Well, don't get on a rant or anything! I suppose it appears that some high end stuff is really expensive, but you or I have no basis to know whether they are simply priced at the usual mark up from manufacturer to wholesaler to retail. I do know that when stereo components are made in small batches the cost per unit is much higher. That's just simple economics.
And if they use military grade and or very high tolerances for the parts, which are going to be again made in small batches, up goes the price. A $10,000 amp or pair of speakers will not be sold by the thousands, friend. Do some of these expensive components even sell 200 units per year? I doubt it. One company, Ayre, makes the front aluminum pieces out of solid blocks that get machined down to the designed piece, again not cheap. I have no idea whether they sell at the usual margins or not. And frankly, I really don't care. If some wealthy people want to buy these unobtanium pieces, so what? That's up to them, not you.
That said, for myself I can't afford such but have pieced together a pretty nice sounding system through some trial and error and reading forums like this one. I use Morrow Audio cables, and have turned to some of the internet direct companies to get what I consider to be better bang for buck. The Morrow cables really do make a difference in my system, and so did the Audioquest Type 4 speaker cables.
In fact, these cables really upped the sound quality in my system, and although I only spent about 700 for 3 sets of cables, it was well worth it. I truly believe that some may not be able to hear this difference due to hearing.
I know a guy who can't sing on key for love nor money. He'll bellow out the words, and has no idea he's way off. His hearing is different than mine, and that is why some people can't hear these improvements. Then they go online and rant about how they bought an expensive cable and it didn't help(nothing to do with hearing loss). Or perhaps they tried one cable and left the other 3 cheap monoprice crap in the system which neutralized any benefits.
Buy what you like, but to call cable enthusiasts snake oil suckers says more about you than anyone else.
And if they use military grade and or very high tolerances for the parts, which are going to be again made in small batches, up goes the price. A $10,000 amp or pair of speakers will not be sold by the thousands, friend. Do some of these expensive components even sell 200 units per year? I doubt it. One company, Ayre, makes the front aluminum pieces out of solid blocks that get machined down to the designed piece, again not cheap. I have no idea whether they sell at the usual margins or not. And frankly, I really don't care. If some wealthy people want to buy these unobtanium pieces, so what? That's up to them, not you.
That said, for myself I can't afford such but have pieced together a pretty nice sounding system through some trial and error and reading forums like this one. I use Morrow Audio cables, and have turned to some of the internet direct companies to get what I consider to be better bang for buck. The Morrow cables really do make a difference in my system, and so did the Audioquest Type 4 speaker cables.
In fact, these cables really upped the sound quality in my system, and although I only spent about 700 for 3 sets of cables, it was well worth it. I truly believe that some may not be able to hear this difference due to hearing.
I know a guy who can't sing on key for love nor money. He'll bellow out the words, and has no idea he's way off. His hearing is different than mine, and that is why some people can't hear these improvements. Then they go online and rant about how they bought an expensive cable and it didn't help(nothing to do with hearing loss). Or perhaps they tried one cable and left the other 3 cheap monoprice crap in the system which neutralized any benefits.
Buy what you like, but to call cable enthusiasts snake oil suckers says more about you than anyone else.