Is the main reason audio equipment depreciates so much is

Jea,

If you are saying the dealers are only making 10 percent after expenses that sounds about right. The manufacturers on the other hand are making a lot higher profit margins than that. 

excellent discussions guys-  I am interested in the cost of making cables/power cords (my caveat of our wonderful hobby).
Being a Transparent fan, I often wonder how this company, arrives at the OPUS level pricing? EnKlein, ElRod + MIT are others as well.

In other words, the true cost of making (1) pair of IC, (1) PC
the network box...?

can't leave out advertising costs...I'm a cable guy, but $50.000 speaker cables are beyond my understanding...

You must include R&D in the price of a product!

Ji35,

There is no rhyme or reason to it. They just try to get what the market will bare. It doesn't matter what it cost them to make it. They are only Interested in perceived value.