The death of ultra hiend audio

$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

"Good morning to Mr. & Ms. America and all the ships @ sea...not to mention the airborne and in orbit..." *L*
IMHO... and the arc of most things...

When the luxury item of the era is the latest cell that can do it all in your pocket or purse (when the distaff opts for one) and costs for what an entry level HT does currently....
When I see Alibaba ads for equipment from China and SE Asia selling for prices that any manufacturer elsewhere would opt into in a heartbeat.... How that will respond to the ’tariff trauma’ currently poises to plow most boutique brands into tossing the towel...

Cables offered at prices that rank at the levels we used to spend on the entire systems in the past...  Granted, the tech has spiraled up up and away beyond what used to please but now gets yawns and hectored comments....

What used to elicit "?" has become "!" compared to the $’s for a car, a home, or a degree that is trending to be as useful as used TP but drives the current Gen ’Huh?’ into early bankruptcy...

HT and portable cells are the new baseline.  The fast laptop that handles ’work and gaming’ with AI over one’s shoulder has become the currency if not the minimum entry of the day.

’We’ started this....and the velociraptor chickens of bleeding edge tech have come home to roost and eat not only your lunch....

I’d like to share with those who’d bother to care to enjoy my DIY efforts

The only way I suspect that’d be possible would be to sign, date, and mark them as ’X of series A’ quasi-art objects that just happen to make a pleasing noise. 

I happen to know a fellow who took on a ’summer project’ of DIY’ing a pair of MBL speakers....the early 101 version, extreme as it was then...

He started with the ’globe tweeter’....check, done.

Did a pair of the mid-drivers.....check.

Last heard had moved on to the bass drivers....in the midst of family, school, and work (this latter was for an audio company near Atlanta, which certainly gives a ’leg up’ on yours unrulys’ efforts.....access to CNC, 3D printing, CFibre, forming tech, all that...).
Side bet was which of us that completed our projects would host the other to an audition....

Recent query @ DIY audio was ’whatever happened to ..?"

Life, and it’s demands, I suspect.  It frustrates me, the balance between what I’d like/love to do v. what’s required to keep it stuck together

Sem-retired, I’m still drawn into the business spouse and I ’do’.
We design, build, and install custom playgrounds for churches, schools, parks, and those who want something different and better than the stuff from Sam’s, Costco, HD, or Lowes’....  We build for your children, and their children.
We can match the ’architecture’ of your domicile if you like.

We’re not inexpensive.  "What can I get for $500?"

Parts. A decent commercial slide starts there.  I haven’t done more than ordered it.

Spouse wanted to ’do’ a sandwich shop....compete with Subway?  Uh, yeah, sure.
My logic = People still F and occasionally make a kid or 2.

Current study notes that, to reduce one’s carbon footprint is to forgo the latter.
Birth rates are beginning to fall off already...spouse and self are early adopters of that....cats and the dog are easier to cope with and afford.
The metal and plastic playgrounds in that new park can run into the 6 figures easily, and we've done a couple....a boat, an airplane (complete with a tower), a fish....
We travel....TX, FL, north of Boston pending....

The OTR trucker who hauled the fish said it was the most enjoyable haul he'd ever done.  People honking, waving, pic-ing, kids plastered to the windows....giving way...Beats a 'real job'.  I used to 'tell people where to go' daily....commercial graphics and signage, a stint for the oldest company in SF.CA part of my refs....

Our oldest employee had an attack of the stupids last weekend and got popped for not having his DL and was DUI....and now is in the maw of the ICE trolls....

....and I’m not so semi-retired now.  Hard to find woodworkers that think they’re artists because they can fire a nail gun without hitting their palm with the ’shoot-out’ at the backside of the 2x....

Likely similar to the ’techs’ that can only fix your amp without having to swap an entire pc board to do so....much like your car, fridge, flat screen.....

Have a good weekend while I work.  C’ya...J

Call me....you have enough hints at hand.