The new dynamic in speaker pricing

The trend of availability of the most expensive offerings in speakers, or any component, has a mix of reasons. The primary reason IMO is the willingness of a suitable potential customer and their own decisions to part with funds for a desired and anticipated outcome. More people than ever have bigger bucks to splash out for top priced equipment.

It's okay.

My interest would be to curate some of the good stuff at a massive discount from original retail. I am not in a hurry for my wish lists to be fulfilled, and there is a lifetime's worth of music to enjoy while plans come together.

At the level of OMA speakers, the 'art' of the appearance of the unit means as much (if not more) than the performance of it.

They may sound terrific, but at that $ level they Must Look the Part doing so.

They would demand being in a space that makes them do so, as well as the driving elements.  But those who can or feel the need for that can afford that, as well as whatever else scratches the itches felt for whatever rationale.

Must be nice....*G*

As long as there is kudos to be gained by dropping that you just laid out six big ones on speakers at the Ukrainian orphans charity ball I am sure speaker manufacturers will be sure to oblige…..

There are great sounding loudspeakers and there are very high price loudspeakers sometimes the costly ones can be wonderful sometimes they are just priced high because that's how audiophiles think they greatly associate retail prices and name brands with sound quality. Not how they sound but are they in the price range I want to spend and would other audiophiles approve of what I bought.

There is a good question as to whether a speaker design that would be tiny, have zero aesthetics and yet be a ’world beater’, would actually have any traction regardless of pricing. Most manufacturers ( maybe all?) are cognizant of the fact that folks in this hobby tend to buy using their eyes more than their ears. As such, a ultra pricey offering had better have some serious bling to it, or be large enough to create a sense of awe. A tiny speaker, like in my above example, would have little chance at the price points we are talking about---even if it was the best sounding speaker ever made! Interesting point.