$100,000 line stage

Dave (dicockrum),
How prophetic your initial post turned out to be 😊
Charles 

georgehifi

I see it as a money grabbing whore taking advantage of a rich fool and his money.

You're free to see it anyway you like, of course. But why so angry? Why so judgmental of how other people choose to spend their money? Why assume that because the people who would buy this have different values than you, that they must be foolish?

You make a lot of assumptions about people  you don't seem to have even met.

+++ grannyring. Well said. I have friends who have no problem paying $300-$400 for a bottle of wine but question my $1500 amplifier. We have figured a compromise; they bring the wine and I provide the music and all is good. 

Here's the thing. If someone built a 10 million dollar passenger car, someone would buy it. I am not knocking anybody buying this level of stereo. In fact, I think in Asia countries, Audio gets really high. I was just taken aback by the price. Many knock the audio rags for reviewing high priced components. Personally, I like the reviews plus many of those makers produce affordable gear as well. But, $100 k for a preamp is high end that one does not see everyday. 

The philosophy and business model of AudioNote UK is interesting and is well illustrated by this recent profile
https://parttimeaudiophile.com/2017/08/12/audio-note-uk-factory-tours-and-life-in-the-fast-lane-with...

I think of them more as in the tradition of bespoke hand made artisanship and they are by no means the most expensive or exclusive, consider Dalby Audio Design, an even more extreme and expensive outfit