High End Amp Price Collapse musings

@mitch2 

I meant the more recent incarnations of Class D - in my post I mentioned that I think they have come a long ways in past few years, especially with the NAD I am now using.  

On another subject I was recently reading an article about Bob Carver and the Stereophile amp challenge.  He was able to exactly reproduce the sound of $7,000.00+ tube amplifiers in a modified $700.00 SS amp without knowing the amp he was cloning - it was a pair Conrad-Johnson Premier Twelves (I am simplifying things - google as it's a good read).  I picked up one of his production models recently (M-1.0t) and have yet to listen to it (I have low expectations...but)

@grannyring 

The amp you are referring to has digital input but Class D is not 'digital'. I didn't read too much about the company but I assume that means that the amp has a DAC.  At some point before your speakers there has to be a conversion to analogue.  Somebody correct me if I am wrong.  

Came across the most amazing power cord I've ever experienced and I paid nothing for it!  Beat my $4k plus cords I have on hand....anyone wanna know what it is?

Much has been said about Class D sound quality vs. other amps that I cannot add to that discussion.

However, I want to point out that even if Class D amps were proven best of the amps, this has nothing to do with pricing.

Capitalism 101: Price on value, not parts. Separate the price and cost as much as you can.

So assuming I made the worlds best amps, and they were class D I'd still sell them for $120k each monoblock. :)

Maybe I'd make them out of milled platinum ingots for "minimum resonance" or something.

The rise, or fall of any particular technology is not going to depress the high end pricing at all.

Best,

E