Have I Hit The Point Of Diminishing Returns?

I suspect you maybe meant to say "philosophical question" not "metaphysical question." Metaphysics is an interesting subject all of its own.

Metaphysics is interesting but doesn't pay the bills. - A. Einstein

Philosophical, or possibly a rhetorical question.....definitely a question with no absolute answer.

I didn't just go from a $25K rig to a $125K in two weeks and proclaim a 5% or 10% upgrade. I'm talking upgrading fuses, yes a 4% improvement, upgraded power conditioner, 5% improvement, upgrade power cord, 5% improvement, upgrade phono stage, 10% improvement, upgrade cartridge, 10% improvement....etc., etc., etc....

Unless your methodology is throwing darts at recommended list with your eyes closed, no way a $25K is 90% to a $125K rig IMO.

Just curious, can you list the major components of your $25K and $125K rigs? I have an open mind ... maybe I can replace my $100K+ with a $25K rig and get 85%?

It turns out there is no point of diminishing returns. The Taliban invented that whole concept because they hate our freedoms.

08-20-14: Knghifi
Unless your methodology is throwing darts at recommended list with your eyes closed, no way a $25K is 90% to a $125K rig IMO.

Remember, one mans 10% is another man's 1000%. I'm not a member of the "this gear blows that gear out of the water", or "this cable makes that cable sound broken" clubs. There are many in this hobby who love to over-react, and overstate gains, been there, done that. Until you have been up and down the mountain you cannot judge it's full scale. It always looks big when you are simply climbing.

Just curious, can you list the major components of your $25K and $125K rigs? I have an open mind ... maybe I can replace my $100K+ with a $25K rig and get 85%?

Sorry, that seems like too much work, and I'm not looking to damn any products. Let's say the old big rig (circa 2008-2009?) was 17% speakers, 24% electronics (including phono stage), 18% analog front end, 6% digital (more of an analog guy, still am), other 35% was cables, power cords, power conditioning, tweaks and accessories.