The death of ultra hiend audio

Price, I remember that people could not believe how great Crown International home stereo and Bob Carver sounded for the dollar back in the late 70s and 80s. Great audio, low cost!  It can be done. Side by side either of these were competing with audio 3X the cost or more.

$10-$15k is not a lot of money and no way is it for bragging rights. Who are you going to brag too? Your wife? Maybe a few people in an audio club, and some of these guys in audio clubs spend more money. I didn’t buy my Porsche to brag about it. 
We are in a niche market, even in the mid fi sector, low fi probably sell many more pieces. There are some major benefits in the more expensive gear than the lower fi products

Not even sure where to start anymore. I was a HUGE supporter and part of the audiophile community for 20 years and in 2010 I decided to step away and attempt to regain some balance. The system I sold off then was Dunlavy SC-VI’s, JRDG 9TI-HC’s and pre-amp (battery powered of course) and phono pre, one of multiple DAC’s including Wadia, Levinson, and EAD.VPI TNT with Koetsu cartridge, Cardas cables, etc…etc.., etc.., to also include going through tons of other gear, particularly speakers including JM Labs Grand Utopia’s and Avalons (ugh.,,,) I found myself never being truly happy with what I was hearing for more than a few months at a time and constantly upgrading/changing components seeking some concieved improvement. So I Quit…. Sold everything and listened to music in my vehicles or at live performances ONLY. 
  In 2021 I thought I was restrained enough to slowly delve back into the world of audio. Listened to a lot of gear, evaluated a lot of “reviews” and Very slowly started putting together something I felt was accurate and worth the money spent. In the end my current system has cost far to much, fortunately I am LUCKY enough to be able to buy what I want and at the far end of HI-FI lies a group of components that are worth the investment, but the difference between my DCS Vivaldi Apex DAC- clock-transport and a MYRIAD number of very reasonably priced DAC’s is minuscule at best. Is Ultra HIFI dying? Probably… because the difference in quality reproduction between good and great is minimal, by but HUGE in terms of cost  it is huge thus it becomes a terrible return on investment. Why should I invest 200% more in a system when I can get 99% of the performance at a reasonable cost? Good thing my currently (ridiculously expensive) system will last me until my demise as I could have done just fine for a lot less. 

Please excuse any errors in syntax and grammar as it is late and I have been drinking Michters 20yr and listening to Dark Side of the Moon with a big smile on my face! 

Maybe the tariffs won't last. 

Several companies and states have challenged Trump’s use of an emergency law to impose some of his duties on individual countries, in a legal dispute that is likely to work its way up to the Supreme Court. As part of the case, companies have demanded the federal government pay them back for the tariff fees they’ve already paid out.

Trump’s own Justice Department has acknowledged in legal briefs filed with a U.S. Court of Appeals in recent months that if the tariffs are ruled unlawful, importers would be entitled to refunds, which Customs and Border Protection would likely process through standard administrative procedures.

That, trade and customs experts say, would be a logistical nightmare — both for the Trump administration and the companies seeking compensation. Perhaps more damaging for the president, it would also undercut one of the core arguments he’s made to justify his trade agenda: that his tariffs are bringing in unprecedented revenue that can help pay for his tax cuts and, one day, could replace the income tax altogether.

The scenario is already alarming some Trump allies who strongly support his tariff policies, but also are pessimistic that the duties the administration imposed under emergency law will survive the Supreme Court.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/06/how-trumps-150-billion-brag-could-backfire-00494882