Let's start with the obvious. Consumer audio is rife with high-priced
stuff. A lot of it is "overpriced" if you define that to mean "priced out
of proportion to its utility", where the baseline for value is set by the
lowest-priced stuff.

Now we've established that simple fact, let's get to what's wrong with you
'borgs. Of course you can't afford the expensive stuff. Neither can most
people. Guess what? $10,000 amps and $30,000 speakers aren't marketed to
the likes of you. You don't want that stuff and the people who sell it
don't want you as customers. (It's true you don't want it, right?)

We know you can't afford it. Tough. We also know you don't understand the
luxury goods market. All you understand about value is how much something
costs. All your bleating about "tests" and "proof" and "claims" is a
smokescreen. Yes, we know marketing talk is largely BS. But it's you
'borgs who can't accept that the same hype happens in audio as in every
other luxury category.

Best Buy, as an example, sells hundreds of low-priced boxes out of each
store each week. A high-end salon sells a few boxes each week. "Amps is
amps!" shriek the 'borgs. Then how do you explain the fact that high-end
salons have a steady stream of customers, many of them repeat customers?
"Ripoff!" intone the 'borgs, showing their abysmal ignorance.

You 'borgs don't get it. You're clueless. You're completely lost. You
believe with all your metronic hearts that audio should be utilitarian.
Well, guess what -- it's not. As long as there's a segment of the market
that will pay for fancy nameplates and toadying service, some suppliers
will go into business to satisfy that demand.

The high end is not for you. Turn around and go shop where you're wanted.