What makes an expensive speaker expensive


When one plunks down $10,000 $50,000 and more for a speaker you’re paying for awesome sound, perhaps an elegant or outlandish style, some prestige ... but what makes the price what it is?

Are the materials in a $95,000 set of speakers really that expensive? Or are you paying a designer who has determined he can make more by selling a few at a really high price as compared to a lot at a low price?

And at what point do you stop using price as a gauge to the quality? Would you be surprised to see $30,000 speakers "outperform" $150,000 speakers?

Too much time on my hands today I guess.
128x128jimspov
@tomcy6

Agreed.

Your emotions cause you to buy speakers, not your oscilloscope. Buy what you like, but always keep an ear out for what else you might like, and different types of emotional engagements.

It’s like baseball. Stats are fun, but it’s the game that keeps you in your seat during the overtime innings. :)

Also, I'm sorry but I'm not convinced the goal should be to spend the most. Anyone can spend $300 to get a great bottle of wine.  I think the best audiophile and music lovers need to be looking for that $20 dollar bottle of wine that is just as good. :) 

Best,


Erik
No Offense intended derrickengineer.  I have heard some expensive speakers in optimal rooms with very pricey ancillary electronics and front ends.  They produced some of the closest to live reproductions I have heard.  A Wilson speaker with master tape front-end.  Genesis Ones playing acoustic guitar...very real presentation.  Vandersteen 7's...incredible air, depth of staging, delineation, and musical.  Tidal...don't recall which model, with all Tidal electronics and digital front end...kept me totally absorbed.  Polymer Audio did some spectacular things at Axpona.  The larger YG Acoustics, to my taste and ears, bettered their smaller models. Kaiser Kawero were extremely enjoyable...great throughout the frequency range.  Occasionally, the expensive Magicos performed well. I have never heard the MBL's sound musical and involving..but only heard at shows 
I would very much wish to hear the large Avalons and Evolution Acoustics.

My understanding is each of these speakers have achieved this level of performance by utilizing expensive components; in the drivers and crossovers, plus the density of the cabinet and internal wiring.   To reach the depths of lower bass, extension in the upper frequencies, and the delicious, seductive mid-range,; my experiences are from these high-end, high-priced products.

My issue with your statement, derrickengineer,  is as with all respondents who make blanket generalizations about a product without actual encounters.  Not very practical or objective. 
I own $20000 B&W speakers. At audio show, the speakers I felt obviously better than mine were all a lot more than $20000. I think price does matter somehow.

if you have a BIG BANK ACCOUNT  you can fool yourself into  believing that the speakers you plan on buying ........   say 150,000 bucks but you also seen & listened to a set that you didnt know that they were only 2,000  but can anyone honestly say that the set at 150,000 are  148,000  TIMES BETTER than the set at  2,000  ..........   i say " Bollocks "