I would say the price is justified in many cases. It seems that the work/detail involved rises sharply the deeper one goes, and the volume attained. Down to 35 or 40hz is not nearly as difficult as the last 15-20hz, if one wants to get it right. In my experience, I have yet to hear a separate sub really do the job well.

Hey Alex,

The drivers cost more the better the quality and the larger they are, and cabinets cost more that hold more drivers, but the price differences you see are probably more due to costs accrued in designing a larger cabinet that does not resonate.

50% of what you are paying for when you buy MOST speakers is convenience, the convenience that you do not have to take your time, learn how to manufacture the cabinet and crossover and finally make the product. This does not apply to all speakers, certainly not those speakers operating in the top 5% to 10% of all speakers made. The speakers in the top 10% use specialized materials and technologies(Ex. jitter free crossovers and X & M material for Wilson, aluminum baffles for Dynaudio, full aluminum cabinet from Krell). The remaining 90% in my opinion can be knocked off with some effort and you will nary notice the difference as long as you put everything you learn into manufacturing them.

If you price out the manufacture of a pair of speakers you will be shocked for what you can manufacture them for...the front baffle, internal bracing and crossover being the major source of your design efforts and engineering costs. This assumes that you will not be manufacturing your own drivers, and few manufacturers do so you would not be alone. If you are looking for stereophile quality you would have to hire someone to do your woodwork. I bet you could come close to a comparable speaker for %50 of the original cost.

Don't forget, the original companies have done all the legwork for you. Read the brochures from the high end companies like you are starting up your own company and they are the competition. All you need to do is to borrow from all of them to come up with your own design.