The death of ultra hiend audio

It seems to be in this category the company must compete on the world stage, marketing around the globe and have strong brand recognition. If one economy, market sector, bad international distributer stumbles another one is set up to pick up the pace.

If small and successful keeping your suppliers happy and your sales force profitable likely helps. Seems like those successful incorporate social media and are great networkers, drinking fine scotch and smoking good cigars. 

Not to get political, but say we look at Japan... What are the tariffs on hifi coming into the US these days? Seems like a potential game changer.

Prayers for all those in this business, nothing is easy for any length of time.

In any business segment, companies come and go all the time. Having been involved in the hi fi business since the 1980s, I think hi fi companies* have done pretty well on longevity.

*By this, I mean reasonably well established companies, as opposed to the one man in a shed companies that appear at hi fi shows.

Nonsense, are you trolling? The high end audio market is bigger than ever ( especially with the overlap with high end home A/V stuff. It's also a boutique manufacturer industry. So lots of small companies will come and go. 

That's why AI will soon take over management of most businesses. Let's hope it's not too cold and impersonal, but it probably will be.

Price, I remember that people could not believe how great Crown International home stereo and Bob Carver sounded for the dollar back in the late 70s and 80s. Great audio, low cost!  It can be done. Side by side either of these were competing with audio 3X the cost or more.