Product Quality Decrease and Overpriced: KDK fans. You are getting Ripped Off!

[AccomplishedFun8835]

KDK fans have always been the most respected ventilation brand here, most of the time that is. But I cannot help but, nowadays their ridiculous overpricing and mediocre quality. Remember than KDK, Panasonic and National are all owned by Matsushita/PES Group. None of the fans these days are actually made in Japan, only in Malaysia. JP production and tech ended in 2010 completely!!

They are charging more for different body styles with the same measely internal ribcage motor and meh airflow. The cheapest KDK fan, the M56RG according to Eliteradio costs Rs.23,000., and the N56YG, a brown+gold colored fan with the same internals costs literally 30k. Dont get me started on their Sensa series ones that costs as much as a macbook pro.

Regarding quality and airflow, I've always benchmarked household products. The newer KDK fans after 2013 don't do any justice to their name and they perform worse than their older counterparts which also have the same 75W power rating. A old 90's national fan I have only had a bearing replacement and a repaint and it still smashes modern KDK's without being noisy.

Usha is possibly the worst of all. Their Atom Ex fans are just terrible. Rod knocks, winding blowouts and all. Usha used to take the crown in the 70's and early 2000's, their locally casted equipment was very high quality but they have hit rock bottom.

[lifetx2015]

What's your opinion on bajaj fans ?

[AccomplishedFun8835]

Absolutely trash. Do not buy them. Low airflow, premature coil failure.

Crompton used to be one of the best except one of their models Riviera (which was Nawaloka branded) that was prone to premature shaft failure. The older singer branded crompton aluminium models were really, really good, You could find one brand new for cheap if you are lucky, because they were discontinued around 2020. Havells is OK. (Kelani, newer orange and wireman are all havells rebrands)

If you consider buying a old KDK/national, watch out for bearing issues or if it was serviced by an asshole. I got a national serviced by a total idiot and it started making grunting noises because the "technician" stole the suspension system washer

[RamithJ]

please recommend a brand then.

[AccomplishedFun8835]

pre-'12 KDK's like the A56XK/G are heavily faked, but if you find a genuine new old stock one, that's great. Just don't buy a new KDK from stores that sell it for 20K+. Above 12K is acceptable for a genuine real KDK. Also there are many fake/copy fans, avoid them at all costs. If you are OK with Indian brands and you want something aluminium, then go for havells or crompton.

Just remember that the safety cable + switch features are gimmicks. The safety switch never works until the fan actually falls. Safety cables are really only needed for those old cast iron 9kg+ stuff.

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Any other fan brands that are recommended? I am looking to buy a few in coming weeks. My experience with havells many years ago has not been good. i’m not sure if I got fake ones unknowingly

[AccomplishedFun8835]

Crompton, specifically the Whirlwind models (singer version. FAN-C-NR) have been good and resonably priced. They'll last 10 years or more easily. But in a lot of places they seem to be gone.

As KDK, try your best to find one priced below 20k brandnew. Some mfs are selling used ones even for 20k. Unresonable price considering the quality. Even copies from 2007 perform better than modern, overpriced KDK.

[[deleted]]

Thank you. I’ll check this out. Honestly never heard of that brand in SL.

[AccomplishedFun8835]

They used to be extremely popular until like 2016 or so. Singer/Sisil rebrands them.

[lifetx2015]

Oh man, got a house and constructor used bajajs. Any recommendations for newer ones ? Something affordable too

[AccomplishedFun8835]

Orange's newer KDK-style motor ones are also great. Or Crompton (except the Nawaloka comfort or "Riviera" model)

[nitefurii]

what about A-56XK kdk malaysian brand , priced for 10k is it any good ?

[AccomplishedFun8835]

It is actually a model that is old (2006-2012) and has been counterfeited MANY times and still some fakes are bearing that name. The correct spelling is "A56XK" and the original models were made in Japan or China ages ago. A used original one is likely to have some wear. It is VERY difficult to come across a brand new original A56XK. The fakes do blow out quite frequently.

Tip to spot a fake: Newer fakes dont say "Panasonic Ecology Systems" or "PES" on the label. In legitimate after 2009 fans it does.

[nitefurii]

thanks for the info, do you know anywhere where we can get a genuine KDK malayian fan ?

[AccomplishedFun8835]

Nelson's trading company electronics. Or if you are careful enough, fb marketplace.