Short Version
1. Are there any speaker manufacturers that go for sound qulity over looks?
2. In your opinion, do you think that the majority of high end speakers are placebos?


Long Version:
1. Are there any speaker manufacturers out there that go for sound over looks? It seems like a lot of speakers in the $500+ price range spend as much on there cabinets as they do on the actual speakers. I know cabinets play an important role in how a speaker sounds, but expensive finishing details and wood vaneres do not.

2. If cables can act like a placebo, why can't a speakers brandname, or expensive vanere. Is it posssible that many audiophiles don't like the sound of JBL's, Infinity, Polk (I think all three sound good), just because sub consiously they think they are suppose to sound bad. It seems that high end speakers sound go because they are suppose to.