In general, I think high end audio has remained pretty cost level. In 1980 I bought a state of the art amp, a Threshold s500. I had to take out a loan. In todays dollars that is about $18,800. I recently bought a ARC 160s amp for $22K. The performance is not even remotely close… 40 years of progress… but I think it fits in a similar slot. There are many more expensive amps now. But that is because of differentiation in users and developing for better healed audiophiles.
All in all the sound quality level has advanced remarkably. I am sure I could buy an amp better than my Threshold s500 (actually if anyone owned one that has been reconditioned chime in) for $2K. If I am even close on this, it attests to the value of buying true audiophile stuff. I owned a Pass x350 for 15 years and got all but $500 back in trade.
