Have I Hit The Point Of Diminishing Returns?

The law of diminishing returns to me is when you aren't gaining more enjoyment listening to music through upgrades even though they may be improvements. I don't believe there is any way to quantify it or measure it. At some point, different for some than others, it simply comes down to whether or not it is worth spending the money for the gain. When the point is reached where spending more isn't worth it, if ever (we are audiophiles after all), the law of diminishing returns has arrived.

As far as your system goes RlB61 only you can answer that question. If you are throughly enjoying the music your system makes it might be better to leave it alone until that stops happening. If you are not satisfied about something and are distracted because something doesn't sound right you have NOT hit the point of diminishing returns.

Thanks Tubegroover, this is what I was TRYING to articulate but failed miserably. :-)

I realize my rig is a bit dated, but it sounds great.

It sounds great until you hear something better. Try a new dac. The Chord Hugo opened up my eyes/ears.

If you can't articulate what if anything bothers you about your system, you are at a loss to "improve"it. Take your money to Fidelity and have them invest it for you.

08-07-14: Stringreen
If you can't articulate what if anything bothers you about your system, you are at a loss to "improve"it. Take your money to Fidelity and have them invest it for you.

You talking to me? Read the WHOLE thread before offering advice. You're in the WRONG context.

BTW, I have 3 brokerage accounts investing all the $$ MYSELF. Otherwise all I can afford is Anti-Cables.

Joecasey - it appears to me that Stringreen was addressing the originator of the thread, not you. Perhaps if you read the whole thread and allowed for the possibility that it was not all about you, the same opinion would have kept you from embarrassing yourself.
As for this elusive point of diminishing returns that has a number of you stumbling all over yourselves with absolution and compensatory illogic, here is the hard to swallow truth:

Once you have purchased and installed a basic system that conveys the sounds to you intelligibly, you have reached the point of diminishing returns. If you choose to follow the audiophile nonsense beyond that point, you have voluntarily entered a place where your further investment is rewarded at a lower rate. This puts you on a curve whereon you receive ever less for your dollar as you progress. Whether you feel justly rewarded by your outlay or not, does not alter the economic reality of what you have done from an investment standpoint. Philosophical renderings aside, you have not invested well. Now, of course, the option to pay more money for less improvement is an option afforded the hobbyist and it could be argued that act defines the word " hobby". Who could argue that point?
So, I would submit that what I said earlier stands. We all passed the point of diminishing returns long ago. The question now is: Do you care? And each of us will have to answer that one for ourselves. It would seem that none of us cares enough to stop - so that means do whatever the hell floats your boat now and keep a bucket handy for bailing.
Personally, I have an eye toward downsizing. Reading online audio threads has me believing I am not alone in that thinking. In other words, I am interested in moving backwards toward the original diminishing returns threshold. Anyone else? O.P.?