In general, compared to some underated gear produced nowadays in Hon-Kong, China, or Singapure ( with extreme good quality) and also with some class D amps like NuForce, "the what so called hi-end gear" - which btw most of them are made in that countries also - are imho overrated and overpriced components.

"Unknown - or quite unknown - brands with strange English or Chinese names such as Opera (=Consonance), Ming Da (=Meixing), Aurum Cantus, Classic, Cayin (Spark), Dussun ( Kursun), G&W, Jolida, Original, Xindac and Shanling.
Generally, they are all Chinese brands which make hi-fi equipment and has started with (or still) equipment make for Western manufacturers, like Vincent, Luna, Denon, Quad, Nad, Sophia or Red Rose (Mark Levinson).

I read somewhere that those expensive high end cables are made for 80% in China. But, they cost you - like all hi-fi gear - 10 times more just because the Western brand stamp..."

Quote from a post of mine here.

I respect your opinion, of course, but i have a different approach to what hi-end really is.

I can agree with you on the actual manufacturing and the over-rated cost. But the design might be substantially superior on some the brands you mention regardless of where they are made. Can we hear that difference? Only a double blind -*test*-('") could say.

even double blind -*test*-('") are subjective, though they are probably one of the better ways to resolve an unknown, not everyone is going to agree on the outcome.

No doubt they are subjective. But I believe it can give you a general consensus on which to make an informed opinion that most people can agree upon.

But my train of thought consists of, that there are some absolutes that though I can't personally measure, I can hear. Like tone, sound stage and such.

Obviously speakers play a much more important role. Or at least they do to me. They have the most dramatic effect on my system's sound. With both shortcomings and shiny spots easily seen.

Can't you tell, I love discussions.

true, but i also think that a double blind is unnecessary for many comparisons, especially in regards to sources, amps and speakers of different classes. this may sound simplistic (and the following example is a bit extreme), but for someone who has not heard a pair of Vandersteen 2c's with a source and amp worthy of the Vandy's, compared to, say a modern Bose sib, a double blind is overkill for this comparison.

even components within the same class can have a wide disparity in their presentation, the character they impart on a sound, that is easily discernible without a double blind. my long-winded point is that my default comparisons are conducted at the easiest and simplest level, and advance as the gap narrows between the components being compared. cables and wires are typically when i default towards a more advanced level of comparison.