Price Increases

labor, shipping, tape, wood crates, boxes, drivers, caps inductors, screws, finishes..... 100% of everything used has gone up a in price and some things have doubled in 2 years. A few a the big "fine" makers are 100% produced in China now I finally get it!

Decent car 30K

Fine loudspeaker 30K

Fine Chinese loudspeaker 15K

Knghifi,

Pour yourself a drink or two!

While you've parroted my post and I don't totally disagree with you for the most part I think I'm talking about transparency which might make the "math" make more sense.
One drivers landed cost is $12.24 a similar unit is $250.00 this kind of discrepancy is disconnected from what possibly should be reality and when both items are cloaked under the made in USA disguise..well it's confusing.

Do you remember the Shogun bicycle from the 1970's? It was one of the first Company's to make made in China cool as they did not hide their origin of manufacture but kinda bragged about it.

The not telling Co starts with the letter L

Q

In the New World economy

Nothing really makes sense for example:

Well known American loudspeaker company (not telling) make a very well reviewed product known best for their powered towers company makes fantastic sounding product for the most part has a big advertising budget and designs everything in the USA but everything is made in mainland China EVERYTHING.

Interestingly all 12 of the drivers used in the now semi famous behemoth powered tower cost about 1/2 for just one driver found in a small stand mount speaker from someone else who's driver is made in Norway: Yep, roughly $360 wholesale for 12 drivers which includes 6 woofers 4 mid-band and and 2 Chinese made AMT drivers or 1 driver for $700.00 wholesale for 1 driver two are needed plus tweeters....

Moral is you can make a good sounding speaker that retails for 17K and is hugely profitable, sounds good, looks great, except for the excessive use of stamped steel baskets you believe your getting a fine item and your happy enough though in your belly your not really totally believing.

Bottom line it's about making money not necessarily about the love of the music; often 40K speaker is much more cost heavy in proportion than a great 10K speaker.

It's the new math.

If you don't care where it's made that's O.K. But don't laugh at the person of means that pays 250K for a hand built masterpiece that possibly only offers a slight bit of refinement in sound for the great cost.

Q