Uh, wait. 10mm DD, 4 mid BAs, and 4 high BAs per side in an attractive aluminum chassis and a 4-core SPC cable. Is it me, or is there a zero missing from the price tag? Scratching my head here big time.
SoixIt's not hard to grasp really. Most companies don't make their drivers, even the high end ones. They buy off the shelf stuff and at best tune them. The actual components in audio, including most of the audiophile stuff is cheap, but the mark ups are massive.
What R&D costs there are can be skipped by copying a design that's already out, which is easy and legal. With modern manufacturing tricks the cost of putting things together has gone into the ground.
With the higher end items you're paying for a few things. Either a company that did the R&D rather than a homage or copy, or the brand name. In some cases (Etymotic) you're paying for tuning and professional certification as well, or pro sennheiser gear as well here. Largely though you are paying for the brand, and a vastly lower chance that you get a dud.
This is like the watch world where you can pay thousands for a watch with the omega brand name on it that uses the same ETA movement as one that costs a few hundred to a hundred bucks. Both made of the same quality steel as well. Or you can pay even more for a custom one. They all are the same watch really. One has a fancy name and is properly certified, one is just a watch, and one is made to your exact ask.
The issue with the no name brands is it's a coin toss as to how well they put them together. Some are gems and some of those brands get known and then raise their prices. At times you get duds. Drops been pretty solid on avoiding issues though.