That was a question I got asked at the WAM by antonio66, who is also a member, here.
It's a great question. I hope he doesn't mind me repeating it, here.
Here's the gist of the conversation that led to the question:
WAM member: Sonore/SOTM/ Lindemann bridge (about 800ish) with a linear power supply ( 4-500). A full size box of similar quality could cost upwards of 2.5k.
Me: It would be a very pretty box, though.
antonio66: There are two Auralic Aries G1 streamers on ebay at present, both bidding auctions.
Me: Talking of pretty boxes
![Wink ;)](./images/smilies/icon/wink.gif)
antonio66: You don't like pretty boxes Paul?
The easy answer is that I love pretty boxes. The prettier the better. The difficulty comes when you ask me how much I value pretty boxes. I know that a good quality off the shelf box for a streamer costs around £50 to £75...which becomes around £250 of the rrp on a streamer that is sold direct, and around £450 of the rrp on a streamer that is sold via a dealer. A prettier, bespoke box with some complications might typically cost the manufacturer £175...by the time that box gets to the dealer's shelf it typically represents between £1200 and £1750 of the item's rrp.
Now, how much do I like pretty boxes?
The answer is that we all have our own idea of value. The skill of the designer, the quality of the parts, the aesthetic appeal, the quality of service, the user experience (especially with streamer software), the potential to upgrade, reliability, the warranty etc... all can play a (greater or lesser) part, and then there are other less tangible factors such as peer pressure, marketing, and even the dreaded WAF.
In any market, knowledge is power. Value is an individual choice, so it is up to us as individuals to improve our knowledge, and if we have knowledge it is up to us to share it. For me, the Auralic streamers are not strong value, because I know how much of the rrp is for the case (and a display that I don't need, because I have a screen on my phone). But, I have no problem that others will love them. And, none of this is 'picking on' Auralic - they just happened to be the brand in the thread.