I found a way to get around tariffs that will raise the price of audio equipment.

I see a lot of post that say buy US-made and all your problems will be solved. One only needs to look at when the Soviet Union closed ranks and created an iron curtain. How one could think that the same thing would not happen in the US is a complete fool. how many of us on this site Chase after Soviet era Hifi gear? Iron curtain products were crap. Why do you think they were so excited when they got a pair of Levi’s? So yes, it will be American made, but without any competition…

I have written these three words before, “pain and suffering”. I think to a higher or lesser degree we will all experience this. For myself I know I can mitigate this by being content with my gear, my house , my family and my own peace away from the madness. We are here now. It does not matter who you voted for, this is the situation you find yourself in. I feel bad for farmers and their families and many others caught in the net. For the music listening experience I can find some peace…for now. I had mentioned before that in the 80’s while a young American serviceman I was asked by some German friends why Americans are so ignorant about world affairs, their own history and the political landscape and I was naive and offended by these questions. Now all these years later I realize they were right. Americans are not engaged and that’s why they get led around like dumb sheep. Germans learned the hard way that if they don’t pay attention a madman will take over.

Last year was my purchase/downsizing year.  Didn't have to buy better speakers but started looking at options domestically as well as abroad including some hard to find ones here in the States.

So not everything was readily available but I had a short list of possibilities I whittled down.  Almost chose a Fritz but a speaker came up out of the blue from a brand I didn't know existed and the birch plywood box (not Closer) sealed the deal and they perform as reviews stated.

There's a few products I would like to try be it amp, dac, speaker but standing pat and not chasing gear at the moment.  Perhaps if something comes up used at a great discount, then perhaps. 

Now trying to sell the gear the new ones replaced and I think alot of people are standing pat too.  Slower market, new or used.

2psyop, hear hear. I would guess that plenty of Germans who were concerned about where their country was going in 1939 were also labeled "chicken littles" or whatever the equivalent of "seagull squad" (such a cute name!) was. Half of the country has been led to believe in exceptionalism and the concept of the rugged individual (the "self-made man" myth). 

I'm very glad I purchased a car last month, and I will be engaging in what the OP proposes, no purchases unless absolutely necessary, and in those potential scenarios, used.

If tariffs remain, and it looks like they will, as pointed out electronic equipment will (is?) get(ing) more expensive and that includes equipment from American companies. 

I am in a good place as I have a nice collection of quality equipment. One thing I will watch is used equipment prices as that would likely rise as well. I would be tempted to sell my very large, well built amplifiers such as Luxman and Bryston products. I'm getting older and it's harder to lift those heavy beasts. As well, I am quite impressed with the small chip amps. So a cheap Chinese chip amp, even with a hefty tariff still isn't too bad to contemplate.

Don't get me wrong, I hate the tariff proclamations and don't want to go back to 1950 or the gilded age whenever America was perceived as being great. I think small well defined tariffs would be okay, but the sledge hammer approach is ridiculous.