My experience with the ASL chinese audio gear had me almost going back to SS. The Norh SE-9 is made in Thailand, and the Almorro A205 is made in Japan. The only chinese amp I have heard to date that even came close to impressing me is the Cayin TA-30 amp (PP EL34) and is not close to the Japanese amps I have.
Of course that is not fair comparing to my Yamamoto A-08 45 SET amp!!!
Ron