if there's a conspiracy going on, it is western firms exploiting Chinese manufacturers. China-made hifi gear sold at $1,000 per unit outside due to a pricing system fixed by US partner firms are reportedly produced at a cost roughly $100 in southern China's sweatshops. those generic equipment manufacturers who sell us DVD players at P1,600 are the good guys - giving their poor neighbors access to new technologies we could never afford if we allow greedy MNCs to dictate on pricing.