Which one to buy?

There is also a guide for the Echo1 ASR here on the forum. http://www.airsoftsniperforum.com/44-others/3172-echo-1-asr-knowledge-compendium.html

The Echo1 does have a few things going for it. Comes with 2 magazines and includes a bipod. (Most of the time bipods just get in the way and add unnecessary weight.) The gun can be upgraded using APS2/Type96 parts, which can make a solid rifle.

Platform wise, as Dimitri said, the VSR platform (JG Bar10) is the best platform to build a great rifle out of. Parts a plenty for the VSR. APS2 parts are available, just have to dig a little harder.

Though being 13, looks will more then likely prevail on that.

True, they are one in the same. They are not 1 for 1, or at least this is what I believe. This stems from when I compared my Echo1 SVD to the CYMA SVD. Which are the same gun, one is nicer then the other, in terms of fit & finish, and performance to an extent.

E1 SVD ~$252 ($270-18 for the extra mag it comes with.) VS Cyma SVD $190. A $62 dollar difference for what is the same gun. To make a long story short, the E1 is the nicer of the 2. (and I dont have the document i wrote here with me at work...)

End of the day, you are probably looking at the same gun predominantly regardless of the brand. In my experiences, I am fairly certain the E1 would be nicer of them.

Another example is the BRAVO m4 hop chamber, OEM is Lonex, ASG ULTIMATE upgrade line for gearboxes, Lonex again. There are only a handful of OEM manufacturers.