The question of spruce vs. cedar in this price range is a valid one.
The issue with spruce in low priced instruments isn't exactly with the quality of the wood per se, but that it may not be properly cured/seasoned,
which will lead to irreparable structural problems in the long run.
However, the Turkish luthiers who make most of these instruments (except the Zeryab and the Egyptian one) are pretty diligent in my experience with
the quality of the wood. The issues with green wood in my experience have been cheaper Syrian and Egyptian ouds. I think Egyptian ouds are often a
different species, Swedish Pine I've been told.
There is a general question of robust build vs. robust sound, and unfortunately the biggest/best sounds tend to come from lighter builds (which
requires quality materials and lots of skill).
I tend to have a similar viewpoint as Jody about the "cedar" used in most instruments — other than true Lebanon cedar, which is rarely
available these days but the old growth trees formerly provided prized tonewood used in some antique instruments. It is a relatively slow-growing
tree (25-38 cm per year), compared to Sitka Spruce (~150cm/yr) and even Engelmann Spruce (relatively slow growing at ~60cm/year). The "Cedar"
commonly found in musical instruments is not actually cedar but a kind of cypress (Western Red Cedar, grows about 60-90cm per year).
Apparently Turkey has been planting Lebanon cedar but it takes a long time to grow and I suspect that it is not what is being used in these
instruments.
So it's a tradeoff that's worth considering — spruce might be a little risker long term but will likely sound better. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
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20200101_072731 by Priapus_D, on Flickr