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General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories.

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Original Message

Good rant. My thoughts, exactly.

Posted by MMasztal on January 14, 2011 at 08:10:16:
I'm 55 and grew up listening to music on my Dad's Dual t-t, Eico amp, Fisher tuner and Wharfedale W-60. I got hooked when I was about 14 or 15 and started putting some decent systems together and you could put something together for a $2-3K. Now, 40 years later, we see $300,000 loudspeakers! GMAFB!

What kinda bugs me is the pricing points we see in almost all components. Whe I was reviewing for SoundStage! about 10 years ago, I spoke with a cable manufacturer and pointedly asked how he came up with the prices for the stuff in his product line. He told me he doubled the price as you move up the line even though material costs were only marginally higher and/or cosmetic treatment (i,e, sleeves) was utilized. He further explained this was necessary to keep from people not buying the base line of his stuff.

So, why does high-end audio command such a pricing premium? Is there anything in, for instance, a NAIM Nait XS that justifies a price 2 times that of a NAIM Nait 5? I see mega buck speakers systems where the drivers, etc., might account for maybe 10% of the retail cost of the unit.

When I was looking for a new speaker system, the prices of built speakers using the drivers I wanted were approaching 5 figures. And there was nothing "fancy" about the cabinets, so I designed and had a local custom furniture builder make the cabinets. Impeccable workmanship and excellent materials. Final cost was about 1/3 of what I'd estimate these to sell for at retail. The drivers cost was slightly less than 50% of the total cost.

Enough of my rant.