Bunk Beats: Watch Out For Phonies!

"Man.. Check out the price on that Alpine amp!!"

"My local dealer sells that amp for $150 more!"

Chances are if you find a deal that's too good to be true, it probably is. This age-old axiom is one that is repeated over and over again in this industry, but it really truly is one that you should take seriously. Counterfeit and gray market products are too common, and if you're buying product from an unauthorized dealer or flee market, there really is no way to guarantee what you're buying is legit, not to mention you're not going to have a manufacturer's warranty. Take the "Alpine" amp pictured above. Looks pretty good, eh? Sure, at first glance. But what you see here is a counterfeit, and a pretty good one at that. One thing to point out is that it looks nothing like an actual MRP-M450, but it does resemble an older style Alpine amp from a few years ago.

Alpine and other manufacturers are aware of these products, but it is very difficult to eliminate them all. “Alpine Electronics takes the issue of counterfeit products very seriously, and continuously works to limit such products in the marketplace. Based on the photographs and preliminary research, we know these amplifiers are counterfeit and were not manufactured by Alpine Electronics. Consumers can ensure they are purchasing high-quality Alpine products by only buying from an authorized Alpine dealer.”

A quick email to my friends at Alpine, and a brief discussion with a few other industry experts, revealed just how fake this amplifier actually is. Crack it open, and the truth really comes out. I won't bore you will all the tech-speak, but I will point out things to look out for. Follow the jump for the pics and details!