Support for local products?

[Andrew]

(From a letter sent to us)

"Jack Daniels". A name synonymous with style, taste and the best quality money can buy at that price - point. Or is it? I personally know of at least 2 Bourbons of similar price that are far superior to "No7". But with superb marketing skills, JD has created a perception amongst consumers of superiority. And some of the biggest brands in the world have achieved this by the same strategy. But in order to do this, you need a good product and lots of money!
 To my knowledge, hardly any SA hi-fi brands are well known, overseas or even locally, for that matter! Does that mean home made isn't any good? Those of us fortunate and open-minded enough to have tried locally manufactured hi-fi gear against the NAD's and Rotels of this world have realised that, not only do we have local products that easily surpass these big hi-fi names, our products can compete against much more esoteric brands. Only, off course, at much better prices!!
I am the lucky owner of a pair Eminent Technology LFT 8 speakers, a planar hybrid design. The ET's are considered to be something of a bargain in the world of hi-end hi-fi. If, according to the several happy discerning owners, you can provide it with " plenty good, clean amplification".
I have found the perfect partner for my beloved ET's in the Valve Audio's Predator! On manufacturer Schalk Havenga's recommendation he exchanged the valves (for EH), and the coupling caps ( for Hovland). WOW! I now spend several hours daily listening to music! ( not hi-fi )
I have also come to realise that others, fortunate enough to have made this kind of discovery, stick with the VA range when upgradingŠŠ..this says it all. In fact the VA Exclame 100 was recently compared by an on-line us reviewer very favorably with the Naim Nait 5 - a legend of British hi-fi! Off course there are a number of other SA hi-fi brands ( ISIS. Maestro, Sonor, et al ) that also provide a quality vs money ratio far superior to most imported NAMES. Unfortunately only for us open-minded types thoughŠ
It would be nice for other owners of proudly SA hi-fi gear to respond to this. Come on guys, let's get these manufacturers the recognition, praise and financial success they richly deserve! Not only do we have these guys providing us with great products they do so with great service and integrity!
 
Thanks
 
Werner Truter
Cape Town

[joel]

I own a Valve Audio Predator, Sonor Capella speakers, and a SoundStructures stand, this as each is a great component. That they are local is a bonus.

[DRNB]

I'm a big fan of local products, not because its local, but because the manufacturers are mostly fanatical about music and quality. I owned a Counterpoint power amp some time ago, underneath the logo it was written: "Handmade in California" Its indeed a great amp, but our local hand made amps are by far better, in build as well as sound and price.

I'm the proud owner of a Meastro power amp and extremely happy with it. At the same time I think VA and other lacal manufacturers makes an excellent product as well. Roy at Sonar might perhaps just look a bit into better quality veneering  .

Its good to see AVSA is supporting this market. Our local guys surely needs all the marketing support they can get.

[Shonver]

Sonor Audio

Palladium
Radion
Effekt

...still going strong. Magical voicing, high value.

Add to that a killer DIY subwoofer with matching cherry veneer. Yep, that's right. Made right here.

Audio Heaven.

[Viagara]

Add to that a killer DIY subwoofer with matching cherry veneer. Yep, that's right. Made right here.

I have one of Shaun's masterpieces albeit not with a killer driver(yet)

[Soundworx]

Budget/finance don't allow me to support them 

Otherwise I believe that we do have the skills "in house"

[Prince]

Budget/finance don't allow me to support them 

Otherwise I believe that we do have the skills "in house"

-I have to agree on the cost/affordability point. If there was any low to mid cost Proudly SA hi-fi equipment around I would become their biggest supporter. Unfortunately, I'm not by the high-end means!!

 

[Shonver]

-I have to agree on the cost/affordability point. If there was any low to mid cost Proudly SA hi-fi equipment around I would become their biggest supporter. Unfortunately, I'm not by the high-end means!!

Back when we were shopping for those Palladiums, there was nothing imported that could touch them for the price. I would not call them high-end; perhaps upper mid-level. This is, I believe, what makes local equipment great: value for money. And don't forget the second-hand market; there's no shame in buying a bargain. AVSA classifieds often has Gunther Steinhart, Valve Audio and Sonor Audio equipment on offer.

[Prince]

Back when we were shopping for those Palladiums, there was nothing imported that could touch them for the price. I would not call them high-end; perhaps upper mid-level. This is, I believe, what makes local equipment great: value for money. And don't forget the second-hand market; there's no shame in buying a bargain. AVSA classifieds often has Gunther Steinhart, Valve Audio and Sonor Audio equipment on offer.

-Thanx for the info and I do look for the bargains, even at HFX!!

 

[Gliding Dutchman]

As many of you know I am a proud Valve Audio Exclame 100 user. I gaveup my beloved QUAD II tube amps for this baby and I am as happy as can be!

One thing for me that is very special is being able to phone up the designer/builder of the amp (Schalk) and have a chat with him. The cherry on top is being able to sit with him and listen to his private audio system at his home with a cup of "moer" coffee that he made... you cant do that with Peter Walker (RIP) or Ken Iswata... he-he!!

His products are a testiment of his dedication to music! Notice I use the word "music".

SA manufacturers unfortunately are not too keen on marketing or company "image". One must remember that marketing is very exspensive but certainly are rewarding.

GD

[AV]

-I have to agree on the cost/affordability point. If there was any low to mid cost Proudly SA hi-fi equipment around I would become their biggest supporter. Unfortunately, I'm not by the high-end means!!

 

I don't think it is possible to compete with the mass-produced market in our country, the cost of the spares alone will probably be higher than what the selling price is. However, we are thinking of a “cheaper” Class B range of amplifiers soon.

Now that you know who I am, I will stop giving you guy’s so much sh!t.

It was nice wrestling on a few idea’s, hope I’m not hated by too many.

Thanks for all the good comments on our equipment, that is what make the effort worthwhile at the end of the day.

Cheers

André

[RR]

Now that you know who I am, I will stop giving you guy’s so much sh!t.

Wie het jou ge'expose' mr. Visser?

[Shonver]

It was nice wrestling on a few idea’s, hope I’m not hated by too many.

Well, I certainly hate you. You can win me over by sending me one of those your contraptions of yours I've been hearing about. On second thoughts, nah. It can't be any good if it's made in SA.

Welcome (again).

[Ampdog]

I am going to stick my head out here. (The reason for me to shut up is that I occasionally also build amplifiers on personal demand, though not for open market, so.)

It is true that several internationally known brands sell more on marketing than characteristics. Stereophile (magazine) analyses (amplifiers in this case) often show very audible shortcomings, and many designs follow sad, mundane classic topology long since improved upon. But why bother, when it sells anyway ...... I have shown some basic shortcomings in diagrams elsewhere in reply to posts from e.g. Hennie and Shonver. Those were not boasts, simply explanations of how basics were sometimes ignored and at what penalties.

Point: I have not seen any analyses of local products, but would gladly accept that on specs and performance they easily lick some of these "prestigious" imported products (point of the former paragraph: It can be done.) Perhaps a so-called "shoot-out" should occur between one of these grand amps and one of ours (probably costing half the price, not mentioning the availability of service).

But also - boy! You add a grand sounding designer's foreign name to a product, and poor Schalk, Louis, Andries (and me) have no hope - not leaving out any others. And such a guy has been there for 20 years - he has experience! (gee...)To be blunt: A guy can design any junk, appear on enough bearded/bespectacled photos (not having any particular individual in mind), and not long after he is an experienced expert. Fortunately some of our guys are also becoming known; hopefully that will help.

But ANDREW!

This is where I think letters in AVSA play an important role. In forums praise for products "disappears" into so many threads, that despite most(?) AVSA readers also having access to these forums, I feel such reports in a more condensed medium where more will notice them, would be better promotion. 

[Prince]

 

@Ampdog - well said, the local guys need exposure for their hardwork. I'm willing try/buy local product, because I know it will be good. As I myself have worked in the electronics industry a couple of years ago, I know that we South Africans are good and in most cases better than the rest of the world at what we do!!!

@AV - That's great news. I hope when I'm ready to purchase again, you will have a "reasonably" priced Amp that I can afford.

Last, but not least - Thanx guys for putting in the hard work to provide excellence in the local industry!!