Country of Manufacture and Design Matters?

In your own experience, does the country of design and/or manufacture matter?

Examples:
Designed in the USA, Made in China

Designed in China, Made in China

Made in USA

Made in UK

Made in Japan

Made in Germany

Maybe the country's popular music have some influence on the house sound or tuning of the equipment?

Although I personally find that made in japan has the highest build quality and last the longest. I have a MIJ Sony LCD TV that is still working fine after 10years, can't be said for another Samsung which dies after <3years.

 

In my experience (of every bloody product ever, not just audio) the country the product is designed in makes all the difference in the world. The country the product is manufactured in determines how large portion of the products will come out as faulty. So which countries are "good" countries in design and manufacturing regards? The west is the best (and Japan, the good old exception to the rule).

 

My totally non-scientific leanings.... Audio stuff built in Japan and Germany I expect to be solid and reliable. UK and USA hit & miss but mostly ok. China a lottery.

Being a bicycle nerd as well, it's however generally accepted that many of the factories in the far east are seriously competent frame-builders. Most large & independent bike companies tend to design in the west and produce in the far east. A few use "made in USA / UK" as a badge of honour when they do the build in-house. I've owned bikes from all over the place and the worst frame and forks were both made in the USA. The most reliable frames I've had have been from the far east.

I guess my theory is... it depends on the product. Different places have different strengths.

 

..and my British-built Brompton was bloody expensive for what it is. Lovely machine, though, and they're very good about upgrades. It's a massive "badge of honour" thing for them, you're bang on there.

 

Yeah Brompton are definitely an exception, superb machines (but you do pay for the privilege!).

 

Taiwan (not Mainland/ China) has pretty solid products: Asus, Acer and HTC.

Malaysia is also pretty solid: Dell, Sony

Made in Korea... not so good, they don't last. (Expection: bike parts)

Avoid made in Vietnam or Thailand, these are hit and misses.

Made in Singapore is also hit and miss. Creative products, not so good, but SSD and other