Interesting post, but I don't think it's as simple as you present. Even when a manufacturer produces products for both the home and pro markets, they tailor the products to slightly different needs. A primary consideration in pro equipment is realiability. The expectation is that the pro equipment will be subjected to physical abuse and when the product fails it can be easily repaired. (In studios that cater to hip/hop artists, speakers are burnt out on a weekly basis.) For the home market, looks and sound quality emerge as more important factors. The jewelry-like finish of a Jeff Rowland product appeals to pride of ownership, not sonic considerations.
Audiophiles and mastering studios have much more in common. Mastering is the last creative process in music production where the tone and dynamics of the recording are finalized. The quality of equipment in mastering studios is always much higher than in even the better equipped recording studios. Sound quality is of the utmost importance. In mastering studios many of the speakers and amplifiers are standard audiophile favs (Levinson, Dunlavy etc.). You also find audiophile cabling in mastering studios.
Gil, in direct reply to your observation, manufacturers do price their products according to the intended market. They are able to do so because of the reasons you stated. However, at the high end of pro audio (mastering studios) there seems to be a convergence towards high end audiophile type equipment. The commonality in equipment reflects a common desire for high sound quality.
Audiophiles and mastering studios have much more in common. Mastering is the last creative process in music production where the tone and dynamics of the recording are finalized. The quality of equipment in mastering studios is always much higher than in even the better equipped recording studios. Sound quality is of the utmost importance. In mastering studios many of the speakers and amplifiers are standard audiophile favs (Levinson, Dunlavy etc.). You also find audiophile cabling in mastering studios.
Gil, in direct reply to your observation, manufacturers do price their products according to the intended market. They are able to do so because of the reasons you stated. However, at the high end of pro audio (mastering studios) there seems to be a convergence towards high end audiophile type equipment. The commonality in equipment reflects a common desire for high sound quality.