Why Is Hi Fi Gear So Darn Expensive?

There are ways around the high cost of audio equipment by finding an exceptionally gifted modder that can take a used piece of reputable equipment ; speaker crossovers, amps, preamps, phono stages, audio cartridges, etc. and bring it up to a level that competes with the latest highly-touted products appearing in the market. Remember that older products, like the Quad ESL-57, introduced in the late '50's, are often voted #1 on the lists of best speakers of all time. Western Electric gear from the '30's is sought after and commands astronomical prices. Point being- older (cheaper) stuff can be reworked into amazing gear in the right hands.

There are few of them here for sure. 

There are ways around the high cost of audio equipment by finding an exceptionally gifted modder that can take a used piece of reputable equipment ; speaker crossovers, amps, preamps, phono stages, audio cartridges, etc. and bring it up to a level that competes with the latest highly-touted products appearing in the market. Remember that older products, like the Quad ESL-57, introduced in the late '50's, are often voted #1 on the lists of best speakers of all time. Western Electric gear from the '30's is sought after and commands astronomical prices. Point being- older (cheaper) stuff can be reworked into amazing gear in the right hands.

 

" The cabinets and parts are Chinese sourced what % not sure we will ever know."

dayglow-

Perhaps you are aware, much of all audio products have China attached to it. Especially many of those nice black lacquer boxes for those hi digit "USA" speakers.

Some of the crowd here for some reason seems to be adverse to reality.

If it were not for China, we would be either staring at empty boxes or paying  even MORE for the "made in USA with 100% USA parts INCLUDING nuts, bolts and zip ties and solder!  

Never gonna happen. I enjoy all my China made products.

Buy something vintage from the 60's and earlier for USA product.

@tablejockey is right everything has foreign content. 

Audio gear has always been expensive because audiophiles associate price with sound quality. Even dealers are reluctant to carry lower price items because they know it's a hard sell (unless it gets a Stereophile Class A rating) and they won't score a high margin on the sale.