Imported audio are you getting the same level of performance vs domestic priced equip?


Imported audio usually runs 15-30 % higher in the country the equipment is exported to vs the country of origin. This is understandable with the issues of import fees, shipping costs and distributer mark up.
I’ve gasped at times the difference one pays for the same product only because the product is being sold in a different country. If you take a domestic product at the same price point that’s not marked up with the extra costs logically you would believe the domestic product is superior since you are not looking at a 15-30 % mark up. 15-30 % is usually where you see a company offer something better
than the previous price point. This is not always the case sometimes it’s 50 % above the lesser product. If I buy a $10000. Speaker from a foreign company that sells for $7000. In the country of origin, I’m paying $10000. for a speaker that’s actually a $7000. Performing one. Take Focal audio for instance the Kanta vs Sopra are all priced about 20% apart as you move up the chain. Each step up is an improvement over the other, they say. So I’m actually paying more for less by buying foreign audio equipment here in the U.S . 
The point I’m trying make or the answer I’m seeking to my question is are you getting less for your money buying foreign audio equipment than domestic ?
hiendmmoe
This can be more unpredictable than you would think -   

I find there is less differentiation between foreign and domestic products in terms of price and quality and more between large and small companies selling at retail.  

Part of it is that most of the large speaker companies who do a lot of volume are foreign or produce their products overseas and the result is that even if you are a US based company, you are still dealing with the same tariffs and freight issues as foreign companies.  Secondarily, some of the larger companies own their own US distribution companies and it is just US overheads.  So thinking that Focal is a bad deal vs. say Polk because of country where the company is headquartered is not necessarily the case.  

Where you are most likely to overpay is small company vs. big company and a foreign small company will be the worst.  However, this only holds if you are buying at retail.  I can produce a speaker that is fairly price in terms of price/value vs. my competition if I sell consumer direct as long as I am talking about products that are in the $1500 to $2000+ for stand-mount, $3500 to $4000+ for floor-standing price points.  Even compared to big companies like Harman & Focal.  Under that I can only compete if I was to buy speakers by the container from the far east and deliver parity quality.  At  higher prices small companies can represent a value if they don't jack their margins AND you are buying consumer direct.  

Where you get really screwed is if you buy from a small company at retail.  I can think of one company where I can build a speaker using their exact drivers in an identical cabinet and sell it for a little more than half their price consumer direct.  At retail, I would likely be a parity and IMO, offer a poor value.  With small foreign companies this gets magnified.     
 
I see Canton loudspeakers, made in Germany for 50% - 60% off retail at accessories4less.com as well as some heavily discounted, French built or designed Cabasse and Focal loudspeakers. I've heard a pair of the higher end Canton's years ago and they were amazing. I don't think they mark them up double so they can discount them because their MSRP's are all inline with comparable Paradigm, Revel etc. products.
I am not in to the idea of a singular, objective promised land in audio, so the premium paid for being part of the bigger world of imports just has to be acknowledged as part of that item's story with the benefit being an expanded selection. There is only one Harbeth, ATC, Avantgarde, etc. Another problem is the instability of audio distribution. 

I’ve gasped at times the difference one pays for the same product only because the product is being sold in a different country. 
For real. I remember seeing the updated ATC price list...thought it was in Yen. And I remember a wife at visiting Avantgarde at Axpona. She was literally yelling at everyone about the price of the Zeros. Good thing for her husband it wasn't the Unos. 
try living in Canada where everything is more expensive just because they can get away with it. Books
Which reminds me, one of these days really need to start a thread worrying about how everything costs more because fiat money. But then I would have to start another thread about how everything costs less because mining oil. Oh well the point is everything just costs more. Why can't it all just be free? And everywhere? All at once? For everyone?

Uh oh, I may have unwittingly just become the 24th democrat presidential candidate....