Hertz MLK165 FAKE/REAL??! ebay

[noms78 10+ year member]

If you look at several sets of identical 100% genuine Hertz speakers at a retailer (which would never happen as no one stocks 2 sets of anything hertz makes due to limited demand) you would see that some are sloppy with the glue on the surrounds, some are perfect, some are sloppy with the paint etc.

If you considered Occam's razor in this situation, what is more likely, that Noms received a set of MLK's that Ambrosio did a ****** job on and Pavarato pushed through QC late on a friday to get home early, or that some people took the time and money to tool up machines and gather identical materials to build a doppelganger of a limited production run speaker for an incredibly small niche market? There simply isn't enough money in it for someone to make a clone of hertz speakers. It is barely worth it for Hertz to make them! In addition, even if they were "fakes" how different are they from the real thing? Can you hear a difference?

You have got to be kidding me? Of course there will be a difference in sound between genuine speakers and fakes. Chinese counterfeiting operations are very established and sophisticated now. They have the ingenuity, machines and people to make copies of "mechanically simple" items such as speakers. It is well documented that there are fake HSK165 speakers floating around. I just spoke to a car audio retailer and he told me he recently saw some fake DLS speakers (there were spelling mistakes on the box).

I received a fake Wilson ncode Tour 90 tennis racquet that "felt" different to the real thing. Just imagine how different high-fidelity electronic equipment would be.

Back to the speakers I received. The light grey capacitors in the crossovers look sloppy and fake as hell. Look at the ends and the missing paint:

http://www.users.on.net/~wren26/19a.jpg

In genuine crossovers, I have seen two variations of these capacitors (left: fake, right: genuine):

http://magnitola.org/attachments/car-audio-sovety-po-avtozvuku/30200d1261483876-hertz-mlk165-ketai-krossy.jpg

In the second photo they are shiny and have little metal clips at the base of the wires.

http://www.users.on.net/~wren26/genuine%20MLK/fotka16.JPG

The fakes also have different text (335 J 100V instead of 3.3μF 100v) on the large white capacitor, and have a grey capacitor (should be white) above the inductor.

Tweeter (and woofer) grills are thicker on the fakes (left: fake, right: genuine)

http://magnitola.org/attachments/car-audio-sovety-po-avtozvuku/30198d1261483876-hertz-mlk165-ketai-vch-anfas.jpg

Look at the variation in the characters of the word "HERTZ". Genuine speakers have a thinner font and perfect finish.

http://www.users.on.net/~wren26/01.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~wren26/02.jpg

http://www.users.on.net/~wren26/03.jpg

These irregular stampings are caused by mechanical failure not human error. The engineering quality is no where near as good as the originals.

Here are some good links to additional photos of fakes:

http://www.diymobileaudio.com/forum/general-car-audio-discussion-no-question-dumb/109206-fake-hertz-2.html

http://magnitola.com/en/prodam/65231-kinuli-na-poddelku-mlk165-13.html

http://translate.google.com.au/translate?hl=en&ie=UTF8&prev=_t&sl=auto&tl=en&twu=1&u=http://magnitola.org/car-audio-sovety-po-avtozvuku/61552-hertz-mlk165-ketai.html

-Jon

 

[noms78 10+ year member]

Hertz confirmation

-----------------

Dear Mr. _______

Thank you for your email.

We have just now completed our checks about the serial number of this product and, according to it, the product seems not to be a genuine Hertz MLK 165.

As per our previous email, from today we will start analysing in detail the information you provided with regards to this MLK 165 kit as well as all your questions.

Please allow us a few days to provide proper feedback. Thank you.

Best Regards,

Marta Menghini

(International Department)

Elettromedia s.r.l.

62018 Potenza Picena (MC) Italy

T + 39 0733 870 870

F + 39 0733 870 880

**elettromedia****

---------------

Paypal claim update:

Recently paypal sent me an email asking me to destroy and discard the speakers and send them a signed fax saying I had done so.

I also uploaded a photo I took of the destroyed speakers:

http://www.users.on.net/~wren26/destroyed.jpg

Today they notified me they were able to recover US$630 (the full single transaction claim amount). Couldn't get the additional shipping charge back (US$88) b/c it was done in a seperate transaction.

Jon

 

[B1977J]

I just had a pair of Hertz MLK 165 installed that I bought on eBay from Malaysia for $298. They sound superb, and the Hertz Dealer who installed them said the serial numbers are reported by Hertz to have been sold by Hertz to a dealer in Malaysia.

The installing dealer also said that based upon the serial number check, appearance, and sound, they are convinced that the speakers are authentic. I know that they sound so darn good that I can't stop smiling. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/biggrin.gif.d71a5d36fcbab170f2364c9f2e3946cb.gif

This doesn't prove anything, but I am more than satisfied with how they sound. I've listened to alot of expensive home and car audio in showrooms, and these speakers definitely sound exceedingly fine compared to components costing up to a $1000 USD that I have heard.

Maybe I got lucky?

 

[noms78 10+ year member]

Summary of key differences between genuine and fake MLK165. I combined all the information about this topic into a single post:

Crossovers:

Comparison of fake vs genuine. Fakes have 335 J 100V on the large white capacitor and a grey capacitor above the inductor (coiled red wire). Genuine has has 3.3μF 100v on the large white capacitor and a white capacitor above the inductor (fake left, genuine right):

c04fake_vs_real.jpg

Fakes often have crooked logos (ML CX20), chipped plastic, lines of glue on inductor, dodgy paint:

c03fake.jpg

Photos of fakes:

c01fake.jpg

c02fake_[bobbyj3980]

c03fake.jpg

Photos of genuine:

c05real_v1

c06real_v2

c07real_v2

Tweeter:

Comparison of fake vs genuine. Genuine has much finer grill and logo. Fakes have thicker grills (fake left, genuine right):

t02fake_vs_real.jpg

Genuine left, fake right:

t03real_vs_fake.jpg

t04real_vs_fake.jpg

t05real_vs_fake.jpg

t06real_vs_fake.jpg

Photo of genuine:

t01real.jpg

Woofer:

Fakes have serial numbers beginning with 001380 (the barcode may also have specs of paint missing):

w09fake.jpg

Fakes have HERTZ characters on the outer gasket that are much thicker fakes (with many imperfections) and look like they were done by hand using a soldering iron. Genuine has thinner font and perfect finish:

w01fake.jpg

w02fake.jpg

Fakes have imperfections in gasket and basket machining (chipped / rough edges, excess glue):

w03fake.jpg

w04fake.jpg

w05fake.jpg

Fakes may have excess glue applied to the perforated area beneath the spider:

w06fake.jpg

w07fake.jpg

w08fake.jpg

Comparison of genuine vs fake woofers. Genuine have thinner HERTZ logo, yellow coloured spider and thinner grills. Fakes have thicker HERTZ logo, mustard coloured spider and thicker grills (genuine left, fake right):

w12real_vs_fake.jpg

w13real_vs_fake.jpg

w14real_vs_fake.jpg

w15real_vs_fake.jpg

w16real_vs_fake.jpg

w17real_vs_fake.jpg

Upside down. Finish of fakes is rougher, magnet sticks out further (fake left, genuine right):

w10fake_vs_real.jpg

Photo of real woofer:

w11real.jpg

Box:

Fakes have low resolution/faded photo of the speakers on the front of the box.

Almost every MLK165 I have seen for sale on ebay has been fake. Often they are being sold by Malaysian sellers (who intentionally hide their location) and sell them for US$200-250.

Always assume they are fake unless they can prove otherwise (by sending photos of crossover etc). Serial numbers can be faked too!

Known sellers of fake MLK165:

2463wayne, zifartronicx

 

[Shinju 10+ year member]

****, Gotta say though those counterfiters are getting better and better.

Guess it really pay's off to buy from an authorized dealer when it comes to high end stuff no day's.

 

[da0s44 10+ year member]

Wow, Im really at loss for words to know whats what. I want to believe they are the real deal so badly. I almost picked up a set off fleabay last week.

Could these be a line that maybe didnt make the cut for retail? Like a "B" line or something where the tolerences are not what they should be but are still very close?

 

[I Like Waffle]

Perhaps fake, but worth the asking price? LOL

 

[noms78 10+ year member]

Could these be a line that maybe didnt make the cut for retail? Like a "B" line or something where the tolerences are not what they should be but are still very close?

Not a chance. That would not explain the thicker tweeter/woofer grills or 'soldering iron' HERTZ lettering on the woofer gaskets.

It would be very interesting to see how these Chinese fakes were produced (reverse engineering, technology, materials, moulds, etc). Im guessing they got hold of a genuine pair and copied the design by making custom moulds for the individual components, then hired cheap labour to put a couple hundred/thousand together.

Fake automotive parts such as HKS blow off valves and brake calipers are appearing all over eBay. Basically anything mechanically simple item can be copied - speakers and crossover units are such items. Even medicine (eg. anti depressants/viagra) and military parts are being counterfeited!

 

[markb]

I bought 2 sets of MLK-165's on ebay late last year and am only now about to use them. I've got my new car booked in next week to receive a alpine sound system comprising of alpine pxa-h800 processor, pdx-f6 amp to run the 2 sets of MLK's and a pdx-m12 to run 2 x 12" r type subs).

Looking at the pics on this forum, the MLK's are fakes, but they look like good quality. I really dont want to purchase new speakers if these things are ok.

So if you know the MLK's you are using right now are fakes, then it will be reassuring to know that you like they way they sound...

 

[Louisiana_CRX 5,000+ posts]

too many fake scammers out there.....

 

---------- Post added at 12:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:31 AM ----------

 

if the price seems too good to be true it usually is... //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/fyi.gif.9f1f679348da7204ce960cfc74bca8e0.gif

 

[Crazy Steve]

I bought 2 sets of MLK-165's on ebay late last year and am only now about to use them. I've got my new car booked in next week to receive a alpine sound system comprising of alpine pxa-h800 processor, pdx-f6 amp to run the 2 sets of MLK's and a pdx-m12 to run 2 x 12" r type subs).Looking at the pics on this forum, the MLK's are fakes, but they look like good quality. I really dont want to purchase new speakers if these things are ok.

So if you know the MLK's you are using right now are fakes, then it will be reassuring to know that you like they way they sound...

Hey Mark,

I like you, unknowingly bought two sets of ebay fakes and have recently had them installed in my car (Only found out they were fake after reading noms78's excellent post). The fakes sound pretty good and I dare say only a trained ear could tell they are not the real deal. I play a lot of hard rock and metal music which I have at pretty high volumes and they sound really good. I have them running with a Genesis Profile 4 Ultra (Genuine - bought direct from dealer) and they are getting the job done for now.

Hope this helps

Cheers

Steve

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

It would be pretty cool to see the real and fake sets compared.

 

[xmakeafistx 10+ year member]

Also, a blind comparison, like the person wouldn't know that they are the same sets, or which one is fake/real, etc.. sorry double toast