The Economy.. will hi end audio mfgs lower prices?

High End Audio is not going to lower their prices EVER!!!
They have an image to uphold and would probably rather shoot themselves first, much the way the recording industry has imploded on itself. It is possible that prices will come down, but only if the industry receives a stimulus bailout. :>)

That idiot dilletente owner of my Philadelphia Eagles made the list of billionaires this go 'round, with the description "self made" no less. I guess mom buying you a football team with that Harcourt Brace money qualifies as being self made in this day and age.

Jeff Lurie's now a billionaire, yet can't find $7M to match the offer future Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins got from Denver. Somewhere in the lack of loyalty that embodies everything of this day and age, I almost laugh in recalling the Chateau Luzerne commercial with the 4 liter, bigger than a gallon, jug and the mantra, "How do you think I got so rich?"

Doesn't he own a baseball team too?

I just bought the new Pass Labs XP-20 preamp. It retails for about 14% less than the prevous Pass flagship and offers better performance. It was released just before the economy took a dive, so I don't know if the price drop is a response to the economy or not, but it does offer much better value than the model it replaces.

the demand for components in the $10,000 and up price category is probably not price sensitive. there would be no reason to lower prices.in addition, i would expect more manufacturers to go direct in order to increase their profit margin.