@ghdprentice "I think that about $5K put you in kind of middle ground. Above consumer audio, but in the mid-fi range. So the build quality can be good by typically not great... they use off the shelf subcomponents and stock replacements."
While your statement can be true it can also not be. Purchasing direct from small quality boutique companies e.g. Finale Audio, Aric Audio and like others you get the build quality, the parts, the circuitry , and the sound to go along with them. For illustration the build list on my Finale Audio 7189Mk2 integrated amp has Hashimoto output transformers, Hammonds power transformer, DHL Labs Gold RCA terminal, CMC binding posts, Mundorf silver in oil coupling caps, Furutec IEC, QQQ rectifier tube socket, Alps Japan Blue volume control. The direct to customer price at the time I purchased it was less than $4K. Eight years running zero problems. Just one example but it’s not always as your generalization portrays.

