Affordable vs. ultra expensive speakers - what's the difference?

Affordable is kind of a silly word. I can afford much more than my daughter can, a good friend of mine can afford much more than I can. Therefore it’s actually ALL affordable. The notion of value is an entirely different thing. If a 3000.00 speaker works for you, fine. Or 500.00 or 25.00 or 100,000.00. It really doesn’t matter. Value is in the eye of the beholder. Cost is ultimately irrelevant. 
 

Using the car analogy, all cars have 4 wheels, a body, an engine, a gas tank and various other bits. Some just do it better than others.

close your eyes, let them play it at whichever San Diego dealer and your ears will tell you. Not us, not the price tag, but wherever the sound will take you

Several things come to mind.

Firstly, where is anything made. Germany, for instance, has the highest employee wages in the world. Things coming from China (a la your first example) not so much.

Secondly, what is th cabinetry construction? Certain speaker cabinets are hand finished using exotic wood veneers. They are "formed" and "contoured" which adds considerably to cost. Others may be "wood like" using vinyl replication.

Thirdly, what is the distribution mark up? I have dealt with distributors that have virtually doubled the price of the component especially from products we stocked that came over seas.

Fourthly, Does the product price point reflect advantageous positioning? In other words, if we msrp something at a higher price point, does this imbue a more desirable and prestigious aspect to the product and thus increase sales to those who hold importance of such? For some, most certainly so.

In short, beyond the build material quality as it relates to speaker voicing, there is a plethora of other aspects that lend to the eventual price of the product.That is why the most important aspect, as previously stated by some, are the ears of the buyer as opposed to the price of the product.

idiotic 

a Ferrarri is a car 

so is a yugo

is aferrari a better car is it worth the difference?

 I am so impressed by the build quality/performance of some manufacturers out there. Once in a while, I build a project for myself or for sale. I have to make decisions about what I am aiming for, or the extent of performance that a product has by it's design to begin with.

 This all seems to be similar to racing cars. Say a fast car costs $50K. A Slightly faster car will cost $75K. Diminishing returns happen after that.