Quality Chinese alternatives · no knockoffs
HiFiMAN is a Chinese brand. Here are its peers:
Guangzhou TOPPING Electronics, founded in 2008, makes DACs and amps whose measured distortion and noise are among the best Audio Science Review has recorded; the D90 III Sabre tied its top DAC result. Frieve rates its support and warranty coverage below industry norms.
Beijing Edifier Technology, founded in 1996, has owned Japanese electrostatic-headphone maker Stax since 2011 and sells Stax Spirit planar Bluetooth headphones alongside its own wireless range. TechRadar called the Stax Spirit S3 maybe the best-sounding wireless headphones you can get.
Guangzhou-based maker, founded in 2007, of desktop and portable DAC/headphone amps (K and BTR series), digital audio players and IEMs. Headfonics scored its $199 K7 desktop DAC/amp 8.1/10.
Chengdu Shuiyueyu Technology, founded in 2015, makes IEMs from budget single-driver sets up to the Blessing 3 and Variations hybrids ($320-$520), plus headphones and DAC/amps. Headphones.com calls it one of the most prominent brands on the IEM scene.
Shenzhen IEM brand launched in 2015 by a company that earlier supplied drivers and diaphragms as an OEM to LG, Samsung and Sony. Its EA500 is reviewed as well built with strong imaging for the price (Headfonics 7.9/10), though its treble is bright.
Foshan-based (Guangdong) maker, founded in 2009, of DACs, headphone amps and integrated amps. Audio Science Review recommended its RAW-HA1 amp/DAC, whose measurements beat the average of all amplifiers it has tested.
Audio brand of Anker Innovations (Changsha, listed in Shenzhen) making Liberty earbuds and Space noise-cancelling headphones. SoundGuys picked the Liberty 4 Pro over AirPods 4 at the same price for most buyers.