Krell, MBL, Levinson, et al... What if 50% off?

Here's an interesting fact:  Many ultra high priced components won't sell for 50% of retail while still new in box.  I have a close relationship with my local dealer who told me his ARC product line which he pays 60% of MSRP for will only sell online direct for 40% of MSRP while in unopened boxes!  Imagine that- the dealer buys things that are worth less than the wholesale that they pay for them!  When prodded he added that most customers are buying the dealer experience and support and that's how he gets his markup. Interesting. 

I your buying because of price only?

That does not make sense unless you know those components will work in your system to your satisfaction.  

Unfortunately, these days, price does matter to the vast majority of consumers, especially when it comes to non necessities. Cars are a necessity, homes are a necessity,  food is a necessity,  but audio, as much as I/we love it, is not. Treasonous I know, but a reality today. 

No, it's not just about price. It's about priorties IMHO. As @jijoh123 points out there's lots of other things competing for one's financial attention. Necessities...

Additionally younger listeners have smaller spaces and are more mobile than older generations. Personal music appliances (headphones, digital players) are more and more popular. Smaller homes don't support big floor standers. And there's the fact that younger audiences prefer to enjoy experiences (travel, camping, etc) than to have "stuff". We've had younger dinner guests and they marvel at my modest rig.

Happy listening.

Young folks are consuming audio in a very different way than their parents, and grandparents, do. I do not see a broad acceptance of component audio coming back into vogue. It will remain a diminishing niche market.

And IMHO ARC is no longer a proxy for the high-end, they have been bounced around by owners, on again, off again. Many perceive them as damaged goods at this point, rightly or wrongly.