[S Clark]

I've always been of the mindset that buying something that's 10 years old, and that was state of the art back then, is a bargain at about half what it originally cost, and at about 25% the cost of comperable new equipment right now. Would you be ashamed at owning something that's 10 years old and sounds phenominal? If "yes" then I hope you have deep pockets ... but I have deep ears and 10 year old equipment is still true high end audiophile equipment.

This is what has always made sense to me.  Whatever is this year's latest and greatest will be on the market in 7--10 years for about half.  Between that and DIY, whatever insane current prices are out there, they don't affect me.   

[dB Cooper]

Of course ‘deep-end’ audio prices are out of control. I stopped going to capital audio fest a few years back because I faced the reality that I would never own anything that I saw there, which included a much touted ‘million dollar system’ that actually (to me) sounded like crap.

I actually got a couple of younger coworkers to come along, but they were turned off by the absurd prices and probably will never come back- lost opportunity for the industry, which wants to sell systems that cost more than the house they’re sitting in. When we tell them that they have to spend $1000 just to plug the system into the wall, most of them  chortle and move on.  Right now there is interest among the ‘spending my kids’ inheritance’ crowd, but the business model of the deep end industry seems unsustainable, and will eventually crash and burn, at which point we will be stuck with nothing but Chi Fi.

[Early B.]

I think we need to define 'high end'.

As the OP, perhaps I should have used the term, "hi-fi" instead of "high-end." If possible, we ought to differentiate hi-fi from entry-level audio gear and the only way to do that is by retail price which is less than ideal in many ways, but it's all we've got. Someone has to be the sacrificial lamb, so I propose a threshold of $3,000 for speakers, $2,000 per component, and $1,000 per IC/power cord. And to complicate and further inflame this post, not everyone with an audio system is an audiophile. An audiophile vs. audio enthusiast should be defined by how much he's willing to spend on his gear. That means some people either don't make enough money or spend enough money to be labeled as an audiophile, and that's where the fight erupts into throwing chairs and beer bottles.

When I first got started in this hobby, I thought my $500 retail Chinese tube CD player was hi-fi until I upgraded to a considerably more expensive transport/DAC combo. Today, my front end retails for over $10K. Of course, there's better-sounding and more expensive front-end gear out there, and most of it is "high-end," which means uber-expensive! IMO, $10K retail or higher for an audio component is high-end.

With this revised understanding (or a better one to follow), are hi-fi prices out of control?

   

[mix4fix]

Of course ‘deep-end’ audio prices are out of control. I stopped going to capital audio fest a few years back because I faced the reality that I would never own anything that I saw there, which included a much touted ‘million dollar system’ that actually (to me) sounded like crap.

I actually got a couple of younger coworkers to come along, but they were turned off by the absurd prices and probably will never come back- lost opportunity for the industry, which wants to sell systems that cost more than the house they’re sitting in. When we tell them that they have to spend $1000 just to plug the system into the wall, most of them  chortle and move on.  Right now there is interest among the ‘spending my kids’ inheritance’ crowd, but the business model of the deep end industry seems unsustainable, and will eventually crash and burn, at which point we will be stuck with nothing but Chi Fi.

I don't know about you: but, the main reason I go, is just to go. It's an annual pilgrimage. Most of the stuff I don't pay it no mind. I go and say hello to people, and not dwell over product.

I don't have interest nor funding to buy VAC room gear (however, their first year they had a back room system that was more sensible. $10K for tower speakers, and not $27K for stand mount monitors).

[toocool4]

I stopped going to capital audio fest a few years back because I faced the reality that I would never own anything that I saw there, which included a much touted ‘million dollar system’ that actually (to me) sounded like crap.

I go to the Munich High End show every year, mainly to catch up with friends and see what’s new out there. It’s good to see what’s new, no matter the price. Just because I cannot afford some of the systems, is not a reason to not go.
 
I did get a chance to listen to the €1.8M Aries Cerat system, what a pile of Cr4p.
We discussed our impressions of the system on What’s best forum, the only people that really liked the system turned out to be Aries Cerat dealers.
Some of the talk about the Aries Cerat here www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/munich-highend-2024.38470/page-27#post-968630

[mresseguie]

I go to the Munich High End show every year, mainly to catch up with friends and see what’s new out there. It’s good to see what’s new, no matter the price. Just because I cannot afford some of the systems, is not a reason to not go.
 
I did get a chance to listen to the €1.8M Aries Cerat system, what a pile of Cr4p.
We discussed our impressions of the system on What’s best forum, the only people that really liked the system turned out to be Aries Cerat dealers.
Some of the talk about the Aries Cerat here www.whatsbestforum.com/threads/munich-highend-2024.38470/page-27#post-968630

As I read your post, I found myself envying you for being able to attend the Munich show. [I’d love to go once before I get too old and deaf.] Then, it dawned on me that I get to attend one or more audio shows in Taiwan 🇹🇼 where a certain percentage of the presented systems are in what I call the megabuck category. Usually, those systems don’t sound all that great to my ears.

The majority of attendees at the Taiwan shows can’t possibly afford the astronomical prices of the megabuck systems, but there are enough wealthy businessmen/businesswomen who can easily afford them. As long as there are enough super wealthy customers willing to shell out hundreds of thousands of dollars for face giving baubles, there will always be products available which cater to those individuals.

Last year, at PAF (at SEATAC), Genesis Audio demoed their huge speakers with very expensive electronics. Perhaps the room was the problem, but all I heard was sub-standard music in that room yet someone must be buying their gear.

I’ll happily stick with my chosen gear — which isn’t cheap, but it’s certainly not in the nosebleed level either.

[toocool4]

mresseguie I only ever go to the Munich High End show now, it’s the biggest and best I have ever been to so, no need to go elsewhere.

[charmerci]

mresseguie I only ever go to the Munich High End show now, it’s the biggest and best I have ever been to so, no need to go elsewhere.

Have you been to the one in Taiwan?

[toocool4]

charmerci, no only to ones in England. I would like to go to one in Hong Kong.

[toocool4]

This is what a €1.8M Aries Cerat system looks like, those 2 towers to the right & left are the bass horns. 

[mix4fix]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1buHxXrZku4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiiWK5IBs7I

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kb_LBRSefvE

Here is VAC (Valve Amplification Company) at CAF in some early years..

[FullRangeMan]

For this high price the last thing I expect to see was a horn