Chinese Hi-Fi Influencer Takes Aim at Topping: Dispute Finally Settled, Quick Recap for the Curious

[Sha1rholder]

Not sure if title is correctly translated. Sorry if I don't have a good sense of English.

Lucky Director Cat, a science and hi-fi blogger, though not as skilled as GoldenSound and amirm, recently released a video criticizing the Topping LA90D amplifier for having high specifications but poor actual performance. This led to a series of disputes with the brand. The following is a brief summary of the incident.

Statement:

1. I have no bias against Topping. I highly recognize the work attitude and professional skills of Topping's engineers. Don't expect me to follow the trend; I don't give shit to Chi-Fi political correctness. (Chinese audiophiles generally look down on Topping, considering it a brand with typically high specifications but poor sound quality. Criticizing Topping for its unpleasant "dead man" sound has become the "politically correct" stance within the Chi-fi community.)
2. I have no opinion against or support Lucky Director Cat, not familiar.
3. I have mixed feelings about Fosi. On one hand, this brand indeed has good prices, specifications, and reviews; on the other hand, seeing its ads everywhere annoys me.

Course of Event:

1. Lucky Director Cat used a microphone to control variables and test the rear stages of Topping la90d, Accuphase a75, and Fosi v3mono, finding that Topping's VU meter fluctuated significantly less than the other two amplifiers. Lucky Director Cat believed this was because Topping used a bunch of various negative feedbacks mods 负反馈元件 to boost specs, resulting in weak thrust (which is actually bullshit).
2. Lucky Director Cat posted a video venting emotions, passionately criticizing Topping amps for having high specs but low performance. A bunch of people in the comments immediately started bashing Topping, while some serious tech enthusiasts raised doubts.
3. The first emotional venting video by the cat owner was deleted after reported by Topping. (On the Chinese Youtube called Bilibili, brands can request the platform to remove videos on the grounds of trademark infringement.)
4. The cat owner then posted a more carefully made video explaining the experimental conditions and why Topping amps have high specs but low performance. The comments were similar to the first video.
5. The second video was again reported and taken down by Topping.
6. The cat owner posted a sarcastic "apology" video. By this time, the comment section had not only Topping bashers but also "tributes to the legendary Bartók DAC". (Another major international HiFi scandal: A few years ago, the famous Hi-End manufacturer dCS's Bartók DAC was questioned by goldensound for having poor measurement data despite its high price -> dCS tried to legally threaten goldensound to delete the post -> goldensound fought back and exposed dCS's threats -> dCS initially remained stubborn until the brand's reputation was severely damaged, then they fired the relevant personnel and apologized.)
7. Topping contacted Fosi to inquire if Lucky Director Cat's videos were sponsored by them to discredit other brands. After receiving a negative response, they had close technical exchanges with the cat owner.
8. The cat owner deleted the sarcastic apology video. Topping issued a statement, and the cat owner posted a sincere apology statement.

Evaluation:

1. Topping: Absolutely no fault. If you run a factory and someone posts a half-baked tech bullshit video bashing your product, wouldn't you report it? They even went out of their way to have technical discussions with the cat owner later, showing a very good attitude. The announcement they issued gave everyone involved a way out, which is a high EQ handling.
2. Fosi: Don't mess with me.
3. Lucky Director Cat: To put it bluntly, a half-baked tech enthusiast "got slapped in the face". However, he later admitted the experiment's lack of rigor and was willing to learn and communicate with serious electroacoustic engineers. It's good to acknowledge and correct mistakes though.
4. Comment section Topping bashers: Enjoying the chaos. Guys don't understand shit, just pure idiots who don't know nothing is all they know, cursing is all you do.
5. dCS: Unrelated to this matter, but I just want to curse this despicable brand.

Topping's Statement page 1

Topping's Statement page 2

Lucky Director Cat's Statement of apology

What can I say about the Chi-Fi community? The Chi-Fi community is made up of a mix of immature tech enthusiasts, audiophiles willing to spend big money to support manufacturers, brands that genuinely love Hi-Fi (and I mean it; I know many Chi-Fi brand owners who are truly passionate about this field), and some scammers as well. They sometimes make mistakes,

but to be honest, they're quite endearing.

 

[SIY]

Chinese audiophiles generally look down on Topping, considering it a brand with typically high specifications but poor sound quality.

Nice to know that Chinese audiophiles are every bit as dumb as American ones.

 

[Sha1rholder]

Nice to know that Chinese audiophiles are every bit as dumb as American ones.

You made me laughed a lot. Audiophiles truly are a divided group.

 

[kemmler3D]

Thanks for the writeup, this is an audiophile drama I would never have heard about on my own.

Using VU meters to measure gear and judge performance... stunninng.

Do you think an Amir or Erin (someone who does serious measurements independently) would do well in China, in terms of audiences? And would they get in trouble somehow? As we know some US brands use legal threats against people who expose bad gear.

I wonder what the situation in China would be like - I don't really understand the relationship between business, "journalism" (in the sense of product reviews) and the legal system there.

 

[MAB]

but to be honest, they're quite endearing.

Consider me endeared!

I love the test methodology, or complete lack of method. Lucky Director Cat's new nickname is 250.

Thanks for posting and translating this dramatic foolishness.

 

[Sokel]

What's funny in the situation was the immediate suspicions of Topping against fosi.
Is there a background to this?

(at least competition works,the wrong way,but works)

 

[Palladium]

Thanks for the writeup, this is an audiophile drama I would never have heard about on my own.

Using VU meters to measure gear and judge performance... stunninng.

Do you think an Amir or Erin (someone who does serious measurements independently) would do well in China, in terms of audiences? And would they get in trouble somehow? As we know some US brands use legal threats against people who expose bad gear.

I wonder what the situation in China would be like - I don't really understand the relationship between business, "journalism" (in the sense of product reviews) and the legal system there.

Because most of the audio "reviewers" there, just like the rest of the world, are subjectivist influencer garbage even if they aren't shilled.

I can understand not everyone can afford an Audio Precision, but reviewing DACs with what is effectively a sighted listening test...Is this guy for real?

You made me laughed a lot. Audiophiles truly are a divided group.

确实，连一点基本技术理解也没有还耍大牌，哈哈哈哈

 

[Sha1rholder]

Thanks for the writeup, this is an audiophile drama I would never have heard about on my own.

Using VU meters to measure gear and judge performance... stunninng.

Do you think an Amir or Erin (someone who does serious measurements independently) would do well in China, in terms of audiences? And would they get in trouble somehow? As we know some US brands use legal threats against people who expose bad gear.

I wonder what the situation in China would be like - I don't really understand the relationship between business, "journalism" (in the sense of product reviews) and the legal system there.

They won't get into any trouble, but they will definitely be ridiculed by the audiophile community in every possible way.

If a brand were to sue a KOL (Key Opinion Leader) based on their measurements or subjective evaluations of a product, as long as the KOL has not accepted bribes from the brand's competitors, the court would be 99% unlikely to side with the brand. Major Chi-Fi brands are frequently criticized or abused, but they are used to endure it.

 

[Sha1rholder]

What's funny in the situation was the immediate suspicions of Topping against fosi.
Is there a background to this?

(at least competition works,the wrong way,but works)

Fosi has recently bought a lot of advertising from KOLs on Bilibili. Lucky Director Cat has also done advertisements for Fosi in the past, which has led to suspicions from Topping. However, both Lucky Director Cat and Fosi are not morally corrupt individuals or brands, and it has been confirmed that there is no financial interest involved in this incident, so the outcome eventually did not have much negative impact on both brands.

 

[JSmith]

though not as skilled as GoldenSound

I wouldn't go that far.

Not trying to be an ass, but we generally don't use that term in your post at ASR;

Let's Avoid the Term Chi-Fi

I often see the use of the term "Chi Fi" to describe audio products from China. I see the intention and don't think anyone is trying to be racist and what have you. Still, I like us to show the highest respect to products from around the world. As avid readers of this forum know...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Lucky Director Cat: To put it bluntly, a half-baked tech enthusiast "got slapped in the face". However, he later admitted the experiment's lack of rigor and was willing to learn and communicate with serious electroacoustic engineers. It's good to acknowledge and correct mistakes though.

Yes being mostly factual is important... at least he worked it out. I'd opine Topping has been a little heavy handed too.


JSmith

 

[Sha1rholder]

I wouldn't go that far.

Not trying to be an ass, but we generally don't use that term in your post at ASR;

Let's Avoid the Term Chi-Fi

I often see the use of the term "Chi Fi" to describe audio products from China. I see the intention and don't think anyone is trying to be racist and what have you. Still, I like us to show the highest respect to products from around the world. As avid readers of this forum know...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Yes being mostly factual is important... at least he worked it out. I'd opine Topping has been a little heavy handed too.


JSmith

Thanks for your information! Didn't know this forum tradition before. I'll avoid using that word in the future.

 

[kemmler3D]

I wouldn't go that far.

Not trying to be an ass, but we generally don't use that term in your post at ASR;

Let's Avoid the Term Chi-Fi

I often see the use of the term "Chi Fi" to describe audio products from China. I see the intention and don't think anyone is trying to be racist and what have you. Still, I like us to show the highest respect to products from around the world. As avid readers of this forum know...

www.audiosciencereview.com

Yes being mostly factual is important... at least he worked it out. I'd opine Topping has been a little heavy handed too.


JSmith

It's funny that the Chinese poster ends up being told not to use the word, but it's true, a lot of western folks have used the term in a somewhat bigoted way over the years and it's best if we don't use it here.

 

[SIY]

It's funny that the Chinese poster ends up being told not to use the word, but it's true, a lot of western folks have used the term in a somewhat bigoted way over the years and it's best if we don't use it here.

Honestly, it's not something I have understood, but if that's the rules, that's the rules.

“The limits of my language means the limits of my world.”
― Ludwig Wittgenstein

 

[mhardy6647]

Honestly, it's not something I have understood, but if that's the rules, that's the rules.

“The limits of my language means the limits of my world.”
― Ludwig Wittgenstein

Shouldn't Wittgenstein's verb be plural?

ahem*

oh, and speaking of Wittgenstein.

sorry... sorry.


EDIT.
_____________________
* Hmmm... upon reflection, maybe the subject of the sentence is that whole phrase "limits of my language", which I guess could be a singular thing.

 

[SIY]

Shouldn't Wittgenstein's verb be plural?

I could argue that both ways.

edit: which I now see that you spotted as well.

 

[mhardy6647]

I could argue that both ways.

edit: which I now see that you spotted as well.

I'm a little slow...

 

[Salt]

In German there is not "limit" of the language, it's "Grenzen der Sprache", so Plural.

 

[mhardy6647]

In German there is not "limit" of the language, it's "Grenzen der Sprache", so Plural.

the funny thing (if only from my own distorted perspective) is that I decided not to look up the original quote.
Amusingly (if not ironically), I actually minored in German in college... but my command of German has its limit. Or its limits.

 

[Salt]

the funny thing (if only from my own distorted perspective) is that I decided not to look up the original quote.
Amusingly (if not ironically), I actually minored in German in college... but my command of German has its limit. Or its limits.

A question of the dimension: a limit is the end of a singular, limits are the end of multiple endpoint (exception with regards to Einstein at radius of 0). Line-Circle-Sphere.
Wittgenstein was certainly more on the 'multi than singular' side, aside of the linguistic aspects.
And he touched some very unexplainable thing in his thoughts: how can we feel and see things on and in this world that are consistent from vacuum to 99%? And the answer he gives is: we describe them, and so they are.
And the reflection behind his citation mentioned above is, that there may be unmentioned/undescribed things in this turbulanced waveforms of Quants in the universe so we never will get it completely understood (and probably would not want so, too).
But hard OT, back to shy-fy..

 

[Robin L]

“The limits of my language means the limits of my world.”
― Ludwig Wittgenstein

"Language is a virus from outer space"
William S. Burroughs