The price of anything is always what someone is willing to pay for it. A $50K amp that has never been sold is not worth $50K, it is really quite simple.
OTOH some of the "best" parts prices (called components by manufacturers BTW) are higher than you might imagine . Look up Deuland capacitors for instance and think of multiples of that cost.
Labor/benefits costs also seems to matter greatly. I needn't tell you that some populus countries that are making most of the consumer electronics now, have very low costs. In fact all overhead costs energy, space etc. vary widely by place of manufacture.
Many things we covet are kept intentionally scarce and never marked down these have a quote a pride of ownership cost assiciated (Think Patek Phillipe, Cartier, ST DuPont) etc.) Certainly this phenomena is part of this hobby.
Don't forget patented proprietary circuit designs. A lot of manufacturers do not release diagrams (schematics) and code parts with their own numbers, making duplcation and reverse engineering very difficult.
Well that is a start but when you finish your perfectly built DIY $50K, for only ?$1K?? let us all know if it sounds as good as the original.
But in the end only the demand will ultimately decide the price.
OTOH some of the "best" parts prices (called components by manufacturers BTW) are higher than you might imagine . Look up Deuland capacitors for instance and think of multiples of that cost.
Labor/benefits costs also seems to matter greatly. I needn't tell you that some populus countries that are making most of the consumer electronics now, have very low costs. In fact all overhead costs energy, space etc. vary widely by place of manufacture.
Many things we covet are kept intentionally scarce and never marked down these have a quote a pride of ownership cost assiciated (Think Patek Phillipe, Cartier, ST DuPont) etc.) Certainly this phenomena is part of this hobby.
Don't forget patented proprietary circuit designs. A lot of manufacturers do not release diagrams (schematics) and code parts with their own numbers, making duplcation and reverse engineering very difficult.
Well that is a start but when you finish your perfectly built DIY $50K, for only ?$1K?? let us all know if it sounds as good as the original.
But in the end only the demand will ultimately decide the price.