards