New D'Agostino Monoblocks...$250,000

It's all relative. I was in our local bike shop today and, thinking about this thread, looked over all the sleek and carbon fiber-y Specializes and Cannondales and whatnots and, having been a cyclist for three decades now, wasn't surprised a bit at how casually many were priced in the $2K and up range - and that's before pedals and other accessories. Many bikes were in the $5-$10K range, weighed less than .0002 pounds, and did your laundry after the ride.

The point being is that many of the cyclists who would drop $4K on a good bike would be seen as gratuitously frivolous with their money for those who don't cycle. And most of these cyclists are not professionals by any means, just dedicated amateurs in pursuit of a smooth and challenging machine to match the reality between their dreams and capabilities.

It's like the 20-somethings who trick out their Hondas, turning an $18K 2010 Accord into a $40K modified street beast. Or those who take an F-150 and dump $15K worth of modifications into it. It's a serious hobby - the only difference between that and audiophilia is that we tend not to build our machines.

If you can drop $250K into amplifiers, you have more money than you know what to do with AND a knowledge of what sounds good. That's a rare combination.

And yes, we lie all the time about the price of our components, sometimes so as not to sound like a complete ass-hat. But other times to soften the blow to spouses and relatives and friends who just don't understand. It's like that classic comic with two audiophiles, one saying to the other: "I hope that when I die my wife doesn't sell my gear for as little as I told her I paid for it."

Oh - and $250K on live sound every week? Hell no. Live sound usually sucks. Plus, then I'm a captive audience to the band I booked. The introvert in me would much rather just chill to a recording and not deal with people.

Practical issue may be 10 000 Watts maximum power consumption. Does it mean that two are 20 000? Are most of the outlets, fancy or not, ready for that? That is before asking about building wiring. The price itself is just a conversation piece, but practicality is something else.

I am sure that some of the pricing strategy is " charge what the market will bear" but remember the USA/global economies are minting new billionaires. The owners of the company I work for just bought a 150 yacht last year that must have cost at least $30M and if you go to Ft Lauderdale they are lined up in rows. The globe is awash in capital but just concentrated in a few who can afford these luxuries. 
I am quite happy with my modest system and I'm sure gives me as much pleasure as a much more expensive system would.

Sounds like just the amp you need when you buy those 70 dB efficient speakers you've been wanting....

I have to wonder if the “golden toilet” crowd who can afford these even turn them on an any
sort of semi-regular basis. That, to me, is the
ironically sad part of pandering to the 10% crowd. 

Ive never heard any of his amps and have no interest. It’s america so even selling poison to people will make one rich, but those who do eventually have to stare morality in the face.

I don’t have those problems, my conscience is clear and I’m happy to just pay the rent, keep us fed, my daughter's Therapies paid for and the occasional record purchase this month even if I have to work 75+ hours to do it.