cheapest country to buy AV Gear

[Akshit2111]

Hello guys
i wanted to know which countries offer AV Gear( Speakers, AV Receiver, Blue ray players etc.) cheaper as compared to India.

I guess U.S might be on the top but since trips to U.S are not that frequent what other options do we have.
Also 220V countries are preferable.

 

[SatMumbai]

If you are buying used, then you can consider Germany. Even in HiFi shops they do have demo items as well as last stock items which are considerably cheaper.

 

[Akshit2111]

More interested in new gear.
Also interested to know this coz i have friends making frequent trips abroad. All i can do is i can ask them to bring it along by getting it delivered to their place.

 

[dr_rocket]

Germany as mentioned. Also UK for UK brands like Cambridge audio, monitor audio, etc

 

[elangoas]

Hello guys
i wanted to know which countries offer AV Gear( Speakers, AV Receiver, Blue ray players etc.) cheaper as compared to India.

I guess U.S might be on the top but since trips to U.S are not that frequent what other options do we have.
Also 220V countries are preferable.

Middle east (Kuwait is the cheapest.. Dubai, during Dubai shopping festival), / Other Asian countries (Malaysia cheapest, Singapore) are usually cheaper.. AVR in these countries are 220V.. Europe also get 200V, might be slightly expensive than other regions..

 

[Akshit2111]

Middle east (Kuwait is the cheapest.. Dubai, during Dubai shopping festival), / Other Asian countries (Malaysia cheapest, Singapore) are usually cheaper.. AVR in these countries are 220V.. Europe also get 200V, might be slightly expensive than other regions..

Any sites you can suggest! Amazon for respective regions?

 

[asliarun]

I have a different point of view. I personally feel that the best strategy for value-for-money is to buy directly from local small boutique audio makers. Audio equipment is heavy and difficult to transport. It costs a lot of money to keep on a showroom shelf and to demo. It also costs a lot to promote and advertise. These marketing and distribution overheads becomes way worse for high end audio since sales volumes are very low - so the markup on each item sold becomes very high. These overheads could easily double or triple the actual cost. By buying directly from a local small scale speaker or amp maker, you eliminate many of the aspects that inflate audio equipment cost. And if you choose someone who focuses on quality and purity of sound - and not someone who is focused on the budget end of the market, you get really good quality audio equipment for relatively lower cost as well.

India has a few options that are extremely high quality as well.

 

[elangoas]

Any sites you can suggest! Amazon for respective regions?

For Kuwait , check this - https://www.xcite.com/

For Dubai, sharaf DG is popular - https://uae.sharafdg.com/

For Malaysia & Singapore, Lazada.com - https://www.lazada.com.my/ & https://www.lazada.sg/.. Lazada look to be the biggest online retailer who covers most Asian countries (excl India & China)

BTW, most AVR are made in Malaysia.. Desa Hometheater is a store, who run excellent deals on outgoing AVR models.. Worth checking out.. - http://desahome.com/

 

[SatMumbai]

For Germany I bought from these dealers in the past, especially exhibition items. You can use Google Chrome to auto translate the page

http://www.hificoncept.de/index_html?nid=77

https://www.sg-akustik.de/shop/HiFi-Schnaeppchen?n=48

https://www.hirsch-ille.de/sale/hifi

http://www.audio-markt.de/ (This is a German portal for selling hifi but I have bought via dealers on this site)

and of course ebay.de where dealers sell as well with all the warranty especially if it is a popular product.

 

[Akshit2111]

For Kuwait , check this - https://www.xcite.com/

For Dubai, sharaf DG is popular - https://uae.sharafdg.com/

For Malaysia & Singapore, Lazada.com - https://www.lazada.com.my/ & https://www.lazada.sg/.. Lazada look to be the biggest online retailer who covers most Asian countries (excl India & China)

BTW, most AVR are made in Malaysia.. Desa Hometheater is a store, who run excellent deals on outgoing AVR models.. Worth checking out.. - http://desahome.com/

I guess nothing beats U.S pricing.

Denon X2400 is 3100 RM in malaysia which is equivalent to approx Rs 54000/- whereas the same retails for around 649$( New) on Amazon.com which is roughly around 43000/-.

All in all U.S & Canada would get us the best price i guess.

 

[Akshit2111]

I have a different point of view. I personally feel that the best strategy for value-for-money is to buy directly from local small boutique audio makers. Audio equipment is heavy and difficult to transport. It costs a lot of money to keep on a showroom shelf and to demo. It also costs a lot to promote and advertise. These marketing and distribution overheads becomes way worse for high end audio since sales volumes are very low - so the markup on each item sold becomes very high. These overheads could easily double or triple the actual cost. By buying directly from a local small scale speaker or amp maker, you eliminate many of the aspects that inflate audio equipment cost. And if you choose someone who focuses on quality and purity of sound - and not someone who is focused on the budget end of the market, you get really good quality audio equipment for relatively lower cost as well.

India has a few options that are extremely high quality as well.

Can you please elaborate a little more. I guess you are referring to non branded audio products. If you can refer a few names that'll help.

 

[elangoas]

Denon X2400 is 3100 RM in malaysia which is equivalent to approx Rs 54000/- whereas the same retails for around 649$( New) on Amazon.com which is roughly around 43000/-.

All in all U.S & Canada would get us the best price i guess.

Yes.. U.S is heaven for electronic products.. But they are 110V units..

For cheapest 220V units, Kuwait it is.. Sometimes due to seasonal sale, It is cheaper in Dubai (or) Malaysia too..

I guess nothing beats U.S pricing.

Our offline market (220V units), match the U.S prices.. Sometimes lesser too..

 

[Akshit2111]

Yes.. U.S is heaven for electronic products.. But they are 110V units..

For cheapest 220V units, Kuwait it is.. Sometimes due to seasonal sale, It is cheaper in Dubai (or) Malaysia too..



Our offline market (220V units), match the U.S prices.. Sometimes lesser too..

Can you put a little more light on offline market.. I guess you are referring to without bill gear.

 

[Deleted member 38504]

I'm making a trip to Singapore in April. Will be interesting to see what I can buy from there...

 

[elangoas]

Can you put a little more light on offline market.. I guess you are referring to without bill gear.

Yes.. Exactly.. Forum doesn't allow discussing topics on that.. I just mentioned, in case you might be interested.. It saves you hassle's of hand baggag & customs trouble getting it here..

I'm making a trip to Singapore in April. Will be interesting to see what I can buy from there...

May be Atoms AVR from simlim square..

 

[Dr.Lakshay]

Yes.. Exactly.. Forum doesn't allow discussing topics on that..

Thats where pm comes in.
I too am interested in knowing what are these sources if you don't mind telling in pm.

 

[neelay2709]

110 V issue can be tackled by using step down transformers available in the market

 

[gururanga]

Sources are ok, but amps sounds like crap when used with step down

 

[asliarun]

Can you please elaborate a little more. I guess you are referring to non branded audio products. If you can refer a few names that'll help.

Corrson Audio for speakers (Bangalore): http://www.corrson.com/
MS-610 model costs 1.6L and uses Scanspeak drivers: http://www.corrson.com/ms610st.html

Acoustic Portrait for amps and DACs (Bangalore): http://www.acousticportrait.com/products.html

Rethm (Cochin): http://www.rethm.com/

Rethm Bhaava (1.25L): https://www.hifivision.com/threads/rethm-introduces-a-cheaper-new-model-bhava.64076/
Review by forum member: https://www.hifivision.com/threads/rethm-bhaava-a-listening-experience.65643/

Lyrita Audio (Delhi): http://www.lyrita-audio.in/page4.html

Yet another option is to order directly from the manufacturer, instead of going through a dealer.
Emotiva for example doesn't have a showroom -they just ship all over the world. They have a really good lineup.
Audio-GD is another one of my favorites. They make extraordinarily sweet sounding DACs (especially for the price) and ship directly from China.
I think Schiit Audio also ships to India from the US.

 

[Akshit2111]

110 V issue can be tackled by using step down transformers available in the market

M using a step down.. no issue with sound at all