Let me just say something about High priced gear.
Do you know really why its so expensive? Its so you can send someone to their home to set it up. And when they call you for some "Reason" and they can't get a DVD-Audio or SACD to play in the CD player? You send out someone to their home to help them with the problem. Its like that.
The High end means you are dealing with people who simply have zero patience for anything that does not work their way.
It has to be Press this single button. Insert media. Play. That's it.
Sonos for Example is often set up and installed by a Pro in many homes. Even the App is made to be as simple to set up as possible as the "Pro" is often some dude subcontracted and paid bottom dollar to do it after reading a Quick setup guide that came with the Job documentation.
Take this model. Its just as simple as it gets. And that's what they want. No Frills. No "Alexa" etc.
Most of these folks don't even power off their gear. They just leave it on. And hence? The "Power" button is not important.
It is usually only used once. And there after? When its upgrade time. Why? "Burn in" or whatever they were told was best so they don't start with a cold system when they are ready to play music. It has to be ready to go. Or they will have a shit fit. (I WISH I could tell you WHO...)
If you think the cost of the Gear is high? Well... Installation often costs more then the gear itself. Its kind of how it works on the High end. You don't just buy this stuff for the gear. You get a MAN, [Men] (Women are not taken Kindly to doing the installs, only the selling) to come over and install everything. He better have a Big nice truck outside with a Proud Logo of some HiFi looking High end business while in his neighborhood or quarter mile long driveway.
Think of most of your outdoor speakers. You will never see a pair for less then $800 bucks being installed. Also? Its either JBL, Niles, or nothing.
There is no such thing "Other brands" for outdoor speakers.
Its just how it is. And the price to install them costs at least 10x what the cost of the speakers are. The units above often are listed by a contractor 2x MSRP or higher.
Why all the high cost? With people in this demographic, if it does not command a high price, they often feel what they are getting is worthless.
Its a state of mind for them. If other people can buy it? Its not good enough.
The Labor better be more than the cost of the parts. And they better see all the custom work that goes into it.
For customers like these? If they find a part on their bill that looks like some small charge like for cable ends or adaptors? They start to question the quality of the parts you installed. Its just their mindset. So you don/t put it down. You just sink it into a Parts cost of Materials.
They also have ZERO tolerance for anything not working PERFECTLY. Hence, everything is Hard wired. It better not fade either. Or look bad after a few years.
And even though they only used it maybe once a year, it better work that one time they use it. Etc.
There is no such thing as going into a menu for these people. Volume knob placed outdoors as well. No voice controls either or Microphones.
It has to be done by a control pad, or from the main unit in the house.
One of my installs, the outdoor volume knob HAD to match the decor. The custom item's Bill? For a $30 part, it was $800 dollars after customization. Then, she wanted 2 of them so they both worked at each "seating" location around the hot tub/Pool.
all I'm saying is the owner drove in one of these to check on the work being done.
The folks that pay 150,000 for gear? That how much they make in a week. Some? A day! Its hard to grasp this, but imagine this being a Business expense.
How? Use your Imagination. Often these homes are used for Movie shoots, Business meetings etc.
People like this will complain about a $40.00 plate of food, but not even think about a $400.00 bottle of wine.
Its just another world.