What sort of price range and name brands/models do you all considered "high end?" Do any of them sell direct online?

I would wager that if Axiom ventured into this market they would need to offer free in home trial with free shipping both ways. Consumers in this niche will not do a blind purchase. Paying for two way shipping may inflate the price overall, but if price and looks leads to the perception of a superior product then it won't be noticed.