Audiophiles in China on what brands they like, who they trust, and music 

Her partner Ian Grant passed away a few years ago. They were a great audiophile couple. I brought some equipment from them and was treated royally - very genuine people.

I believe this is my first time writing a comment here after being subscribed for a while. Love the video, mostly because me being a fellow Chinese audiophile and I can confirm what Rachel said here is about 99% true. A few things I also wanted to point out: the most popular speakers are often the small book shelf speakers due to the size constraint of people's living space in China. And one of the most discussed model is HIVI M1, which is pretty much a copy of the SWAN M1 from Canada; because SWAN is now owned by HIVI. Different from the SWAN M1, the HIVI M1s are considerable cheaper in China, probably because of the lower reproduction cost. China also has a few good tube amp manufacturers, to avoid the shipping cost, I had brought one from China back to the states. It was a struggle but you do get to save some money in the end and it is great for DIY'ers who like to upgrade their gears. Overall, I feel that most of the Chinese people are very cost-centric, meaning they want to spend the least amount of money to get the most out of their purchase. And there's not many great review channels in China, most are hosted by people who are relatively new to audio, or drive by their sponsors. If you could ever get your video translated in Chinese and set up the captions, I feel that you will be able to help lots of fellow audiophiles in China. It would be a lot of work, but it is well worth the trouble.

Thanks Steve, that was a fascinating discussion. She was really able to articulate the cultural differences.

I lived in China for over a decade. From my experience of talking with audiophiles, the reason that US and Japanese high end brands (accuphase, eso) are less popular than British and German brands is standard power supply of 220V. Smuggled products are so much cheaper than from the dealers' w/ import tax, so if you get a dCS or Chord product smuggled from Britain, you can just plug it in to Chinese wall sockets, which you cannot do with most jp products.

Her thought process is excellent. Well judged all aspects

Rachel's incredibly raw and articulate. Such an insightful interview, Steve. I love how she explains that just because you're adept at playing an instrument, doesn't mean you would appreciate music at the level of plain "music lovers." I honestly think a part of this applies to sound engineering as well. For some, it's just about practicality and technical goals. But for an audiophile, it's always about emotional impact.

She was riveting, very knowledgeable for her young age. One of the best guests you’ve had in a while Steve. Thanks 😎

One of the best interviews you have done ! Five Stars Thanks Straight Ahead

Brilliant Lady, role model for audiophiles. Thought provoking analysis.

Best interview you have had yet! Fascinating.

"But that's what's confusing my brain" You're a lovely lady. And you did an amazing job explaining the differences between our two audiophile cultures. Thank you for sharing with us. ✌️

Charming, engaging. Good interview. Love the way she ended this. Chinese just listen. Get that, so many are so into chats and graphs and measurements. Never got that, I just listen, I trust my ears. Thanks Steve.

In your RU-vid life, Steve, this was your most fascinating interview. A special thanks from me for this one.

i was about to comment that this video was one of your best Steve... but it seems i'm not alone! It was fascinating to listen to her views on the different cultures within the audiophile community. Thank you Rachel for your insight!!

I am a mainlander born in 1980s. I would say most people from my generation are quite eager for different kinds of music growing up. I have some hundreds of CDs including anything I was interested and accessible, all purchased when I was a teenager and many of my friends who love music have some collection as well. And also we don't have much barrier finding information (like watching some YT videos) if we really want to. We are culturally different for sure though. Western music has been dominating in China for a long time and it's going to continue. But not all kinds of music are appreciated equally as in the west that's for sure. Sometimes I (and many many Chinese) listen for the purpose of studying, for example the music from Childish Gambino is not pleasing to hear at least to me but the meaning in the songs are quite interesting, helps me understand a bit more about your society.

Wow! Most interesting audiophile RU-vid video I’ve watched in years. Your guest is awesome! Hope you interview her again soon.

Steve, This was an absolutely fascinating video!!! Thanks so much for sharing it with us. I loved learning about the different view points and level of exposure of the Chinese to audio, high end audio and music in general. LOVED IT!!!

You keep surprising me Steve with what you come up with. The scope and depth of your topics and the quality of the people you present, sets you apart from any other RU-vid audio file channel. You always find really interesting people. This lady was brilliant. Very intelligent, clear in her thought processes, knowledgeable and also very likeable. Thanks for doing all this. Love it!

Wow. This was a great and informative interview Steve! I clinged to her every word! Your guest is very articulate like most of us audiophiles are. She nailed it with how audiophiles, in particular are reaching for the emotional connection to the music. (Even knowing a lot of recorded music's moment of event can take place at different times and locations during recording!) I'm guessing that's when our brains "homogenize" the end result? With note, the better the retrieval system, the better the overall effect. One thing for sure, Hi-End music reproduction allows us an infinite number of possibilities to that enjoyment! Thanks a ton SG!

It's fascinating to hear how both music and audio are appreciated differently in different parts of the world, and how it changes with the passing of time. Thanks, Steve and Rachel!

One of the more interesting interviews you have done. Cheers!

How informative! Love the way she speaks about emotional connection to music. Thanks Rachel.

Outstanding interview Steve. Well done.

Really an eye opening interview, hopefully Steve can do more of this kind of interview about audio culture in different country.

I always enjoy your show, but this is a very good episode. Absolutely loved the “transparent” discussion ;). Was enlightening to hear and get a glimpse of different cultures. You did a wonderful job of interviewing and she had done an excellent job to provide well thought out, deep responses I thought.

this one a great interview, Rachel was so welcoming and willing to share her experience. I learned a lot. thank you Steve!!

Fascinating interview, great video

Fantastic interview! How I wish this was part of an official panel discussion in the program at the NY Audio Show this year. It would have brought some back some much needed buzz.

High water mark for your interview series, Steve. Thanks for this fine discussion.

Really enjoyed her perspective. Thanks so much for doing this interview!

So many lessons in this interview. EXCELLENT.

This was very enlightening, THANK YOU RACHEL!

I really appreciate Rachel's candor. She explained to me well what i'm seeing when i look for audiophile equipment that is listened to in China. I also see some similarities in the gear i see online that is in Vietnam and in some instances Malasia.

What an interesting discussion. Thanks Steve for sharing this.

This​ woman​ is​ so​ intelligent and​ interesting.... And​ very​ humble too.​ I​ adore​ this​ type​ of​ people.

Late to the party but Rachel was a terrific guest and offered great insights into both Chinese and Western culture in a very nuanced way. I learned a lot from her and I have been traveling to China for work for over ten years. I would live to hear more form her in a classic podcast studio interview format.

Very intelligent, articulate. The cultural backgrounds of China vs U.S., access to information, market differences, etc, all fascinating, like she has a degree in social anthropology. Awesome guest!

Best episode so far. I will watch again, her insights are beautiful and true. Thanks Steve.

Amazing!!! So interesting to see this... She is very knowledgeable! I would love to see some of these contrasts with Japanese audiophiles (they love physical media!!!).

Excellent interview. It shows you need to watch over the wall to understand your own garden.

Oh man she knows her stuff. Great interview thank you.

I really enjoyed Rachel’s insights and her attitude is just great, wonderful interview, thank you both

Good interview and happy to see that Rachel and her company are doing well. I bought a relatively inexpensive power cable from Grant Fidelity many years ago. When I received it I thought it had somewhat of a DIY look and feel to it. At first I was a bit disappointed...until I hooked it up and compared it to others. Shunyata and Siltech came and went but I still have the Grant Fidelity cable in my system.

Great video steve really enjoyed listening to her knows her stuff wished she had mentioned the brands of Chinese hifi. Keep up the great shows you put out great for our audiofile community

Very fine review Steve , I find that I actually learn more and more from your reviews and I thank you for that .

this was a facinating and amazing into the mentality of the Chinese audiophile and or music lover. This explains alot into why we get flooded with many items from a blinding array of brands in China.

What a fascinating interview indeed Steve....wonderful.

She's speaks English, which I assume is not her native tongue, better than many Americans. Very impressive.

I raise my hat to this lady! Intelligent, insightful, knowledgeable, and precise in her analysis of Chinese hifi culture and differences to the west. Very informative! Excellent interview!

Pay this woman! A very articulate assessment, and kudos to you for choosing such an interesting topic.

Incredibly interesting interview. Rachel is a wealth of knowledge Steve. An inside look behind the Great Wall. Kudos.

Really liked this steve! Always nice to hear a person who is able to think in a nuanced manner. So different to the "orange man bad" type of shallow thinking we are so accustomed to hearing in modern American culture.

Hello Steve and Rachel, thank you for a fascinating and thought provoking interview. It was great to hear about cultural differences from someone who actually lived on both side of the " firewall". Steve, thank you for all the services, knowledge and expertise you are sharing with the audiophile and music lover community.

Awesome statement. "Hi-Fi is one of the finer things in life". So now I know why I spend so much time and money in this area.

Excellent. What a fascinating interview. Thanks 👍

What a fascinating discussion. She was very informative, on point. Really interesting. Great video.

Great interview Steve. Rachel is awesome. Super interesting to hear about the Chinese audiophile marketplace.

Grant Fidelity is located in the city that I reside which is Airdrie, Alberta. I have never purchased a product from them but one day I most likely will.

Another gem. Thanks for this.

She's fantastic and I dare say far from confused! Thank you so much for posting this.

What a great interview and so interesting. Makes you think about our musical appreciation.

I loved listening to her insights. Thank you.

Thank you Steve and Rachel. Very interesting.

Good interview! Rachel is very articulate and intelligent person. I was rather surprised that the topic of personal listening devices did not come up. I mean, she did speak to the fact of China being crowded. Given that, it seems to follow that Chinese audiophiles would be headphone fanatics.

Wow thought I wouldn't be interested in this topic but watched to end so much learnt and nice to know.

thanks Rachael. very informative

Amazing lady. Very connected and observant of modern culture. Thanks for great interview and letting her say her thing.

I live here in Beijing. The chance to connect with audiophiles in a city with a few very good record shops is practically a dream.

One of the most informative interviews I’ve heard in years. Her remarks confirm my resolve to buy as few products as possible made in China. I’m so blessed to live in the United States and I’m from Vietnam.

Very interesting interview. Good work Steve

great interview Steve!!!

Wow. Fascinating insights into the general differences in western versus Chinese "audiophile" market that's very much influenced by their authoritarian government, and also the manufacturing/distribution/retail side as well.

Amazing insights indeed!

It was excelent, congratulations Steve. Beeing an audiophile in China does have some nuances, but apart the "Google Barrier", they are able to discover and find better ways of enjoy music as much as we do, in the west.

What a fascinating interview

Great interview and very interesting.

Very interesting, that was a great interview.

Very interesting interview! Chinese audiofiles tend to be much younger than in the west.in the early 2000's,I liquidated most of my vintage McIntosh tube equipment, JBL/ALTEC horn stuff via Walt Benders Audiomart.i had two Chinese buyers that cleaned me out.all was being shipped to Hong Kong.anyway,there is high quality stuff coming out of China at very good prices.

This was indeed a fascinating conversation. The Chinese Sound, the British Sound, The German Sound. She knows her stuff. I also appreciated her gentle but firm rebuff about what brands she exports into China. Smooth. :-)

I purchased a valve headphone amplifier, called Dark Voice, made in Chengdu (where Pandas come from). Sounds pretty cool. I use it with Senheiser 650 headphones, and a Dragonfly dac plugged into my phone.

Interesting interview, I've been in the audiophile scene in Calgary for 40 years and I've never heard of Rachel or her company. Her website says she is in Airdrie which is 10 minutes out of Calgary. Maybe someday I'll run into her but not having a store front...maybe not. I'd like to meet her someday.

Amazing explanation something v rare. Detailed and truth very rare interview. What an educated lady and from a lady wow. Loved it

Great interviewee.

Great interview! She seems to have a great personality.

LOVE this lady!!!! SMART!!!! Best audiophiliac video yet!

Thank you Rachel and Steve - that was an education.

WOW! Interesting in so many different levels!

Fantastic interface, thanks Steve!

Rachel, thank you! Please do More talks like this, Steve. Looking forward to hear some thoughts from Japan, India, Arab regions.

Thanks Steve. Clever Lady. Very interesting discussion.

Really REALLY enjoyed her insight!

Awesome video!

Terrific content!

interesting video Steve , your guest was very cool and well spoken . Lovely .

A very astute lady and a joy to listen to. I was surprised on my business trips staying in Zhuhai the sale and availability of tube audio equipment. 4 blocks from my Holiday Inn was a large mall with many gorgeous tube amps displayed at many of the stores. Most were branded Zhuhai Spark which I found out later was the lower end domestic product of Cayin. So searching the internet for their address and found their HQ in a building about 5 minutes away by taxi. They showed me their listening room with WILSON watt/Puppies and other acknowledged high end speakers. Spent a great afternoon listening to their tube products there. Too bad they would not sell me an amp with a 120V transformer to take home. Later, shopping for DVDs at street level shops around the hotel, I found one that carried an assortment of Chinese made audio vacuum tubes. Never bought any, as I suspected they were probably factory rejects.Still pretty cool to run into that.

That was wonderful !

So informative!!! Thanks!

Ni hao Rachel & Steve, great video. The firewall of China made me laugh.

Very cool. Glad to see a very different perspective from someone like myself who lives in the US.

Thanks for your insight rachael