A quiet revolution is shaking up the rarified world of high fidelity as a new generation of Chinese audio manufacturers offers consumers a radical value proposition by the industry's standards: great sound at great prices.

Now, Chinese audio equipment manufacturers are seizing the opportunity to demystify hi - fi with sweet-sounding and attractive-looking components that cost about a quarter of those from Western and Japanese manufacturers.

"Quality wise, Chinese hi - fi can't compare with the best hi - fi, but if you look at the sound you get from a good Chinese system for the price, it's unbeatable value", said Billy Kim, who owns a hi - fi store called Huafu Audio Beijing and LA Audio and Video in Los Angeles. "For someone looking to spend $3,000 on a stereo, I'd say, 'look at Chinese products first.' "

Consumers seem to be listening. Internet chat groups and blogs are percolating with stories of people who've acquired Chinese stereos at affordable prices.

Unlike the mammoth factories that rose up here in the aftermath of Deng Xiaoping's 1978 reforms with government backing and money, the hi-fi industry's success is a grass - roots phenomenon. Yu Jian Bing, who owns Chinese amplifier manufacturer Classic Audio, said local audio buffs used to tinker around and as they got more sophisticated, and China's overall electronics capabilities improved, they just got more ambitious and came up with their own designs and products. "Nothing was planned," Yu said. "It just happened."

Over the past two years, several Chinese boutique manufacturers have surprised the audio world by unveiling a range of fine products. For example, the futuristic-looking SCD-T200 CD player from Shenzhen's Shanling Digital Technology Development, going for about $2,000 in the United States and Europe, has impressed audiophiles and is competing with coveted brands such as Meridian and Linn Sondek.

Also fast gaining respect are the Zhuhai Spark Electronic Equipment Co.'s Cayin valve amplifiers, Opera Audio's Consonance amplifiers, Jinlang Audio's Aurum Cantus speakers, and Zhongshan Shengya Audio's Vincent amplifiers and CD players.

At a recent audio show in Beijing, foreign brands such as Dali and Onkyo had the biggest spaces and exhibited a wide range of products and fancy brochures. But it was hard to ignore the elegant musicality of some of the Chinese products showcased in smaller rooms, where visitors were handed photocopied technical specification sheets.

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