Inna, everything for "audiophiles" is badly overpriced. You are an "audiophile" if, and only if you have a specified large amount to spend on such purchases, and won't hesitate to spend it.
You are not an audiophile if you hesitate to spend a large amount of your disposable income on audiophile purchases. (that goes with the new definition)
When the commodity markets were manipulated (when gasoline cost $4.00 or even $5.00 per gallon) the people on the right side of that equation ( the politically connected) made an astronomical amount of money, and they can still afford to spend a ridiculous amount of money on any thing they choose.
That equation shifted the average income down. (the price of food was manipulated too) If you had to pay more for food and gasoline, two of the basic necessities of life; that amounted to a decrease in your disposable income; ( your bank account took a big hit, now you're lucky if you have one) the amount of money left for frivolities is a lot less now.
Although many of us object to reality, that's the life we have to live; unless we were on the right side of the equation, and can afford a 100K amp.