I mean no insult to anyone but they just have no idea the costs of manufacturing high quality items in low volumes.
No actually you are completely wrong. I very much appreciate quality products and do feel paying for top quality in the long run is actually cheaper. However, paying for quality is one thing, paying 100x the price because they feel they can is something else. My wife and I do buy higher quality products because they are in fact better. Over the course of my life I have actually purchased 15 Mercedes, among others. Simply put yes, the Rolls are out there but according to all mags and forums 99% of the items are Rolls... (my view with no evidence to support
).
Actually, yes, it is. The $10k number was off the cuff, to make a point. I worked in the hi-fi industry for 20+ years prior to taking up the software development gig. I also have a couple of friends who own audio manufactures, designers, developers, etc. I believe I have more than a consumer knowledge on the subject.
This I do understand, however I do believe that they are still over pricing their products to a point that it is hurting the audio hobby in very serious ways.
I thought I did answer your question. Yes, I do have some knowledge. Maybe not to specific companies, but to costs of designing, materials, etc., etc. I do have more than a consumer knowledge, going back to the '80s and 90s actually.
Warranty
I appreciate that. I did work for a time at a company designing audio equipment. In my view my friend, the owner was a genius in circuit design. He started out working with Paul McGowan, James Bongiorno, Ted Smith and others, and started his own company when he was still a teenager. I was very involved with design and testing a new pre-amp (unfortunately, that he never brought it to market) and was the direct contact to Absolute Sound, Stereophile, and more.
Of course, all of that comes into play. However, it still does not justify a 600%, 700%, 1000% mark-up. Not even close. Dealer mark up from their cost is 30%, at absolute most, or that is what we shot for when I managed a few stores back in the '90s. Manufacturing costs, all else considered might be 100% of cost. Also, costs are a ton less when purchase in quantities, boards, parts, switches, etc. A switch I would pay $50 dollars building my own custom server for would cost maybe $3-$4 dollars when purchased by a manufacture. These numbers are off the cuff, not 100% accurate, but pretty damn close with some real knowledge actually handling parts purchasing. Therefore, the server costing my friend say $6k, would cost a manufacture maybe closer to $2k or $3k to build.
sadly I deal with real numbers and real costs and what was 30 years ago isn't today.
You obviously are not reading what I said. Not knowing exact numbers for these companies, and references to 30-year-old practices aside, I do indeed understand all of the factors you mentioned and have worked in, been deeply involved in manufacturing of audio gear, in present day situations.
I can definitely see that. This is why some companies such as McIntosh have raised all their prices by 15% or more. I am guessing over seas cost have not gone up as much, but shipping into the US has.
I bet you have... I also bet that every one of the purchasers of Wadax digital products; "just sold my last one this afternoon" was at least a multimillionaire. I exaggerated a bit, sue me.
I have
