If they made a penny or two on an op-amp, they would be lucky. Whereas they are making whole dollars on the class D amp IC. So I would not shed any tear for them.
Doesn't matter if you think it's a victimless crime.
Doesn't matter if you think it's ok because the measurements are ok.
Doesn't matter if others do it all the time.
Doesn't matter if they knew it or not.
What if i started a review site, but because it's cheaper i used your name and reviews to sell something like cable-lifters?
I mean, the reviews would still be good, wouldn't they?
Top of the class graphs too, who would complain?
I could run that site far cheaper and with higher profit than you.
They have sourced a minor component which may or may not be counterfeit.
True, it needs to be verified. The part isn't minor however, if it where, the source would have not troubled with a false marking at all.
It's also a fairly pricey part at possible 5 cents for a fake and likely more than 20 cents for the original.
A company like Cambridge Audio or Focal or Boxem would do the following:
- start an investigation
- release the result
- if fake parts are found
- fire the head of procurement out of a cannon, into the sun
- apologize
- replace the parts or make the customer and TI whole
- demand money as compensation for lost reputation from the source of the fake parts
- install a procedure to make sure no fake parts are bought in the future
Let's see what Fosi Audio does.
Even if it is so, you have no idea if they did this intentionally or not.
Doesn't matter. It's their onus to conduct their business lawfully.
One last thing, what a time to be alive and what a great site where this can be discovered and discussed.