High End is Dead?


Browsing used audio sites such as Audiogon and the Marts, high end gear ads are dominated by several dealers. Non-dealer ads are usually people trying to push 15+ year old off-brand junk at 60-70% of MSRP (when they were new). They don't sell anything. You could slash Wilsons, Magicos, etc, 50% off retail and no one will buy them.

No one buys if it costs more than 1k. It's not that they're not interested -- the ads get plenty of views. It's that the asking prices are just way over the ability of buyers to pay. Fact is, if you see a high end piece for sale it's probably by a dealer, often times trying to push it at 15% off retail because its a trade in, but also often they are taking a good chunk off the price 30, 40 sometimes 50% off. They can be famous brands with a million positive reviews. No buyers.

Are we just poor, and that's all there is to it? 
madavid0
^^^+1...I've preached the narrowing gap between HEA & Budget gear for years...The LoDR between so called budget gear & the expensive stuff has become IMO so small as to be laughable sometimes...The Manufacturers that master the marriage of the high tech digital age with old world values(ie:sound/build quality..Dynaudio & Quad for example)in Lifestyle designs will thrive in the near future...
Tell you what I think. You are a troll who instigates fights for your own amusement. You incite and inflame, for what reason??? As I had pointed out in one of your other senseless posts. Find a hobby that will not start fights.... like badminton or something.... If you think high end is dead, there is no reason for you to post anything.
I was told that vinyl is dead, analogue is dead, CD's are dead, the music business is dead, but I think Mr. Townshend is still correct:

Landslide, rocks are falling
Falling down 'round our very heads
We tried but you were yawning
Look again, rock is dead, rock is dead, rock is dead

The place is really jumping to the Hiwatt amps
'Til a 20-inch cymbal fell and cut the lamps
In the blackout they dance right into the aisle
And as the doors fly open even the promoter smiles
Someone takes his pants off and the rafters knock
Rock is dead, they say
Long live rock, long live rock, long live rock

High End isn't dead in USA . At least 90% of the population can't afford It and more than  that  have no interest in it  .
But, as we have the highest inequality of income in the world that still leave millions to to whom 50K is chump change .
It is hurting in Scandinavia and those few countries who system operates
like theirs .
In Norway 80% of the population is middle class which is why it is VERY expensive . They like it like that and American tourists are bewildered by it .