[Wexrilliams]

Well everyone in this thread recognize the many 'inspirations' took by shanling.
But they need to enter the market with new products fast and can not afford to produce something original.

I'm sorry but that statement doesn't really make any sense. Unless Shanling is failing financially, no company "needs" to produce a new product. Furthermore even the "need" to produce a new product and "not being able to afford to produce something original" are not valid justifications for design theft.

Also where did you even get this information from? The idea that they can't afford to produce something original is crazy, they are releasing tons of brand new products every year, many with relatively original designs.

 

[Unseen Aura]

Can't fault others for being inspired by Meze or any other brands for that matter. That's how Meze started off, using pre-existing designs. What takes two minutes to criticize and tear down usually took several years to create. Exciting times, I'd love to try 'em out if opportunity permits

 

[BlueA]

they can't afford to produce something original is crazy

Read my message again and this time read between the lines instead of a formal word for word approach.

Then compare with fact that a group big like Shanling enters the market with a new product to conquer
market position and a thread filled with copycats remarks.

Do you think we can share some conjectures and push readers to access them without being explicit?

 

[Currawong]

The only reason people are suggesting, wrongly, that it's a copy of a Meze design. I turned around in my chair, and honestly, if it weren't for the orange rods on a black headphone, nobody would be commenting as they are. Inspired? Obviously. The same? No.

If even that is too much for people, why not complain about HFM using an adjustment system similar to Stax, or anyone using a click-adjustable rod system as ripping off Audeze, or even accuse DCA of copying Meze's self-adjusting headband in the 99 Classics? Go even further, and anyone using a sliding rod of any kind is ripping off Grado.

Really there are only so many ways to design a headphone adjustment system, and most headphones are inspired to some degree by others. Very little is true innovation. If Shanling were inspired by Meze, so what? Great aesthetics always inspire others to do something similar.

 

[BlueA]

wrongly, that it's a copy of a Meze design

Interestingly every brand on the market is able to push clearly unique and identifiable product.
One come out with a mix of everything recognizable elsewhere. How this should not be commented?
You can never think a Meze is Hifiman nor Focal is HEDDPhone, ZMF for Moondrop, all uniques.

Yet we can clearly state Shanling is not Shanling but a blend.

Maybe still a great product and I want to hear it but we comment on brand identity and design here.

 

[Currawong]

Interestingly every brand on the market is able to push clearly unique and identifiable product.

The first time people saw the Sennheiser HD800, they thought it looked like a Sony. Audeze's use of wood ring cups at the same time as HFM back in 2009 brought up arguments as well. Nowadays, most of the cheaper planar headphones look pretty similar in shape, with only patterning distinguishing them*. If anything, Shanling has made a design that avoids looking like yet another round-shaped planar from China. The HW600 has square-shaped cups with perforated earpads. I reckon it's just the color scheme plus the headband that are triggering everyone.

But, this is Head-Fi, and in the absence of impressions, this is how threads about new products go.

*For a few years, many one-off planar models in China were the same OEM headphone with only a few differences. Ditto most ANC headphones, which were customised versions of the same basic model.

 

[BlueA]

Side by side comparaison for a 1k$ product.
Currawong are you arguing that's its worthy and normal pricing because it's not round?

Shanling just want to avoid the cost of designing their own product and land a product fast on the market
using the identity signals of others brands.

Only two solutions here, they can not design an identity or they won't invest money/time in original content.

As a youtuber do you have the bandwidth to at least state the obvious?

Without reading the title, only by looking at pictures this can even be presented as a Meze product, the open lyric.

Also Sony design language in 2009 compared to HD800 as per your comment.

​

 

[TheHipsterCow]

Side by side comparaison for a 1k$ product.
Currawong are you arguing that's its worthy and normal pricing because it's not round?

Shanling just want to avoid the cost of designing their own product and land a product fast on the market
using the identity signals of others brands.

Only two solutions here, they can not design an identity or they won't invest money/time in original content.

As a youtuber do you have the bandwidth to at least state the obvious?

Without reading the title, only by looking at pictures this can even be presented as a Meze product, the open lyric.

I would argue as well that it is not just the Yoke and Rod system, but also copying the comfort strap styling and band styling.

 

[GREQ]

Also Sony design language in 2009 compared to HD800 as per your comment.

​

Are you being deliberately facetious?
People were compairing it to the MDR-SA1000/3000/5000 and Qualia 010 (SA5000 and Qualia 010 pictured)

EDIT:
There was 5 years between the Sony's and the HD800.
There is 6 years between the Empyrean and the Shanling.
There's no point I'm making there, it's just something of note.

 

[TheHipsterCow]

Are you being deliberately facetious?
People were compairing it to the MDR-SA1000/3000/5000 and Qualia 010 (SA5000 and Qualia 010 pictured)


EDIT:
There was 5 years between the Sony's and the HD800.
There is 6 years between the Empyrean and the Shanling.
There's no point I'm making there, it's just something of note.

Honestly, I would probably agree

 

[Pashmeister]

personally my own common sense shows me that the design is a rip-off, and “inspired” is a stretch. People will still likely buy and enjoy it. But it is a design rip-off, so obvious. You don’t even have to think about it too hard. And for some people that’s okay! Just a bit disappointing.

 

[nioh]

What’s really funny is that no one here owns Meze and yet everyone is butt hurt about the design. Guys, if Shanling did copy Meze’s design let Shanling and Meze Audio deal with it. It’s none of our business. Let’s move on.

 

[jp11801]

It’s none of our business. Let’s move on.

Yes and no, as enthusiasts and wanting to see the hobby and tech continue and evolve it sort of is our business. I like Shanling and own a dap from them and previous owned a cdp and m8 dap. Those were well thought out innovative tech.
This not so much.

 

[Pashmeister]

What’s really funny is that no one here owns Meze and yet everyone is butt hurt about the design. Guys, if Shanling did copy Meze’s design let Shanling and Meze Audio deal with it. It’s none of our business. Let’s move on.

“Thank you for your business” is literally seller parlance, no?

Consumers will always point out copying, not just in the headphone industry. Doing so doesn’t also mean being butthurt. I personally am not raising pitchforks, but I am raising an eyebrow.

PS I have owned both Empyrean and Elite for a couple of years until recently.

 

[BlueA]

It's a question of valuation. Your Meze will surely retains more value.

Having someone telling us it's none of our business when we're at the center of the story
as buyer, user and reseller is special to say the least.

You buy it 1k$ I wonder at what price you can resell when someone tells you this is a copy.
Same goes for watches, car or anything valuable per brand image perception.

You can lost a lot in the operation by being first buyer.

Are you being deliberately facetious?

I posted the picture of the sony design at the moment of HD800 release in 2009.
Just facts. It's year 2024 and big company can not come with another design that's still in use
by one big brand name is like having a copy cat Porshe and say we don't have have designers
that can bypass the industrial complexities to come with something original.

When HD came out, Sony had already moved on something new and it was something like 15 years ago.

At the end it's just my perception, please show us how it's done and pre-command it!