Okay, so, I’ve been messing around with audio gear for a while now, and lately, I’ve been diving deep into the world of Chinese Hi-Fi, or “Chi-Fi” as some folks call it. It’s been a wild ride, and I gotta say, I’m pretty blown away by what I’ve found. I thought I’d share my journey, from the first steps to where I’m at now, so here goes.
Getting Started
First off, I started digging around for info on what’s good in the Chi-Fi world. I mean, there are tons of brands out there that I’ve never even heard of, like S.M.S.L., Topping, Fosi Audio… the list goes on. I stumbled upon some websites and forums dedicated to this stuff. There are in-depth review sites that focus exclusively on Chinese hi-fi brands, like AudioBudget. And, the longest thread on the audio forum Head-Fi is about Chinese hi-fi, so that got me hooked.
Making the First Purchase
After reading a bunch of reviews and discussions, I decided to take the plunge and ordered my first piece of Chi-Fi gear. It was an amplifier. I found a few that were supposed to sound pretty good for their price, like the Loxjie A30, Topping MX3, and SMSL AD18. I ended up going for the Loxjie A30.
The LJM MX50X2 and L20.5 were pre-assembled and as far as I can tell they use good quality components. The amp arrived, and I was pretty excited to set it up. It cost me about $340 including shipping. I mean, for that price, I wasn’t expecting miracles, but man, was I surprised.
Testing It Out
And right out of the box, with the cheap Chinese tubes it came with, this thing sounded amazing. I hooked it up to my speakers, and the difference was night and day. I started with some of my favorite tracks, and I was hearing details I’d never noticed before. The soundstage was wider, the bass was tighter, and the highs were crystal clear without being harsh.
I spent hours just listening to music, rediscovering my collection. It was like hearing everything for the first time again. I even dragged my buddy over to have a listen, and he was just as impressed as I was.
Diving Deeper
After that, I was hooked. I started looking into other Chi-Fi gear, like DACs, headphones, and even earbuds. I heard good things about the Tin Audio T2 earbuds, so I grabbed a pair. They looked great and sounded even better. These are not just any earbuds; they were audiophile quality.
One of the best-loved sets of Chinese hi-fi earbuds, the Tin Audio T2 are also one of the nicest-looking pairs. It’s an audiophile set, and I was beginning to understand why.
Experimenting More
The low cost of Chinese HiFi is definitely enabling audiophiles to experiment with relatively cheap and cheerful little boxes that offer a fair bit of bang for the buck. I see it as a win-win. I started experimenting with different combinations of gear, mixing and matching to see what worked best together. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a ton about what makes a good audio setup.
Current Setup
Now, my setup is a mix of Chi-Fi and some more well-known brands, but the core of it is definitely Chi-Fi. I’ve got a few different amps and DACs that I switch between, depending on what I’m listening to and my mood. But that first amp I bought still holds a special place in my heart.
Final Thoughts
So, yeah, that’s my Chi-Fi journey so far. It’s been a blast, and I’m still exploring. Chi-Fi like any robust market has different spend vs quality levels. The sub $100 chip amps are the best known because they are affordable. But there is a mid and high end, that I’m still exploring. If you’re thinking about dipping your toes into the world of Hi-Fi, I definitely recommend checking out some of these Chinese brands. You might be surprised at what you find. And hey, it’s not about the price tag; it’s about the sound. And in my experience, Chi-Fi delivers big time.
I’ve reviewed quite a few of their products over the years, and through my personal contact with them, I’ve grown to appreciate not only how they function as a company, but also how they manage to produce such remarkably beautiful and functional products that are all essentially hand-built.
Better audio quality is what I always pursuit. If you’re used to listening through a tiny laptop speaker or even high-quality Bluetooth headphones, you would be amazed by what I’ve found.
Keep listening, folks!