While looking for US pricing I came across another owner comment on
Upscale Audio. One guy on his third replacement. It seems to be isolated but you can end up with a lemon. Still cause for concern. I really like that new Philharmonic BMR tower and the Paradigm Founders (but probably just the 80F). Also have to consider my center. The BMR is gorgeous but the Founder will likely match better with my Paradigm center. Harder to find graphs on center speakers though for empirical comparisons.
Not sure what the duty is on speakers. Some items depend on content. If a certain percentage contains foreign made parts, then foreign tarrifs or duties apply. The BMRs are made in the U.S., but where are the drivers manufactured and what percentage of the cost do they represent? Trying to get that information and trying to figure out what import duties amount to is a real chore. The other kicker is brokerage fees. Courier companies charge brokerage to do the paperwork for importing goods and they get away with highway robbery because there are few other options. You could pay $30 brokerage on a $15 purchase. I try to ship via US / Canada Postal Service when possible because the duty charges are cheapest that way.
My wife, bless her heart, said we could drive to the U.S. and if you stay 2 weeks you can bring back up to $3,000 in goods duty free. Would be great if Philharmonic could ship from Kansas to Salk in Michigan. Pontiac Michigan is only 3 hrs from here. But then I might get talked into a pair of Salk towers for even more.