IN the US prices of hi fi cabinet 50s/100s came down about year ago as to get them closer in price to the pro models.
It's not just a "black" vs veneer choice, its a significantly more than that which is why they are different in price. Pro is a painted MDF (what's normally under the veneer) with plenty of errors in the surface and randomized splatter paint. Expecting a visually flawless pair of pro models is not a realistic expectation, it will not happen. Consumers usually don't like them once they see them in person. Flaws in the MDF cabinet surface or the splatter paint are normal. On the pro side, pros don't want to spend even $1 on visuals of a monitor that sits in a dark studio all the time. Plus they beat them up over time moving them from studio to studio anyway. The pro finish is typically not good enough for someone's home, despite what they say before they actually see them in person.
Also pro dealers are used to self servicing customers that already know what they want, who can diagnose problems, measure things in their room, ship drivers back for reconing if necessary, diagnose issues, etc. Pro users don't really need support from the dealer. Consumer customers on the other hand usually expect significant support such as a well informed dealer who can answer all their questions about associated gear, cables, stands, amps, etc and is willing to spend the time to answer any and all inquiries. I find consumer dealers offer WAY more service to the end user than Pro dealers do. So this is the hidden difference that emerges after the sale for someone who buys pro but is really a consumer hi fi customer.
Consumer models have a proper veneered cabinet, veneered INSIDE and out (balanced so they wont warp) with matching left right "bookend" veneers. They spend an hour on the painted back and they spend days and days (over a week) hand making the veneer models, veneering each cabinet part individually. Higher gloss models take 2 weeks of steady "everyday" work as you apply gloss and then sand by hand. Our piano finish is 3 weeks of work on cabinet alone, 10 coats of gloss and yes-it costs a lot to do that. But its a lifetime piece of furniture.
A basic veneered hi fi pair of passive 50 floor standers is around 20K from a dealer in the US (with a US administered 6 year warranty and US tech support).
