Thermionic wrote on 09/05/21 at 19:37:58:Regarding the Li Silver Reference speakers I put them in the possibly category based on brief audition. I investigated them for market penetration, and had a difficult time identifying any US owner. I did find one in San Francisco who let them go for $1200. My concern was if I was unhappy with them for the long term was there a credible resale market in the US. I could not locate them and took a pass partly based on my perception that a healthy resale market did not exist. I considered that people love them so much they do not sell them, but keep them. I was unsuccessful in identifying anyone who had actually purchased a pair. So I moved on. Really nothing to do with shipping delays from China, more to do with the look, the colored sound, and low resale potential. Others may have different experience, If so I could no identify any one with that experience. YMMV.
You may be right about the "
Lil Audio" Silver Reference speaker. I did note that even before the pandemic on their page they said it would take about ten weeks after an order to recieve a pair: two to build, two to ship and six for customs clearance! (I think they did set up a US warehouse since but the pandemic hit and
did cause and
does cause extensive shipping delays still according to all I can read and what I hear from vendors--can't tell how much that may have deterred some sales, I'm sure the even longer wait deters some for Decware speakers and amps.)
My experience has been taking a leap of faith, as educated as possible as you did with the Trio. I've done that with Decware products and not been disappointed and just kept on doing that. Now--thank the universe--I'm set and don't have to make these sort of decisions again.
Glad the Trio are sounding so good! If I had a different house and a different spouse I might consider such a speaker and presentation. Luckily my HR-1 pairs are so darned satisfying with my amps.