Phoenix violins are displayed at the 2026 Shanghai Spring International String Music Culture Week. [Photo/WeChat account: txfabu]
Results from the violin blind evaluation at the 2026 Shanghai Spring International String Music Culture Week have been announced, with a Chinese-made instrument taking the top honor.
The Phoenix OVD901 series violin, produced by Inneo in Huangqiao town, Taixing, outperformed handcrafted instruments from renowned Italian and Romanian luthiers to secure the highest overall score.
The competition followed one of the most rigorous anonymous evaluation systems in the industry. All instruments were assigned unique codes, completely concealing brand labels, origins and identifying features. The playing order was determined by random draw, and judges scored each violin independently based solely on sound quality and playing experience.
To ensure consistency, all violins were played multiple times by the same experienced musician in a professional acoustic setting, with scores recorded and verified on-site.
After three rounds of blind testing and repeated verification, the Phoenix violin achieved the highest marks in tonal consistency, playing comfort and dynamic response, ultimately ranking first overall. Judges noted its superior projection and tonal richness, highlighting its powerful performance in loud passages and clarity in softer dynamics.
The victory marks the first time a Chinese-made violin has surpassed European master instruments in an international open blind test. Inneo has long focused on producing high-end violins, with its products now exported to more than 70 countries and regions, consistently ranking among China's leading exporters in the premium violin segment.