Don’t some manufacturers restrict advertising pricing? I thought that was part of some agreements relating to authorized dealership, which is tied to the ability to enforce warranties. It may be obsolete in the internet age, but I always looked at it as part of territories in a sense.
my attempt to lookup 500 or so speakers
It sounds more like you just broke the Internet! How long would it take to really audition 500 speakers?
Anyway, I’ve never had much trouble finding the actual price of any components with some googling and if you’re really interested there is always the phone call.
Oh, and try price comparison shopping for mattresses...