The trail of counterfeit headphones in the form of the DT770 Pro from Beyerdynamic led me from Alibaba to a Russian forum (rmmedia.ru, Russian Music Makers) to Guangzhou Xinhe Audio Equipment Co. Ltd. Here, they really brazenly manufacture and sell tons of plagiarized products under the label MICSOUNG, preferably to bulk buyers. They have even set up their own Facebook page for the brand, although the stated homepage does not exist. The company behind the fake provider specializes in the production and sale of all kinds of sound systems (such as speakers, line arrays, subwoofers, amplifiers, etc.) and would thus actually be professionally qualified to deliver quality. But do they want to do that at all? Let’s have a look at what you can get at AliExpress as a bulk buyer.
The complete presentation looks like Beyerdynamic and they even use the original product and marketing photos. I have officially contacted AliExpress and also made two inquiries some time ago, but have not received an answer until today. The manufacturer argues in the social networks that they produce the products “on behalf of Beyerdynamic” for the Asian market. However, it is also a fact that many of these products are deliberately sold to Eastern Europe. Russia, in particular, now officially supports this brand piracy in order to harm the “collective West”. A Russian colleague wanted to file a complaint in this regard and was even dismissed with a grin. State-sponsored fraud on the buyer, nothing else.
Individual buyers who import such a part into Germany risk confiscation by customs. Commercial buyers, however, can elegantly circumvent this via the flat-rate customs clearance offered by Czech logistics companies in particular. And then such a would-be DT770-Pro arrives in Germany undetected. The certificates that the manufacturer publicly advertises with are not worth the pixels they are rendered with. Here an “Andy” signs grandiloquently to pretty much everything. I tried to assign at least the CE certificates, Even that was (logically) not possible at all.
Well, now we come to the unappetizing innards. Slaughter, baby! In the following, I will rely on the pictures from this Russian professional forum and show what kind of trash the manufacturer is selling. To waste the donations for such a nonsense was too bad for me. By the way, there are a few more fake labels on AliExpress, all selling these hideous clones of Guangzhou Xinhe Audio Equipment Co. Ltd. One source, many streams. I now also have contacts with buyers, all of whom complain of poor bass response, far too low level stability, and generally anemic reproduction with no real stage or depth. In addition, there are many haptic and even mechanical flaws in the details.
Teardown and inner workings
You only have to unscrew the part once to see the difference. The plagiarism on the left and the original on the right. We can see that cheap drivers from XDEC were installed in the plagiarism. Behind this cheap label is none other than Shenzhen Xuanda Electronics Co., Ltd., which produces everything from headphone drivers to large loudspeaker chassis that can generate a sound wave and earn money. According to my research, these drivers can be purchased in bulk for less than 50 US cents. That would probably settle the quality question of these 5 USD headphones.
The following picture gallery summarizes nicely what the customer (doesn’t) get for the honestly earned money.
Summary and conclusion
The illegal import of plagiarized or counterfeit goods into Germany can lead to a number of legal problems and is a serious issue that poses both economic and health risks. Germany has strict laws against product piracy and trademark infringement, and these laws also apply to imports. In addition, as a buyer, you are cheating yourself because you almost always receive almost worthless products that have little in common with the original other than their appearance.
German customs also plays a crucial role in combating the illegal trade in counterfeit goods. It is tasked with inspecting goods that are imported into the country to ensure that they comply with applicable laws and regulations. Legal issues and consequences may include the following:
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Seizure of goods: If Customs determines that goods are counterfeit or infringe copyright, they may seize and destroy them.
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Fines: individuals or companies caught importing counterfeit goods can be subject to heavy fines.
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Criminal prosecution: In severe cases, criminal prosecutions may result in imprisonment.
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Civil liability: In addition, rights holders can take civil action against infringers and claim damages.
The role of customs is central in this context. Through regular inspections of goods entering the country and information campaigns to raise public awareness of the problems and risks associated with counterfeiting, Customs makes a significant contribution to combating this type of crime. Customs also works closely with other law enforcement agencies and international partners to combat trafficking in counterfeit goods and ensure compliance with the law.
It is important to note that consumers who knowingly import counterfeit goods for personal use can also face legal problems. Therefore, it is important to be extra careful when shopping online and only buy from reputable sellers. Overall, the legal problems that can arise from importing counterfeit products are serious and far-reaching. They range from financial penalties to criminal prosecutions, and the role of customs in detecting and preventing such practices is critical.
Is it worth it? No!
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