Why Is Hi Fi Gear So Darn Expensive?


Why Is Hi-Fi Gear So Darn Expensive?! - The Absolute Sound

Interesting read.

"I recently heard a small 2-way stand mount speaker at a show. The sound was excellent. The product was priced at $50,000 or thereabouts, per pair. Allowing for distribution and marketing leaves about $25,000."

$25000 for distribution and marketing? Really? That much more for this than a similar product at 1/10th the cost?

I don’t doubt the marketing cost per unit could be much higher with boutique products. Makes sense. Is the cat is out of the bag regarding the value proposition of boutique products?

How about fancy fuses marketed for free here that cost practically nothing to ship? Oh my!

I guess there are "excellent" expensive boutique products and others that offer value everywhere. Hifi not unique. Take your pick! Live and learn!

The article also chalks up people’s reactions to high-fi prices to emotion. What about the sound they hear? Real or emotionally distorted? What would Mr. Spock think about that? I know he likes music...he plays a harp!

128x128mapman

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.

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.

I agree with @gs5556 case in point I have a Class A Integrated as an everyday driver I purchased New for $1200.00 and it sounds fantastic. A few member her have this same Integrated and yet not many stores Boutique or Big Box carry the line?

Get rave reviews on PTA and Sterophile.

It is the price point, I bought it so that I am not running my $10,000.00 Tube integrated all day.