WHY IS THERE SO MUCH HATE FOR THE HIGH END GEAR ON AUDIO GEAR?

@calvinj 

You must have mistaken me for somebody else who actually cares how other people spend their money because I don't, and occasionally say so in my posts.  I am possibly guilty of occasional snarky comments (although I mostly aim for sarcasm and innuendo).  I don't quite understand the new SKSC sickness you have discovered but suggest is is possible you are projecting.

Interesting concept for contemplation - if you don't want comments or feedback about your posts then quit asking questions on a public forum.  Some may think you are simply searching for an argument.

@calvinj - At the end of the day, its just a stereo.

I honestly haven't noticed this but, in general, haters hate.

IMO, it is not worth the energy to worry about it.

I sometimes hate the use of all caps but mostly overlook it.

"I haven’t complained"

@calvinj  - For clarity, I never said you "complained" but if you want to argue about that you will need to pay for an extra five minutes...

@unreceivedogma

"If you don’t like $1.2M audio systems, instead of not buying it, change the system that caters to millionaires."

"Prices today are a reflection of the (passive, like you maybe?) acceptance of the grossly unequal economic structure we have in the U.S. today. It doesn’t have to be that way."

So, I am curious.  If, "it doesn’t have to be that way", then what are you suggesting people do to "change the system that caters to millionaires", other than voting with their wallets?

Welcome @bob70 

Man, I miss the days when I drove an American jalopy - stereo was a Pioneer in-dash with Jensen 6x9s under the package deck - some of the best days of my life!

I wouldn't label particular audio products as a "farce" any more than many other types of commercial products.  In cases where key performance metrics are mostly subjective rather than measurable, then the value can only be judged by what a buyer is willing to spend.

Many of the arguments here originate from folks wanting to make absolute judgements (i.e., better or best) about components, speakers, or tweaks that are mostly judged based on subjective, not measurable, criteria.  The subjective nature of many audio products also opens the door for marketing departments to exercise their poetic license.

At the level participated in by many here, this is a niche hobby with a relatively wide range of products being marketed to a relatively small (and becoming smaller) audience of hobbyists.  As such, development, manufacturing, inventory, and sales costs are high on a per unit basis.  Parts and construction costs are not going to directly relate to retail pricing in many cases. 

There are many considerations that impact the difference between a successful endeavor and a failure in this industry, such as the depth of a product range, price points served, dealer network or not, volume of manufacturing operation, and more.  I suspect for most, success in the audio industry is precarious at best, mostly for people who really love audio, and certainly not for the faint of heart.

As a buyer, do your homework and realize the person looking out for you the most is yourself.  If you find some folks along the way that you develop good relationships with and can trust, remember that those relationships need to be 2-way streets to survive.