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Is it possible for a high end manufacturer to overprice their goods?

Having just read the interesting and hyperbole laden review by RH of the new Rockport Orion speakers in the latest issue of The Absolute Sound, one thing struck me..

is it possible in the high end for a manufacturer to overprice their product ( doesn’t have to be a speaker, but this example comes to mind)? I ask this, as the Orion is priced at $133k! Yes,a price that would probably make 99% of hobbyists squirm. Yet, the speaker now joins a number of competitors that are in the $100k realm. 
To that, this particular speaker stands just 50.3” tall and is just 14.3” wide…with one 13” woofer, one 7” midrange and a 1.25” beryllium dome ( which these days is nothing special at all…and could potentially lead to the nasties of beryllium bite).

The question is…given this speakers design and parts, which may or may not be SOTA, is it possible that this is just another overpriced product that will not sell, or is it like others, correctly priced for its target market? Thoughts…

128x128daveyf
mofojo
2,303 posts
 

@mihorn ,

”
The only Hi-end audio company is the Wavetouch audio. Everything else are Hi-Fi. They all are simply unlistenable to me. I watched few 2023 Axpona videos and my ears are in serious pain. My ears are much better after I listen WTPC video for few minutes. Alex/Wavetouch”

 

ohh my that made me laugh after a rough night !! 😃😃😃😃😃

jon_5912
605 posts
 

I think it's about exclusivity and avoiding comparison.  If you price something high enough hardly anyone will ever hear it or be able to compare it to other products.  Bose is famous for requiring their products to be displayed in separate areas where they can't be compared to anything.  If you price a product high enough no dealer will have a demo so it doesn't need to perform because it can't be compared.  It needs to look pretty and have a sound that some will prefer.

jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
574 posts
 

It might be a good idea to rate lines by a minimum age. Like Movies.

 

Highest priced lines are Rated XXX Over 30 to view

Moderate Lines rated R for buyers 25+

Affordable Lines PG for "Pretty Good" All ages 

bpoletti
1,553 posts
 

There is such a thing as a 1" fine extra large brushed brass faceplate in front of a mediocre piece of electronics.

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

Get what you can afford...or can stretch for. Visit  a handful of dealers or at least get into communication with a few.  Explain your situation and how many bucks you can part with. Tell 'em what you listen to, i.e., what you like. Only play Led Zep? Only hip-hop? Only Miles Davis? Only Maria Callas mono recordings? Tell 'em how much space you got for your high-fi set-up, and how many dB's you like to bathe in. To be sure, you don't need to ignore magazine rave reviews.  But a good dealer is a wonderful thing.

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