So How Much Are These Chinese Mics Costing To Make?

[alanhyatt]

I'm sure the only R&D that goes into this stuff is having a guy open a box of samples from Beijing and try them out, if they're good, put in an order. Maybe you haven't noticed but a lot these mics look the same - I'm sure most come form the same factories.

Not that I'm dissing them by any means. It's just rebranding - much like how it works in the Chinese violin business. (The problem invariably comes when the delivered goods don't match the quality of the samples....)

I still say DJL isn't far off *when you're talking about parts alone*

Did I mention I like SP mics?

With all due respect, your assumptions may be accurate with some manufactures, but it is not the case with us. The SP B1 is not a mic that was rebranded or picked out of a box of samples.

The B Series was developed by PMI Audio. Its concept was ours from the get go. 797 was very helpful in getting this mic to market by assisting us with the body. We wanted a two piece body, but that would have cost much more. They convinced us to go with a one piece body they were able to make more affordable, that is how we got the price down on the B Series. Even so, we did modifications to the body to keep the headgrille look the same as the C Series.

All packaging designs are done in the USA by Rock "N" Motion, a very good Graphic company, who by the way charges a lot of money for their work, but their work is great. So, we use American companies as well to complete our microphones. All of that figures into the price.

 

[acorec]

DJL is way off as usual Harvey. I pay $2.00 for the packaging on the B1.


To the rest of the forum,

I am not looking for dealer prices to be posted here. That is not a good thing to do. I am sorry I did that, but I wanted to make sure DJL was shown to be wrong yet again.

The simple fact is none of you argue with movie theatres, grocery stores and your utility company about how much their goods or services cost. You don't tell the plumber after he fixes the clog you want a discount, and you do not ask him how much it cost him to do it.

Everyone is entitled to make a profit. Yes, some make more than others, but what does it matter how much something cost to make? The end result is all you are after. It is a global economy now. We have to deal with it, and if you don't like it, then you do not have to support those products. We said the same things when goods were made in Japan, Mexico, India, Korea, Canada, and now China. Hey, Viet Nam is probably next.

I paid $1,700.00 for my first Fax machine 25 years ago, but I was happy as it saved me time. Now they are $49.00! I suggest you all get off the how much does this or that cost and recognize those that are charging too much, and there are companies who get their goods from China who are charging too much. There are also companies who are charging a fair price for a good product.

Support those companies that provide you with a good quality product, and then back it up with strong support. What more could you want. If you all think the more expensive microphones are 10 to 20 times better(I don't), then by all means, spend that money and be happy. Otherwise, go use what you have and enjoy it....

I say what does it really matter what it costs to make? The stuff made today at EVERY LEVEL low end, high end whatever is better in most respects than stuff made a long time ago. I would take a Studio Projects pre-amp today over an old Neve if I was interested in reliability vs. sound. Many home recordists are not old enough to know how unreliable the old "vintage" stuff was. It cost a fortune and would work today, and not tomorrow and that was when it was new! Even Behringer stuff is more reliable than most of the stuff made in the 60s and 70s.

 

[Mark7]

That's a very sensible way of looking at it, except that DJL is using the whole $2 to score points off Alan by making him look like some kind of callous, greedy exploiter of innocent Chinese children (or something).

 

[DJL]

Well then, you would be wrong.

Then you must know how much it cost the factory to make something like a B1... Harvey guessed $20 (10x2), my guess is $2-$5, krs guessed under $10... so, tell us... how much does it cost the factory to make something like a B1?

ADDED... PS, too bad there isn't some one here to speak up for Marshall, Behringer, Nady and etc... that way all these threads about cheap Chinese made budget mics wouldn't always end up talking only about Studio Projects.

Edit: Added meaning... I'm just as curious how much it cost the factories in China to make mics like the B5, V67G, and etc... and how smart of a move (or not) was it for Marshall Electronics to buy their own factory in China and etc.

 

[Warhead]

The factory quotes Alan his cost, not theirs. This is how business works.

War

 

[Harvey Gerst]

Then you must know how much it cost the factory to make something like a B1... Harvey guessed $20 (10x2), my guess is $2-$5, krs guessed under $10... so, tell us... how much does it cost the factory to make something like a B1?

ADDED... PS, too bad there isn't some one here to speak up for Marshall, Behringer, Nady and etc... that way all these threads about cheap Chinese made budget mics wouldn't always end up talking only about Studio Projects.

And what about cheap Russian made budget mics, or cheap Mexican made budget mics? BTW, to make sure we're all agreed on what was said, you guessed "around $2", not $2 - $5, which is your revised guess. I guessed "10 times that $2 guess, or more", not $20.

 

[DJL]

Ok Harvey, I corrected your guess.

Well then, you would be wrong.

Then you must know exactly how much it cost the factory to make something like a B1... Harvey guessed $20 or more, my guess is $2-$5, krs guessed under $10... so, tell everyone... how much does it cost the factory to make something like a B1?

PS... Alan, thanks for joining this discussion about So How Much Are These Chinese Mics Costing To Make? I bet some people are looking forward to your B1 answer, I know I am.

 

[Mark7]

He'll tell us that when you stop telling us what an overpaid idiot you are

 

[Han]

I say what does it really matter what it costs to make? The stuff made today at EVERY LEVEL low end, high end whatever is better in most respects than stuff made a long time ago. I would take a Studio Projects pre-amp today over an old Neve if I was interested in reliability vs. sound. Many home recordists are not old enough to know how unreliable the old "vintage" stuff was. It cost a fortune and would work today, and not tomorrow and that was when it was new! Even Behringer stuff is more reliable than most of the stuff made in the 60s and 70s.

Are you serious? I have a truckload of older analog gear, but when there's a problem, it's nine times out of ten with modern (digital) gear. How reliable are computers? harddrives?

 

[Warhead]

Ok Harvey, I corrected your guess.

Then you must know exactly how much it cost the factory to make something like a B1... Harvey guessed $20 or more, my guess is $2-$5, krs guessed under $10... so, tell everyone... how much does it cost the factory to make something like a B1?

Jeeeeez, if you had any sense at all you would know again...

THE FACTORY QUOTES YOUR PRICE, NOT THEIRS. THIS IS HOW THEY MAKE A PROFIT.

You are incredible!

Harvey brings up a good point about Mexican made mics, you don't hear anyone bashing Shure for making the SM57 there.

War

 

[BlindCowboy]

Why is the cost to manufacture a product important to the consumer? DJL, are you looking to get into the business? With such an extreme bias against quality products at an affordable price, I would think you wouldn't give two shakes about this subject.

And why, oh why, would Alan even divulge such information? I would never, EVER, divulge to my customer base my cost or my factory's cost to produce my product. It's none of their damned business. If a customer wants my controller, he buys it. If he wants my software, he buys it. At an agreed retail price.

This thread should die, quickly. And Alan, if you have any business sense at all, you'll quickly remove any mention of the pricings in your previous post, and leave this topic alone.

Stand by your product, man. Stop the elementary playground games that can and will effect your financial future. You don't see old Uli battling it out with every Tom, Dick, and Harry that decide to talk trash about his products. Yet, he continues to grow his company leaps and bounds every freakin' year. You've got enough followers to protect your interests. Depend on your client support and product viability, and go build us some more equipment.

 

[dalon]

Alan, thumbs up to you for giving that info.

What I'm interested in: You've been to China, I guess you've seen some different factory's. Do they care about the environment at all there? I can image that that is one factor in why it's so cheap over there, but then again maybe the whole of China is going to be one great waste dump in 10 years...

Thanx, Dalon

 

[alanhyatt]

Alan, thumbs up to you for giving that info.

What I'm interested in: You've been to China, I guess you've seen some different factory's. Do they care about the environment at all there? I can image that that is one factor in why it's so cheap over there, but then again maybe the whole of China is going to be one great waste dump in 10 years...

Thanx, Dalon

Hey, the people there want freedoms, cars, stereo's and pretty much everything we want. The main cities in China are very clean and new looking. Then, there are very dirty of slum areas as we know and call it here.

The funny thing is, it is all there now. They see what the rest of the world has, and they want it to. Change will come in time as the old folks who are in power die off, and the new come into power. I suspect China in the future will adopt a more democratic attitude. Its all a matter of time.

 

[Robertt8]

Microphone Racism?

A good mic is a good mic no matter what country it's from. Black, white, yellow, red. It doesn't matter. Why must some people be microphone prejudice snobs just because it's not made in America (or Germany?). There's plenty of room in this country for microphone of all races, creeds and genders. It's the melting pot. Let it go people.

 

[DJL]

Personally, I like this subject. I like learning and talking about microphone factories etc. China seems to have a bunch of mic factories, like the Fielo factory in Shanghai, the state-owned 797 Audio factory in Beijing, Soundking Audio Co., Ltd in Ningbo, and the Marshall Electronics factory and the SE Electronics factory (disengaged from FEILO), Fengli etc. Therefore, I am glad Vikki started this thread “So How Much Are These Chinese Mics Costing To Make?” I also like the Fielo factory pictures posted here a few months ago or so… that was great, I really enjoyed that. And like Vikki, I have also been curious about cost etc.

 

[reshp1]

Hey, the people there want freedoms, cars, stereo's and pretty much everything we want. The main cities in China are very clean and new looking. Then, there are very dirty of slum areas as we know and call it here.

The funny thing is, it is all there now. They see what the rest of the world has, and they want it to. Change will come in time as the old folks who are in power die off, and the new come into power. I suspect China in the future will adopt a more democratic attitude. Its all a matter of time.

I couldn't agree with you more Alan, I immigrated here with my family 15 some years ago from China. I visit family there every 3 years or so and each and every time there is a drastic step upward in standard of living. I think many, many, people will be incredibly impressed during the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Until then, I would appreciated it if people who only have second, third, or fourth hand experience (if any) with China would stop speculating about the intolerable working conditions and how it's citizens are being repressed, etc, etc, etc.

 

[Big Kenny]

Amen and amen

 

[Micsales]

A good mic is a good mic no matter what country it's from. Black, white, yellow, red. It doesn't matter. Why must some people be microphone prejudice snobs just because it's not made in America (or Germany?). There's plenty of room in this country for microphone of all races, creeds and genders. It's the melting pot. Let it go people.

Glad you feel that way!! I am introducing two fabulous mics that capture "yesteryear" performance at a low fixed price of $99.98. These mics were co-designed by SP and there is a picture of me (in the back) and Alan Hyatt (in the front) showing off our latest efforts at this year's NAMM show. This is our booth and the picture was shot with an old camera to simulate the "vintage" days of mics! Both of these mics are condensor tube mics. Alan is holding the "Germifier" version of the "Classic 8" series of mics. Both of these mics were built on a barge between China and America. Alan flys in occasionally to check the QC (when he can hook a ride with the coast guard chopper). We lost a small amount of mic bodies in the Baltic sea last summer. These mic bodies washed up on the shore of some island and the native women seemed puzzled at first, but found a good use for them when their men were out hunting for turtles for supper. So, there was a slight delay in shipment.

 

[sdelsolray]

Glad you feel that way!! I am introducing two fabulous mics that capture "yesteryear" performance at a low fixed price of $99.98. These mics were co-designed by SP and there is a picture of me (in the back) and Alan Hyatt (in the front) showing off our latest efforts at this year's NAMM show. This is our booth and the picture was shot with an old camera to simulate the "vintage" days of mics! Both of these mics are condensor tube mics. Alan is holding the "Germifier" version of the "Classic 8" series of mics. Both of these mics were built on a barge between China and America. Alan flys in occasionally to check the QC (when he can hook a ride with the coast guard chopper). We lost a small amount of mic bodies in the Baltic sea last summer. These mic bodies washed up on the shore of some island and the native women seemed puzzled at first, but found a good use for them when their men were out hunting for turtles for supper. So, there was a slight delay in shipment.

Cute......

 

[DJL]

Alan, it would be neat to know how much it cost the factory to make a mic like the B1... but with the conflict of interest because of your PMI Audio Group business I understand why you can’t remian unbias and participate in discussions like most of us regular hr.com members... oh well, thanks just the same.

Edit: Spelling correction. Watch out for the spelling police. lol