Quote Originally Posted by mlsstl
Don't forget that import duties and other taxes are a big factor in the selling price of equipment in other countries. Exchange rates between currencies are also a complicating factor.

Of course, "imported goods" will have a certain cachet that appeals to a segment of any market. While we often like to pretend that audible performance is the only issue we think about when auditioning equipment, the vast majority of buyers are also influenced by appearance, brand name, features, exclusivity and so on. For some buyers, a high price by itself even adds to that sense of exclusivity.

Only the end consumer can determine if a particular product is worth the asking price. The fact that the brands you mention are still being imported to the UK would suggest that at least some buyers are finding them attractive at those selling prices.
All Good Points... and I agree with them... but consumers being willing to pay the premium for exclusivity etc... should not be the same case as reviewers... Maybe I'm expecting too much here, but I would expect the professionals not to be as easily swayed by those factors... I'd expect some kind of acknowledgement of sonic value and features for money...

As a consumer, if I had $2.5K to spend on an Integrated Amp, then the Krell S300i would be top of my list... Partially because of sound, but also because it is a KRELL, the name is legendary and as a Consumer I'd want to be able to discover what all the fuss is about, and let's be real here; it is also an Audiophile Status symbol... However a reviewer should rate its performance based primarily on sound (and can always mention as a side note that the product makes Krell more accessible to less affluent customers)...