What makes an expensive speaker expensive


When one plunks down $10,000 $50,000 and more for a speaker you’re paying for awesome sound, perhaps an elegant or outlandish style, some prestige ... but what makes the price what it is?

Are the materials in a $95,000 set of speakers really that expensive? Or are you paying a designer who has determined he can make more by selling a few at a really high price as compared to a lot at a low price?

And at what point do you stop using price as a gauge to the quality? Would you be surprised to see $30,000 speakers "outperform" $150,000 speakers?

Too much time on my hands today I guess.
jimspov

Showing 4 responses by derrickengineer

Not at the $150K level as an owner but have heard wilson and legacy at shows in the past years.. This is my second Audiogon profile as my original one was deleted due to snoopy x wife. Does that answer your question siddh?
Do you have any actual experience siddh?
YOUR EGO.. when audiophiles are willing to shell out a hundred thousand dollars + for an audio speaker I remember the words " If you build it they will come" from a Costner movie and so true is the rational behind mega buck speakers that sound greaty, but arne t any better than one costing half the price. Audio gear is the same. There was a  website..            " Whats inside"  that showed the inside of audio components and I was amazed to see a $60,000. phone stage with one transformer and a circuit board with a few caps. The inside box was 70% empty.. The Buyers feed the market as to whats made. If no one buys a super priced speaker.. no one will make it. Companies will have their flagship speaker but dont look to sell tons of them at over $100k . I wish the stereo reviewers would do shoot outs. I challenge Wilson Audio Alexandra XLS at over $100k+ to go up against Legacy Audio V $50k and have a panel of judges determine which speaker sounds better. Its a matter of each individuals taste in sound but i bet dollars to donuts the sound is not 3 x's the price better. Subjective.. you bet.. A  rip off.. for those that can t afford it..lol. Thats why I thank God for Audiogon as it puts the costlier gear that I could never afford, at my reach years down the road when I could potentially buy it used at 60% off retail. Now does that $150 K speaker sound the same at $60k ?  It sounds better..lol.
Ive had 20 year old $2500 B&W 801's with new upgraded crossovers built by Solen sound better than a lot of $10k speakers that ive heard in dealers showrooms, Totem, Dynaudio, to name a few. My monet stayed in my pocket when I was shopping around for potential new speakers and to see whats out there.  Revel Ultima Salon were the only ones that sounded better at $20k  to my ears.
I totally agree with you on the audio show set ups. The best scenario would be in your home listening to any high cost speaker. Audio shows are a great way for the masses to hear, (although crappy room set up as you stated) and see the high end products. Synergy ( equipment and room ) is the key to getting the most out of your speakers and system. I think the point is the sound perceived per dollar spent on speakers. As you stated the sound of the speaker in your example did not sound any better than the sound of the half priced speaker. We all have systems based on our means and wants. Should I inherit $50 million dollars, you bet Id be auditioning the high performance speakers out there, still that $200k speaker may not sound any better than a $100k speaker, my new found wealthy Ego allows me to try it thus fueling the demand for manufacturers to create such things of beauty. Cheers my friend.