I don't think that's actually true. I don't think that they will be inherently failure prone just because they're chinese. LEDs are pretty sturdy regardless of where they come from.
It is true. It has to do with the manufacturing process of putting it all together. Plus they use LED's that even if everything was perfect and optimal are still 50% less output than a quality top end led. Cidly factory has over 20% internal failure rate. And then at least that much of the ones that pass inspection break before they get to the end customer.
Every thing chinese lights use have way lower performance, reliability and efficiency...all pointing to buy AMERICAN, no worrying and you will grow a lot more and better weed with it.
It's not like chinese lights are new and all this bad talk is just propaganda to keep them away. All the bad stuff is well documented everywhere you look. And yet people are constantly saying "it can't be that bad"...then it is and they say all led's suck. And then a new guy does it all over again. All the while the guys that know what we were talking about from the start are saying "I told you so".
There is the occasional good grow with lower quality lights. But there are far more bad than good. You could do the same or better with mush less wattage from a better panel which would lower the running cost and make it affordable.
It has nothing to do with LED, HPS, or any source specifically. The goal to provide your plants with the right conditions. Lighting conditions are quantified by PAR readings, and it is not a guess on what those conditions are. A 1000w hps has set the standard that we base off because it meetes the PAR critera for optimal growth. If you compare the PAR readings of a 1000w against any LED, other than the AT660, they all will be no where close. They may have a similar reading in the center but the real numbers to look at are what are at the edges of you grow space. That will show how well a unit really covers comparatively. I know not everyone has a PAR meter so you have to ask companies. Most companies won't know or be able to tell you, but that just means they are really making the best light and don't know their shit...I wouldn't buy from them.
All the quotes of myself I posted today show plenty of comparisons of the AT660 vs hps numbers and info that you will find enlightening.