These seem a bit pricey $$$

Im glad you think he is great i have spoken to him many times he is knowledge.I know a lot as well been in this hobby over 50 years.

I find Steve Gutenberg to be one of the most experienced honest real world reviewers out there, easily. 

However Steve is, like the rest of us I hope, also human. He like all of us has to live in the real world with all its social interaction issues. 

How many of us are able to be truly blunt with all of our friends? Not many, and I don't think Steve is immune either.

Besides, all reviewers should be there to be disagreed with - until our senses can demonstrate otherwise.

bet the mfg. has to charge this big number since they’re hand built and he’ll probably sell just a few. speaker size would be good for typical euro living environments too. BTW, I like and respect SG; he helps keep our hobby alive

If you priced the kef Ls50 for $50k and claimed it was world class, many rich audiophiles would buy it. If you priced a Magico at $400 and marketed it as a cheap speaker for people on a small budget, it would never be regarded as world class. It really is all perception. 

If the LS50 was prices at 50k they would sell exactly 0 of them.