Where do those dim. returns really end? When is it art?

[ev13wt]

Inspired from the ramblings thread -

Where do you see diminishing returns ending? Where does audio become art, or jewelry, or something of that nature?

As an example we could use a two channel amplifier #2channelforever
Up to a certain point, the value we receive for the money spent starts to get noticeably smaller.
My feeble mind can imagine, taking into account everything from design, engineering and manf. cost, marketing, markups, taxes... that that point, for an amplifier, is around 2000 USD. After that, real audio improvements are extremely costly and must take the entire system into account and would amount to a flea cough difference for me.
But at that point, heck a thousand bucks already buys awesome new audio, ... Anyhow. At that 1K point, you are getting 98% audio. 2K is 99%. I expect metal knobs and switches. Volume pot haptically perfect, not wiggle at all. Transparent performance.

After that, and I respect high end audio porn / art / jewelry, it is simply that. An exercise in technological art. Or very expensive jewelry.

What are your thoughts?

 

[Condorsat]

... but I seriously doubt I ever get there. IMHO & experience .. ones rig always sounds good till you hear better.

 

[JoeESP9]

Sounds to me like another diatribe against High End/High Priced gear. I've learned to expect it on AK.

 

[Silentnet]

I never would have told you $1500 speakers were "worth it" a year ago, despite lusting after much of the equipment I now own for many years previous. (I've literally wanted a pair of MLs since I was 12.)

The most I'd ever spent was like $300 on a full system (receiver, CD, speakers, always used)... Now nothing in my stack costs less than $400 used. Not meaning to brag, just illustrating that the goalposts tend to move on you. A lot. And faster than you may expect.

Now? Much like I lusted after the Martin Logan reQuests (and admonished myself for doing so), I pine for a set of CLX ARTs that run $15,000+ used I'll likely never own. I still look at people spending tens of thousands on amps DACs and speakers as crazy or unreasonably wealthy.

Then again... Never say never?

 

[E-Stat]

2K is 99%...What are your thoughts?

You've never heard what others have.

 

[JoeESP9]

I still look at people spending tens of thousands on amps DACs and speakers as crazy or unreasonably wealthy.

Then again... Never say never?

I believe this excerpt supports my post.

 

[Silentnet]

I believe this excerpt supports my post.

Not really. You snipped the portion where I talked about things escalating. The post needs to be read in its entirely -- 2 lines out of context, different meaning.

 

[JoeESP9]

Please, the gist of your post is that only crazy and/or wealthy people buy the high priced gear. You posted it not I.

 

[E-Stat]

The post needs to be read in its entirely -- 2 lines out of context, different meaning.

Help us understand the *other* meaning for this assertion:

"I still look at people spending tens of thousands on amps DACs and speakers as crazy or unreasonably wealthy."

 

[Silentnet]

Fair enough, I was heavy handed there, but I meant to walk it back with the "never say never." I.e. yes a $16,000 pair of speakers is currently an unrealistic, unjustifiable pipe dream to me, but years from now that may change.

 

[JoeESP9]

A $16,000 pair of speakers is well out of my reach and probably will always be. However, I don't categorize those who buy them as crazy or unreasonably wealthy.

What is it about hobbies that makes so many of those who can't afford to spend the big bucks for "whatever" feel and speak negatively about those who can and do?

 

[E-Stat]

Fair enough, I was heavy handed there, but I meant to walk it back with the "never say never."

No problemo.

I find comments about the wealth of others or how they choose to spend their money unnecessary

 

[luvvinvinyl]

That's probably a very good place to end this.

And, to answer your question, the answer is different for each person, as one would expect it to be.