@spenav +1
Why Is Hi Fi Gear So Darn Expensive?
Why Is Hi-Fi Gear So Darn Expensive?! - The Absolute Sound
Interesting read.
"I recently heard a small 2-way stand mount speaker at a show. The sound was excellent. The product was priced at $50,000 or thereabouts, per pair. Allowing for distribution and marketing leaves about $25,000."
$25000 for distribution and marketing? Really? That much more for this than a similar product at 1/10th the cost?
I don’t doubt the marketing cost per unit could be much higher with boutique products. Makes sense. Is the cat is out of the bag regarding the value proposition of boutique products?
How about fancy fuses marketed for free here that cost practically nothing to ship? Oh my!
I guess there are "excellent" expensive boutique products and others that offer value everywhere. Hifi not unique. Take your pick! Live and learn!
The article also chalks up people’s reactions to high-fi prices to emotion. What about the sound they hear? Real or emotionally distorted? What would Mr. Spock think about that? I know he likes music...he plays a harp!
Showing 4 responses by dayglow
@yogiboy +1 I do have issues with CHI-FI. Since Hegel and Denafrips appear to be accepted by the majority of Audiophiles why not a speaker? From what I have read the final assembly of Aerial speakers is done in MA. The cabinets and parts are Chinese sourced what % not sure we will ever know. |
@mapman You have probably have been interested in audio longer then myself. I got started in High School early 1980's even had a pair of Ohm(you worship) Walsh 2's that cost around $700(which was expensive in 1982) not bad for a 17 year old kid! Mark Levinson/conrad-johnson/ARC/Futterman and top level Infinity's were all priced at the level of a small car. My point is nothing has changed(cost) except we now have the ability to tweek are systems with cables/vibration control/room acoustics and power conditioning/regenerating. I see this as a positive not negative(snake oil) as some see because there not willing to put the effort/time or money into fine tuning there system. Relating to your question you know these are extreme examples. A world class standmount speaker can be had new for under 5K(Aerial 5T) or a near SOTA 2nd hand power amp like a Krell evo-402e/302e for 5k-6k. IMO Hi-End Audio is better then ever with all the choices we have with new or used gear. No point in being the "Keep Off My Yard" guy when the present and future in HEA is so bright. |
+1 @thyname Why are so many budget conscious Audiophiles(?) so concerned about what others spend? I think there is a mind set(fear=snake oil) in them to beat the "Pay to Play" theory which unfortunately exits Another meaningless cliche is "The Law Of Diminishing Returns" It does not apply to a subjective hobby. A $20K amp must sound/measure 10x better then a $2k amp, which is a foolish formula. A 20k amp can sound a million times(subjective) better then a 2k amp. IMO the 20k amp would clearly be the better value. There is no need/want or desire for ’Gatekeepers" in this hobby. |