I think things have gotten much worse since most elements of hi-fi were commoditised. In terms of source, amplification and DAC you really do not need to spend much to enjoy tip top sound, even good speakers don't have to be that expensive (and with good set up a pair of good but modestly priced speakers can outperform badly set up high end speakers IMO, and good set up doesn't cost mega bucks). At one time even though the various steps up the ladder were probably always more expensive than they needed to be I do think performance tended to improve, up to a certain point at least, and the build quality of the statement products from companies like Sony ES, Pioneer and Accuphase was lavish and something to behold. The result of commoditising sound is an ever more extreme "high end" segment, existing in a micro-bubble and echo chamber of shill reviewers and supporting a whole host of parasitical snake oil vendors selling all sorts of utter junk for $$$$$$$$$$$$'s. If it was just about rich people splashing the cash to impress their buddies and remind themselves that they're a cut above the riff raff who have to look at price tags before buying things I'd say fair enough, the problem I have (apart from the obvious one of not liking lying scam artists and shill reviewers) is that some of this stuff is being sold to gullible ordinary people who really have more important things to do with their life savings than throw it away on snake oil. To be clear, if something is correctly advertised (i.e., $100000 power chord, it doesn't do anything a regular kettle chord doesn't do every bit as well but boy does it look good and you'll be the talk of the country club) then fair enough, and freedom means freedom to be stupid (being prevented from being an idiot isn't exactly a free society). However, I hate the lies and incestuous relationship between manufacturers and reviewers that works in harmony to dupe the gullible by selling stuff based on lies.