Has the cost of HiFi gotten a bit too much?

chinese manufacturers  Chinese communist party 

as i see it there is definitely a proliferation of nosebleed priced gear by many makers... i think it is in response, predictably, to the emergence of top 1% ers in society ... if one looks in stereophile or tas the top categories seems to be exclusively populated with just insanely priced gear

that said, in more affordable price tiers, there is also excellent choice of gear, and i would venture to say, more and better choice than ever, and that is where helpful forums like this come in, advice and experiences by real users who live in the real world of money shared openly

a great example i have recently put together has been maggie 17i’s driven by a hegel h190 amp streaming roon... a core computer, a decent network switch, an ethernet cable into the hegel, speaker cables into the maggies... so simple, not too expensive (less than 10 grand in gear at msrp, more like 5.5-6 grand used) and the sound is absolutely, simply superb...

another example is a system recently put together for a dear friend - classic spendor sp1’s, pair of older rel q150 subs, bluesound node 2i streamer into a nuprime ida-8 integrated w dac... 3500 in cost used, sounds just lovely, full range, played soft or loud

the existence and marketing of ridiculous nosebleed gear like $20,000 amps and $10,000 streamers and $30,000 speakers should not dissuade real audiophiles and music lovers living in the real world who still appreciate the value of wisely spent money

@nonoise + 1

@gregdude

Having worked in high tech manufacturing and spent years working on mainland China… Chinese Manufacturing is just that. Chinese that have put together a business, hired Chinese workers to produce and sell a product. They are like us… try to avoid getting in trouble with their government… know the boundaries of how to avoid it… know when their government is lying to them… and work to support their families… enjoy going out to dinner if they can afford it. They also have a cultural way of interaction among themselves… more aggressive than we are. But they know our manor of interaction and treat us accordingly. I have also worked in supply chains and manufacturing in Japan, across Europe and Mexico, different cultures, but good people working within the distant confines of their government.

If you think audio equipment prices are getting high, they are flat lining compared to lumber prices,. Read this quote:

"On Tuesday, the cash price per thousand board feet of lumber was at $1,391, according to industry trade publication Random Lengths. While that’s down a bit from its $1,515 all-time high set on May 28, it’s up a staggering 288% since April 2020. Prior to the pandemic, the price usually floated between $350 and $500."

You see 2x4 studs at Lowes for $8.00. and 1/2" 4’x8’ plywood sheets at Home Depot for $57.00, both ungodly prices. Those prices have precluded building a woodworking shop at home until hopefully prices get back to pre-Covid levels next year. But that was supposed to happen this year, along with this years significant increase in lumber production. I’ve invested in a new tonearm and cartridge instead this year.

Mike