why a 75 dollar blue ray smokes all 2k CD players and any turntable???

Before we all get carried away with just how good a $2k or $3k DAC might be, it might be worth asking what happens to all of this superiority when the lights are turned off and it's compared to a $5 one?

If you fancy a fancy DAC then you should buy it, but buy it for its boutique value.

Just let's not kid ourselves over any perceived sonic advantages.

As a wealthy person with excellent taste, I feel that spending big bucks on everything I like is very important. An example is my new streamer (a "bluesound" something or other), which cost, wait for it, over 500 bucks! What I get for that is great sound and another tiny blue light (it has lighted stuff on top also, virtual "frosting on the cake")...and, after all, I'm worth it!

Whatever happened to listening for ones self? I prefer not to be led but to hear things for myself.

As do many afflicted by auditory hallucination. "I know what I hear!" There is science-based treatment available for those willing or, maybe more importantly, anyone at all even interested...

Oh, let us count the vested financial interests and conflicts of interest among those posting on these forums, not to mention the ego-driven sunk-cost biases that will NEVER be given up, especially at the "high end" - among other things, they simply cost WAY too much to squander for the sake of science. "Please don’t threaten my religion." OK - I get it!

In the end, everyone has a right to their expensive jewelry and adornments.

Let the attacks on the "naysayer’s" systems, hearing, sophistication, etc. commence - like koi to food pellets in a fish pond.

Alas, this will never change...

NWOR

Typical arrogance - shock and awe...