These products are targeted for the millionaire class. They don't necessarily sound any better or different than something at 1/10 or 1/100 the cost.
They know we will pay anything they can think of
Anyone have any idea how long ago Hifi manufacturers discovered we (audiophiles) will pay almost anything chasing our perfect sound? I individualized it because each of us are reaching for our own personal nirvana. You can go to any audio show, see someone point to a piece of equipment and ask the price. Out comes a price you know the rep made up while sitting in his office wondering how much he can ask those sick people to pay. We know advertising, manufacturing, and overhead is relatively expensive but we also know that the asking price should take care of that if he sells maybe 4 or 5 of them all year. Knowing that I have paid quite a bit for equipment over the years that I knew I shouldn't have but did anyway.
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The fact that much, if not most, audio gear sells for just a little more than half the original price on the used market after a couple of years somehow factors into the conversation. Is the loss of value due to technological improvements of newer items, or an overstated anticipated intrinsic value and original price? |
Money is an invention, anyway. It's all psychology. If you feel like high prices are demeaning, don't pay them. A gin and tonic cost me $15 the other day. Add up all the costs and the markup is exorbitant. Should I write a post complaining about it? Why would I? Such a post would say more about me than about the phenomenon. Everyone has a different way of evaluating what they should spend their discretionary income on. I, personally, imagine a society where anyone willing to pay $100k on speakers decided to give half of that expenditure away to a needy cause. My guess is that listening to $50k speakers with the knowledge that $50k had gone to help someone(s) really deserving would make the experience a lot better. |
Valid question... sometimes in this hobby you fork out $$$ and actually get something world class. Other times you have buyers remorse early on and realize you paid a lot for something that's no so great. Sometimes something comes along that Is such a great value price is almost irrelevant . There have been some egregious price hikes since Covid, that doesnt help either. Although if you use the CPI calculator you will see that great HiFi in 1965 cost just as much back then as it does now. My Dad bought a pair of KLH 12 back in 1968, when I was 1. They cost $550 a pair ! ... that was like spending $5k today. I guarantee my Klipsch Forte IV were a better value. |
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