Most overpriced audio component made

I think that any audio component that is in the $10K price range, and is assembled on a printed circuit board, is overpriced (generally speaking). A minimum wage employee can solder resistors, capacitors, etc. in a PCB, which drastically reduces the labor expense required for assembly. (point to point wiring requires knowledge, and you have to pay for that knowledge).

Point of clarification: margin and markup are two different things. A product that yields a 50% margin (from sales price) has a 100% markup (from cost). 20% margin is 25% markup, 33% margin is 50% markup, etc.

For me it’s Power Cords. A person pays $200 for the latest and greatest, then plugs it into a $1.95 receptacle/wall outlet which in turn is connected to 10 other outlets/devices and then runs 50 feet back to the Service Panel. The wiring in most cases is no more than 12 gauge Romex!. Also, the wiring in most of OUR houses was done by the LOWEST BIDDER.

Good point vegasears. This is why many of us have dedicated circuits and sub-panels for our listening rooms, with heavier gauge wire installed. Well worth the money and/or effort.

Also, many of us have found that the power cord, which is the last few feet in the chain you describe, vegasears, can make a huge difference despite the seeming adsurdity of it.