House brand fiddles, like McNeedla, are mass produced fiddles, usually made in Asia or the eastern EU, factory made to varying degrees of quality, and then relabeled by the music store or chain. Larger companies with work directly with the factories and specify specifics on each level of quality, Gliga comes to mind for this. THis allows the larger companies to offer fiddles with more uniform and predictable sound, quality and playability. Even companies that offer violins that are 'bench made' (means there is more human involvement in the making) or true hand made fiddles, will also offer these mass produced level ones. Me I would not go to McNeela for a fiddle. Another example is Scott Cao fiddles. I have a very high end one that was made and signed by one of his apprentices, Scott goes over them and its a superb instrument. But they also offer lower grade ones, and the line has a generally good reputation.

Isn't McNeela music in Ireland? If you're in the US that seems a long way to go for a relatively common instrument. Many shops carry lines of student and intermediate level instruments like Al described, even if they also offer professional quality violins.
Al, I'm not sure, but I thought Gliga is actually a manufacturer, not just a dealer in rebranded violins.

I am in Ireland and wouldn’t go anywhere near them and wouldn’t recommend them either.

Doug neither am I, but I'll bet Rich knows the ins and outs of commercial violin sales and whos makin and whos relabeling. These days you can buy a container load of fiddles from China or Vietnam, pick out the 2 that sound the best, charge a goodly amount, maybe invest in regraduating another 2 dozen and sell for decent money, and the rest - slap a private label inside and start your own violin line.

I'm about to post a fiddle for sale here in Pennsylvania. Very affordable and great instrument to get started back on.
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I’m not familiar with McNeela, but the site looks like they carry a selection of violins, mostly newer commercial instruments and couple old violins here and there.

I’d agree that if you’re in the U.S., you’d find a lot of similar violins in shops everywhere without the fees for customs and international shipping.

Gliga is the biggest violin factory in Romania. They’ve been around for some time and make several models of student instruments. Their quality of workmanship is generally good, although the varnish tends to be a bit thick and can dampen the sound. Gliga has been around long enough and has employed enough people that some have left to start their own similar businesses. When I worked at a shop that did a lot of wholesale business to other shops, we would often be visited by sales reps from these companies who were looking to establish contacts for large orders of their instruments to get their businesses off the ground.

If the OP is anywhere near any of the major violin cities, there will be a wide range of other violins to try out. I’d recommend setting a realistic budget first and then trying what a good shop has to offer based on that range.

Eastman violins are also made in their own workshop in China, and they control every aspect of the manufacturing process. I don't really know much about new commercial violins, but I think Eastman are generally well regarded.
Highlonesomef5 - If you're in CT there are probably several nearby options available. I agree with Rich that you should first set a realistic budget range.