Is It Safe to Buy from an Audiophile Brand From a New Company

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We’ve all been there. Impressed by what we have read and perhaps what we have seen about an unknown piece of audiophile gear, we endure the trepidation of whether we should make a purchase or not. We ask ourselves any number of well-reasoned questions on the wisdom of such a purchase. How we answer these probing questions may make the difference between a piece of gear we love and wondering why we made such a huge mistake in going through with the purchase in the first place.

Buying audio equipment from unknown manufacturers, whether domestic or in faraway countries, certainly has potential pitfalls. And many times, we do so because we are willing to take a chance, or maybe we have accomplished the one thing all manufacturers hope for – we sold ourselves on making a purchase. We sometimes, quite easily in fact, convince ourselves this new product made halfway around the world, by a company about which we know absolutely nothing, the one with such alluring promise, incredible features and an attractive price, is really not such a significant risk. We will be fine to pull the trigger. Or will we?

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What Are Some Reasons Why We Would Consider Unknown Equipment?

Because all audiophiles are eagerly looking for the next step up in sonic performance, it is sometimes profoundly simple to be enamored by the shiny new thing, the one with all the bells and whistles. It can be surprisingly easy for any one of us to convince ourselves this purchase is a wise choice.
We are looking for a good deal, and this new and unheard-of brand is within our budget.No surprise there, right? We all want a good deal when we can find one.
The new piece of gear has incredible features. Maybe some of the more well-known brands are not as lavishly appointed and feature-rich at an equivalent price. So, this new and unknown brand suddenly looks like a wise purchase.
We love to convince ourselves that everything will be just fine when making such a purchase. Let’s face it, the easiest person any of us will ever sell is ourselves. Maybe we do so because the price versus features is excellent. Maybe we buy into whatever hype surrounds the product under consideration. Given enough time and desire, any of us can talk ourselves into almost anything – sometimes regrettably so. And honestly, sometimes happily so.

Buckeye Amps is another fan-favorite brand that is somewhat new, packed with value and beloved by our readers.

What Should We Look Out for When Considering Unknown Audio Gear?

Take a close look at the features compared to the cost. It really doesn’t matter where something is made. Whether in the United States or in some Third-World nation, there is always an inherent cost to manufacturing. Generally speaking, component parts can be surprisingly competitive around the world. Where the real savings are generated is in labor costs. Is the component assembled robotically, or by hundreds, or thousands, of poorly-paid workers on steaming hot assembly lines? Do some research on the company itself before buying.
Are there a wealth of features with no explanation of how they work? It is one thing to declare an amplifier has inaudible distortion levels. Be curious as to how this happens. What is going on design-wise to provide this low distortion figure?
What features does the gear not have and why? If you are buying a DAC, for instance, and the product description claims the DAC has XLR and RCA connections, but no mention is made of the component being balanced, red flags should appear right before your eyes. In this case, does the inclusion of both XLR and RCA connections affect the overall price? If the DAC is not dual-mono, fully-balanced from input to output, and this feature is not clearly and demonstrably outlined, there is a good chance the DAC is not balanced. Having an XLR connection on the rear of the chassis accomplishes absolutely nothing. Be sure you understand what you are buying.
What type of warranty does the component carry? 90 days? One year? Three years? Does it even have a warranty?
If there is a warranty, how is this warranty exercised? Is it necessary to send it back halfway around the world to get it fixed? What are the chances it will get lost in shipment in either going back to the manufacturer or being returned to you?
Depending on the component cost, and the terms of the warranty, is it even worth the cost to return the broken device? Is it actually more cost-effective to simply junk the broken gear and buy something else? And, if so, how smart a purchase was this in the first place?
Will the component under consideration actually fit in with the existing system? If you are buying speakers, for instance, what is the efficiency of the speakers, and will they match the existing amplifier? Be sure the component under consideration will work within the confines of your existing system.

If a new brand is sold on Amazon, that is a good sign because they vet their brands quite well.

How is Said New Audiophile Brand Marketed?

Did you find out about this company because you saw an email from an unknown source in your spam folder? Always remember, reputable companies market their products reputably. They advertise in well-respected media outlets (like Future Audiophile!).
Do they sell direct or is there any sort of dealer network? If you do make a purchase, do you send in your credit card information to a company in some unknown location with the hopes the purchase will be fulfilled?
Do they have any measure of a U.S.-based sales effort, or do they not exist in the U.S., or even in North America? For example, 10 years ago, German manufacturer T+A had had a very small presence in the United States and still to this day do very little marketing. Many American audiophiles had never even heard of them. Yet in Europe, they were a very well-established and highly-respected manufacturer of audio components. After several years of effort, today they have a U.S.-based sales manager, a warehouse, and personnel to assist dealers with their customers’ purchases and work to solve any issues which may arise. This is evidence of a company that wants to do business in the U.S. and has a domestic presence to support U.S. sales.
What is the process for returning something which no longer works as designed? Does the company have a U.S. repair center? About 15 years ago, lightning burned up an Esoteric amp I was using. I sent it back to the Esoteric Service Center in California, not Japan, to be repaired. Then and now, Esoteric was obviously a globally-known manufacturer. Still, it was nice to have a U.S.-based service center.

What is the Company’s History in Terms of Reputation and Longevity?

Is the company brand-new, with no history of selling anything to anyone, or do they have some measure of verifiable history of successful business operations?
Can you find any background information, either online or elsewhere, about the company,the products they manufacture, their reputation in the marketplace and how adept they are in service after the sale? Reddit? Forums? AI search?
Can you find any evidence of the sale of used gear on any of the more popular used gear websites? Audio manufacturers that have been in business making reputable products should have some history of used gear sales. If not, ask yourself why?
Can you find anyone who has also heard of the brand in question? Better still, can you find anyone who has personal experience with the company, how well their products are made, how long did they last and what problems, if any, have they had?

T+A was a little-known brand in the United States but has gained traction under new leadership from veteran executive, Dave Nauber.

What to Look For When Buying from an Unknown Manufacturer

By all means, company responsiveness is one key to a trouble-free business relationship. Do they have a phone number you can call? And if you do call, does someone actually answer the phone? Emails should be answered the same day or, for companies in Asia, for instance, the next day. You should inquire how long the manufacturer has been in business and how long they keep repair parts for previously-made gear. Do you really want to buy something from a company that does not support their products for at least 10 years? There are any number of U.S. audio component manufacturers that can still repair gear made 30 years ago. This is service after the sale.
Ask a few questions in advance to see how well your inquiry is answered or if it is not answered at all. A lack of response means this company, and their products, should be avoided.Prompt and complete answers to your questions are not a hope, they are an expectation.
Try to determine how products are shipped. Do they use a flimsy cardboard box or something more robust? I have received gear made in Europe shipped in a wooden and metal flight case – think the ones used by bands to transport amps, speakers, lighting and other gear. If a shipping company can destroy a shipment from the next state, just think what a freight company can do to a lightweight cardboard box shipped halfway around the world! It also is a very good idea to find out from the company the exact process if damage in shipment does occur. Who is responsible for correcting any resulting damage because someone in China decided to throw the box on the container, rather than professionally placing it where it would not be harmed?
How the product is sold also makes a difference. When purchasing from a dealer, you have a local source to handle any unfortunate problems. If you are buying direct, or from a website, the company may not care if your shipment is damaged in transit. They may not even care if you receive the new gear and it does not work as advertised. They have your money and nothing else really matters.

Crutchfield is another place to look for brands being well-vetted.

Final Thoughts on Buying from New or Lesser-Known Audiophile Companies

Realistically, we live in a global economy, not a regional one. Almost everything we buy may have a connection to an offshore manufacturing center. While we may hope everything we consume will be made in the USA, the reality is quite different. East Coast and West Coast seaports are bustling with container ships, unloading products made in both Europe and Asia. So, buying from a foreign-based manufacturer is not in any way an unreasonable practice.

The main goal when doing so is to be careful and realize the potential problems that may occur. Be smart, do your homework and pay close attention to anything you find unsettling. Your own little voice inside your head is a valued companion. Be sure you are buying a component you will value for years to come. And if there is some sort of problem, be sure the supplier has the wherewithal to expeditiously take care of what is wrong. No one wants to buy something, regardless of the place of origin, only to have it malfunction after a few uses. Exercising safe and logical buying decisions is the first step in avoiding a unsolvable problem, and instead taking possession of a cherished part of your audiophile system.

What are your rules for buying audio from new companies? Will you buy Chi-Fi? Does being sold via Amazon.com help (they vet their vendors pretty well)? Have you had any success stories? Do you have any horror stories? Share with us your thoughts, and we will post your comments ASAP.