Tariff Wars...

[Seyley]

With the initial announcement of tariffs for goods into the USA and the possible retaliation from reciprocal countries.
Will you try and obtain your next kit earlier than planned? Not bother with the purchase if the tariffs cost are passed on to customers? Try new outlets based in Countries not previously considered? Or..... only purchase kit made in your home country (even if it's your not your dream piece)?

We're on the clock... !!!

 

[Spareribs]

I pretty much bought the main things I needed during the winter before any potential instability

 

[feverfive]

Late last year I formulated a "plan" to upgrade my entire desktop headphone chain; the thought was making purchases maybe mid-summer through end of 2025. My wallet will be closed to such an endeavor more than likely. Let's see how this plays out...though I'm pretty sure how it will look. Oh well, more money for live shows and other outdoors'y hobbies I guess.

 

[dunring]

With JDS Labs, Schiit, Audeze, and Dan Clark Audio here I'm not worried. The used market is alive and well with people upgrading all the time. Current warehouse inventories will last 1-2 months and by then they'll probably drop the tariffs after the stock market craters.

 

[MindBreak]

Hopefully the price of wood doesn't increase the price of ZMF headphones too much as I am planning on buying a Caldera Open this year.

Just because a product is made in the USA dose not mean that it won't be affected by the tariffs. So we shall see if the US brands will have to increase prices as well.

 

[MDKrinkles]

With JDS Labs, Schiit, Audeze, and Dan Clark Audio here I'm not worried. The used market is alive and well with people upgrading all the time. Current warehouse inventories will last 1-2 months and by then they'll probably drop the tariffs after the stock market craters.

Except even Schiit uses ESS dac chips which are made in Canada. Idk for sure if he gets his raw materials for the chassis domestically but if not that’ll drive up prices. The same can go for JDS labs and audeze or any other company in the US. Made in the US doesn’t mean 100% domestic supply chain. Any product using ESS or AKM chips, tubes of any kind, Jantzen or Mundorf caps, alps pots, lundahl transformers, etc are gonna have big price hikes. Many of the most well regarded components come from all over the world. So even the majority of US based audio companies will still most likely have price hikes.

 

[MindBreak]

Except even Schiit uses ESS dac chips which are made in Canada. Idk for sure if he gets his raw materials for the chassis domestically but if not that’ll drive up prices. The same can go for JDS labs and audeze or any other company in the US. Made in the US doesn’t mean 100% domestic supply chain. Any product using ESS or AKM chips, tubes of any kind, Jantzen or Mundorf caps, alps pots, lundahl transformers, etc are gonna have big price hikes. Many of the most well regarded components come from all over the world. So even the majority of US based audio companies will still most likely have price hikes.

The Schiit chassis are made in California, but they are trying to make them in their own factory in Texas eventually. It really doesn't matter as the metal most likely comes from Canada anyway.

 

[MDKrinkles]

The Schiit chassis are made in California, but they are trying to make them in their own factory in Texas eventually. It really doesn't matter as the metal most likely comes from Canada anyway.

Yeah that’s more what I meant. I know the chassis’s are made in the US but if the raw material comes from Canada then the prices are going up. 100% domestic supply chain is incredibly difficult.

 

[MindBreak]

Yeah that’s more what I meant. I know the chassis’s are made in the US but if the raw material comes from Canada then the prices are going up. 100% domestic supply chain is incredibly difficult.

Same goes for the wood that ZMF uses as I mentioned in an earlier post.

 

[ExTubeGamer]

I did my last planned china purchase in march for a couple of reasons.

 

[justin w.]

USA made materials are already significantly more expensive too. Some American manufacturers were the first to tell me weeks ago they'd be raising prices.

Brands we sell that are potentially affected by the U.S. import tariffs:
Astell&Kern (South Korea) - 25%
STAX (Japan) - 25%
Focal, Meze, Sennheiser, Ferrum, Grimm (EU) - 20%
Chord Electronics (UK) - 10%
HIFIMAN, iBasso, Noble, iFi, (China) - 35%? 50%? 80%?

It is likely some of these brands will see similar price increases in the U.S. if these tariffs hold.

I watched the announcement yesterday and it felt very similar to when the COVID lockdowns were happening.

 

[Blindranger]

If tariffs increase prices for new gear, I wonder what impact this will have on the second-hand market. On one hand, it might mean you could earn more selling your used components and headphones. On the other hand, I believe the overall economic uncertainty will have a larger effect, dampening people's desire to purchase gear for their favorite hobbies, which will influence both new and second-hand markets.

 

[MDKrinkles]

Personally these tariffs will most likely make the hobby prohibitively expensive. Sure I could continue to collect odds and ends here at a significant mark up but I’m certainly not going to pursue the Cayin Ha6a I was planning on getting next year.

I’m also curious about how it’ll affect the used market. I’m sure prices could go up in a similar fashion but also let’s say you’re wanting an Arya organic. Those are currently 980$ brand new from hifiman and around 700-800$ used on the classifieds from what I’ve seen. How many people are going to pay potentially above what used to be brand new price for a used product.

I know ultimately it’s unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Obviously getting bills paid and essential items will take priority but it is frustrating for me personally that this might kill my audio journey for a while at least. I just got my first really good job after having a pretty tough go of things for the past 5-7 years and now I might have to go back into survival mode depending on how much essentials increase. Right now I’m in a pretty good place but not so good that I don’t worry. Nest eggs only go so far. Anyway I’m not trying to turn this into a woe is me comment. I just wanted to vent to other people that consider this hobby important.

 

[Seyley]

This is such a 'complex issue' (a phrase often misused).
If the countries targeted by America retaliate, then there is a possiblity that only America will be concerned. If, here in the UK, we aren't directly targeted as part of the retaliatory action against America, then it's business as usual. Or have I missed something?
The business that might be lost, exporting to America, might be mitigated by keeping 'prices' at the same level exporting to the UK. Fingers crossed.

Google the following statement into your search engine and see what your A.I provides as an answer:
"What are the major commodities exported from America to the UK?" (UK used as an example).... there might be a little room for Hi-Fi componenets to get out of Dodge as an end product.

I would also think the music industry would have a say on the artists 'NOT' being heard in such great numbers if the equipment is too expensive, that includes mobile phones?

The other worry is price gouging, items presently in the warehouse, that suddenly increase by 25% (for example).
But the accusation of 'gouging' could be leveled at those selling items on the second hand market...

Ho Hum..

 

[lairpost]

Personally these tariffs will most likely make the hobby prohibitively expensive. Sure I could continue to collect odds and ends here at a significant mark up but I’m certainly not going to pursue the Cayin Ha6a I was planning on getting next year.

I’m also curious about how it’ll affect the used market. I’m sure prices could go up in a similar fashion but also let’s say you’re wanting an Arya organic. Those are currently 980$ brand new from hifiman and around 700-800$ used on the classifieds from what I’ve seen. How many people are going to pay potentially above what used to be brand new price for a used product.

I know ultimately it’s unimportant in the grand scheme of things. Obviously getting bills paid and essential items will take priority but it is frustrating for me personally that this might kill my audio journey for a while at least. I just got my first really good job after having a pretty tough go of things for the past 5-7 years and now I might have to go back into survival mode depending on how much essentials increase. Right now I’m in a pretty good place but not so good that I don’t worry. Nest eggs only go so far. Anyway I’m not trying to turn this into a woe is me comment. I just wanted to vent to other people that consider this hobby important.

Consider it an opportunity to enjoy what you've already got!