Mom and pop garage audiophile caliber gear

Ok. I have heard about all the overpriced, over the top equipment out there, that is state of the art etc....These equipment, be it Audio Note Ongakus, or some $100K+ amp from Wavac or even those, lowly Halcro Monos for about $30K etc...they have, they are and they will sound impressive with associated equipment. Limitless budget and prices=unlimited quality of sound, but I have noticed several manufacturers that make really high quality, high caliber gear that is not, prevalently covered in commercials, but are mostly internet or word of mouth based businesses. It seems as if these manufacturers decide to pass the profits back to the consumer, instead of pumping into their pockets. One of these is Belles. He seems to be getting all the rave, but from word of mouth basis. Are there other manufacturers that I have NEVER heard off, but can compete with these other costly manufacturers? Not that a 1K will sound like a 100K amp, but there must be some who can do a very credible job at this. Would like to hear names, models and prices, if possible and against which other they compete favorably. All these manufacturers need to be current and not some defunct operation.