Many people regard sound equipment as a purely technical electronic product measured by indicators, like a cold instrument. Not really. Although audio equipment's stomach is cold, no life of electronic components, though filled with digital audio equipment of the Specifications of the book to express the "Technical parameter" (Technical Specifications), but the Sound is used to replay "Music" (Music), rather than a "voice" (Sound). Sound is a rational, not emotional words, and Music, although use Sound to express, with Sound as the medium, but the Music transfer is a human feelings and thoughts, so to replay Music behind the audio equipments, contain culture, embodies the designer to the Music and the understanding of the "bel canto". It is not difficult to verify and appreciate the culture and aesthetics behind the acoustics from the audio equipment of European and American countries.
In a country that values rationality, power and majesty, cultural aesthetics has changed, and the differences between Italy, France and Spain are very different. German equipment is like the German, rigorous, precise, simple, rational, and sometimes even to the edge of "thin hard". You can notice that the "rigour" of Germany is corresponding to the "freedom" advocated by the Latin people. Germany's "precision" is corresponding to the "modification" of the Latin nationality; The "simplicity" of Germany corresponds to the "luxury" of the Latin nation; Germany's famous "rationality", of course, is also relative to the "sensibility" peculiar to the Latin nation.
German equipment appearance and voice are generally not pursuing "beauty" of the senses, not the pursuit of sensual enjoyment, directly to the person but precision instrument manufacture craft and the general accuracy and calm voice has its defenders. Of course, it's not that German equipment is precise but not aesthetic. In fact, the sound of German equipment is also beautiful, but it is a more profound beauty, more inner and simple beauty, different from the external, magnificent beauty of Italy. From the advanced Germany equipment work, meticulous, every detail, each screw, and arrive at each juncture close perfect, is impeccable, but this kind of work, after all, is a simple, the pursuit of ornamental design and appearance of beauty and Italian equipment work is completely different.
Friends who like furniture must know that the Danish furniture style is a very representative one, and is known for its simple (and sometimes almost shabby) style. If the furniture in Germany has been unpretentious compared to Italian and French furniture, Danish furniture is the quintessential art of Minimalism. Due to the vast forest, wood industry developed, Denmark is not only famous for furniture production, also well known for its production of advanced speaker, and from the Dynaudio, Avance to SEK, its characteristic is the basic consistent: delicate, calm, wide, fast, and dynamic. In general, they do not have the "charm" of Italian or English speakers, but rather the coolness of German equipment. I think it should be related to the cold climate, clear air and open geographical environment of this Nordic country.
The "British voice" and "American voice" are known for their fever, and are the most familiar genre of domestic enthusiasts. Its characteristic almost every enthusiasts can relish, I want to do not need to go into it here, but I think, the reason that forms its distinctive voice, hidden, and character of the people of the two countries, and character, history and geography, climate, human are closely linked. The author has been to London, England, to the United States is more familiar with, I think, in a heavy and long history of Britain, from those old buildings, slightly worn, from the tiny living space from always a sullen weather, from is not rich but still firmly keep the gentleman poise and its grade of British people, it is easy to explain why the equipment is always so small volume, so exquisite style, voice is so warm, heavy sui generis, neither like Germany and Scandinavia equipment clear without dyeing, but it's not a romantic luxury like Italian equipment. Hiding in a small, old house, with a small LINN record player, with a light and thin Rega amplifier, it is really a unique sentiment to push a rich SPENDOR or ROGERS horn.
As for the United States, because is a cultural hodgepodge, racial and cultural sources has collected all over the world, than any other country in the world are complex and freedom, basically any aesthetic style in the United States, also can find there. Traditionally, it is believed that American equipment is bold, bold and low-frequency. It has a large volume and strong appearance, but it is not as delicate as European equipment. In fact, the comparison is between the American symphony orchestra and the European symphony orchestra. However, as I said, the hodgepodge of American culture nature determines it can hold all kinds of different style and aesthetic taste, so in JBL, AR, KOSS and KRELL, at the same time also has a tone of transparent Thiel loudspeakers.
For Japanese stereos, Chinese enthusiasts often have preconceived prejudices. In the comments of various magazines, there are always things like "radish taste" and so on. I would argue that the Japanese have given the most technical expertise to sound equipment and have the most energy to invest in new technologies. Some new amplifier circuits, digital technology, CD turntable structures, high-pitched high-pitched units, etc., are all Japanese. Is due to pay attention to technical and equipment the most "value" of Japan, the use of components and IC the most solid, not like some European equipment, high prices, belly was simple suspect. However, just as a skill, but is often think of as "mechanical" Japan philharmonic orchestra, the Japanese equipment due to an excessive emphasis instrument testing and technical indicators, subjective tuned to the human ears the importance of understanding insufficiency or level is not enough, sound as well as European equipment have spiritual and personality. Technically, there's nothing wrong with it, but if you use something like classic music and other European traditions, it's not as good as European equipment.
Of course, the above is only a broad conclusion, specific to the individual, each has its own characteristics, and some equipment is not consistent with the cultural characteristics of its own country. With the frequent international cultural exchange, and other cultural field, in recent years, the total development trend of audio is fading characteristics and national characteristics, on the whole tend to be fast, wide, thin, big dynamic of the so-called "modern". This is consistent with the trend of high efficiency and high speed modern culture represented by "fast food culture". However, in the pure Hi - Fi, especially in the areas of the Hi - End each country, each brand or present a distinct personality characteristics, although more or less under the influence of some "modern" (such as traditional British sound to the so-called "new Britain" is reflected in the impact). This is of course a good thing, so called a hundred flowers, a hundred schools of thought contend, if any brand comes out of the same sound, the sound of a fever and what fun?