The exchange rate considerably affects the price. When installed at home, I did not experience the imagery that was obtained at the show. This is due to two factors - the speakers do not have more than about three feet of rear space, and my amplification is not quite in the Audio Research league. Electrostatics fire in both directions, and no matter what Martin Logan say, they really do need alot of rear space. A point of note - the Beard amp.
Tube driven electrostatics are something alot of people never experience.
This is a shame. It is also a shame that this kind of perceived performance is not more accessible to the general public. I say perceived rather than technical because I am aware of the supposed technical shortcomings of valve amplification, but do not reject what my ears hear. At present, and for the past two years, the upgrade bug has gone. I genuinely feel I have a well matched system, which cannot be bettered to my taste without outlaying many thousands of pounds more.