Wilsons new flagship

Background :

According to US-BLS "The median hourly wage in the United States is approximately $29.99 per hour." (today, in the 'richest country in the wold').

Assuming that median-worker pay's 20% State and Federal taxes (combined) they would need to earn $1,112,500 to have $890,000 to buy these custom-painted speakers.

Relevance:

This custom-painted pair of Wilson speakers equals 17.8 YEARS of the median-worker's labor (remember, 50% of folks make less).  

If most folks in the U.S. work ~ 45 years, it would take 40% of their ENTIRE LIFE'S EARNINGS to pay for this pair of Wilson speakers (assuming inflation = wage increases).

Editorial:

Please do not insult me with 'cutting edge' technology and 'state-of-the-art' design arguments.  Those are sucker-arguments to overcharge the very rich - get over trying to justify this to the average audiophile.  

Great gear can be purchased for much more appropriate prices.  I am willing to NEVER BUY Wilson speakers to send that message.  

If you know him, please inform Darrell.  Do not be surprised if he doesn't listen.

@jbthurston The Wilson is "a statement of the art" from one school. But there are many other approaches, which date back to before WW II and are still actively pursued today with components that require one to assemble and voice a system, typically horn-based with low-powered tube gear—truly a different world.

This is a parallel universe--often referred to as the "underground" that is made up of equipment that people today would likely call "DIY" but which occupies a place that is just as revelatory but is not part of the commercial eco-system that provides the churn for the legacy press. 

You are absolutely correct. There are many ways to skin a cat when it comes to designing speakers or setting up systems.  I’ve had the SET/ high sensitivity speakers set up and it can be very interesting.  Just not for me for the ultimate in sound reproduction.  I’ve been around a long time and heard countless different iterations of systems to move me.  I can say without a doubt hearing the Autobiography speakers driven by Octave Jubilee amps, I’ve never heard anything better.  It truly reflects the best of what can be done in design and delivering an almost overwhelming experience.  But that’s the beauty of this hobby, to each their own.  We all have our own goals as to how we want our music to sound and impact us.

Color me jaded because I have never heard a Wilson speaker that I liked.