Has the cost of HiFi gotten a bit too much?

@gregdude

Having worked in high tech manufacturing and spent years working on mainland China… Chinese Manufacturing is just that. Chinese that have put together a business, hired Chinese workers to produce and sell a product. They are like us… try to avoid getting in trouble with their government… know the boundaries of how to avoid it… know when their government is lying to them… and work to support their families… enjoy going out to dinner if they can afford it. They also have a cultural way of interaction among themselves… more aggressive than we are. But they know our manor of interaction and treat us accordingly. I have also worked in supply chains and manufacturing in Japan, across Europe and Mexico, different cultures, but good people working within the distant confines of their government.

If you think audio equipment prices are getting high, they are flat lining compared to lumber prices,. Read this quote:

"On Tuesday, the cash price per thousand board feet of lumber was at $1,391, according to industry trade publication Random Lengths. While that’s down a bit from its $1,515 all-time high set on May 28, it’s up a staggering 288% since April 2020. Prior to the pandemic, the price usually floated between $350 and $500."

You see 2x4 studs at Lowes for $8.00. and 1/2" 4’x8’ plywood sheets at Home Depot for $57.00, both ungodly prices. Those prices have precluded building a woodworking shop at home until hopefully prices get back to pre-Covid levels next year. But that was supposed to happen this year, along with this years significant increase in lumber production. I’ve invested in a new tonearm and cartridge instead this year.

Mike

Marantz is coming out with a very favorably reviewed class A/B streaming integrated amp for $2500.00, just add a couple of mid-priced speakers, speaker cable, and a Qobuz subscription and you’ve got a very good system for easily under four grand.

The sky is far from falling for reasonably priced gear!

viva la revolution. history will repeat itself.  what happen to Reagans trickle down economy?  

@tsacremento : +1! We live in the new Golden Age - which means the Rich get richer (way richer) and the Middle Class and the Poor increasingly suffer and struggle to afford necessities. Nobody needs a $10K phono cartridge or a $100K speaker system!