The new dynamic in speaker pricing

There is a good question as to whether a speaker design that would be tiny, have zero aesthetics and yet be a ’world beater’, would actually have any traction regardless of pricing. Most manufacturers ( maybe all?) are cognizant of the fact that folks in this hobby tend to buy using their eyes more than their ears. As such, a ultra pricey offering had better have some serious bling to it, or be large enough to create a sense of awe. A tiny speaker, like in my above example, would have little chance at the price points we are talking about---even if it was the best sounding speaker ever made! Interesting point.

Hello,

Here is part of the issue with a lot of goods sold. 
million dollar speakers are about $250k from the manufacturer to the distributor. Then the distribution center sells it to the dealers for around $500k. Then the sell it at MAP at $1,000,000. I know is a basic explination and the percentages change here and there, but that is it in a nutshell. If it costs $1000 for speakers the scenario is pretty much the same. The problem is so much free money and (printing) has been done over the last decade It is surprising they are not more than one million. Of course we are only at 9.1% inflation in the past year. Whoops. I forgot to add the one. 19.1% inflation. Lets be real. There are amazing speakers for your system that range from $150 to $5000. I think speakers are like TVs. If your not maxing out the resolution with your source and other components it really doesn’t matter. I say get really good components first. Then see if upgrading your speakers make a difference. I have a pair of inexpensive Best Buy Insignia bookshelf speakers. $120 new and I bought them used for $40. On my Ayre 5 series equipment it sounds real and live. Just amazing! They will start clipping at 150 watts with the volume way up. Under that they are just incredible. 

mbmi: "10K to 20 K is the sweet spot in hi end speakers......any amount over that is just stupid" No, your comment is very stupid. I am not saying you cannot get good speakers in this range, but have you heard really hi end speakers such as Borresson, Gauder Akustik, Vivid Audio, Kii? The difference is huge. I wish I could afford them, but I cannot so need to make do with lesser quality sound.

Kenjit: its not a question of whether they have stolen their earnings. The issue is that, if one idiot buys a million dollar speaker, all the speakers companies will raise their prices and make them unaffordable for the rest of us. Why is that so hard to understand?"
This will not happen of course, as these speakers are not designed for common sales. They are the hi end showpieces. The technology used in these will trickle down in time. Why is THAT so hard to understand.

 I find it interesting how many people believe any speakers, or any component, costing over X dollars (X being what they spent) is a "waste of money". Good $100,000 speakers do sound 5 times better than good $20,000 speakers. A lot of people just don't like to admit it.