Hi-fi products have not really risen more in price, there has simply been a general collapse in the normal midrange segment of high end audio. Now all new hifi companies are either doing direct sales cheaper products like DAC’s and headphones, USB e.t.c or they are doing 20-30k SOTA amps and speakers. There is less and less in between.
The high priced SOTA stuff has always been there, and always been priced like that. It just seems that’s where the focus is. This is a striver class Baby Boomer hobby and the industry is now catering to retiring boomers spending their pension funds. A similar thing is occurring in other Baby Boomer hobbies like classic cars from the 60-70’s.