The aging demographic of high end enthusiasts could have something to do with it too. By the time I could afford a nice 4-dial chronograph I could no longer read the smaller dials. By the time I could afford a genuine WIlson NFL football, I had no kids at home to toss it with. Similarly, pushing 59 I don't have the bandwidth to baby big, heavy, fragile out-of-production speakers that require amps that are comfortable driving 2-ohm loads. Nothing against Apogees, but I'm at an age where I'm trying to simplify and consolidate and still maintain excellent sound.
Fortunately the industry is cooperating. Folded ribbon tweeters are making their way into ever more affordable speakers, and companies such as Monitor Audio are putting very sophisticated light, stiff drivers (e.g., ceramic matrix or layering) into <$1500 speakers. And I heard a $999 Marantz integrated amp that sounded so good I could dump my three-box stack (phono/line/amp) and actually improve my sound quality. Trends like that leave little room for a vibrant Apogee market. Those with the energy to deal with them have probably never heard of them.
And as far as uniform-sounding ribbons go, isn't that what the fuss is about with the Maggie 1.7 and 3.7?
Fortunately the industry is cooperating. Folded ribbon tweeters are making their way into ever more affordable speakers, and companies such as Monitor Audio are putting very sophisticated light, stiff drivers (e.g., ceramic matrix or layering) into <$1500 speakers. And I heard a $999 Marantz integrated amp that sounded so good I could dump my three-box stack (phono/line/amp) and actually improve my sound quality. Trends like that leave little room for a vibrant Apogee market. Those with the energy to deal with them have probably never heard of them.
And as far as uniform-sounding ribbons go, isn't that what the fuss is about with the Maggie 1.7 and 3.7?