is it "trust your ears" or is it "trust the country of manufacture"?
I think it's these two in particular. I'm sorry, but I don't agree with all the outsourcing and I don't give two rats asses how good Chinese products have become, they still aren't there when it comes to fit and finish, and QC. I would much rather see my hard earned $US dollar spent somewhere in North America, but if that isn't an option, then I'll take Europe. Call it what you want, but if I have the choice between two products one made in the US and one made in China, I'll buy the US model any day of the week. Why? Because I don't want only some crappy min. wage service jobs being the only thing left here. Yes, we live in a world economy and that's great. But when that country owns such a huge part of our debt (I won't go down that politically charged road), it should be causing people concerns. It should also concern people that their human rights policies are questionable (not that ours haven't been particularly in light of 9/11), and we continue to support violations in child and prison workers rights when we toss so much money their way.
I look in my garage and I look at my choice of woodworking tools, what do I see? Several Milwaukee power tools made either in the US or Europe, a Delta table saw made in the US, and two Grizzly power tools made in Taiwan (and you're not going to find anything but Chinese made drill presses anymore). When I look at my recording gear, I see nothing but US made products. And not only do I think I made the choices based on what was right for my needs and ears, but yes, also where it was made and I'm not ashamed to say that. If you want to support Chinese products, knock yourself out, but then don't complain when you hear of another 10,000 jobs being lost to India or China. They are being outsourced because we're letting them, because of our choice in products. Companies wouldn't outsource if they thought customers would stop buying the product. I simply put my money where my mouth is...
-Wayne