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Diminishing returns?

This may have been discussed ad nauseam, I am new here. I only play remastered CDs. No Streaming. I have a large collection including MoFi Gold discs and some Japan SHM CDs. I have maybe a dozen SACD Hybrid, mostly Dylan. System is Focal 926 floor speakers, Pass Labs XA 30.5 amp, an old Cary Cinema 11 for the TV and control center. In January I purchased the new Quad Artera Play+ CD player that also allows for streaming, cost $1950. It really sounds terrific but my brain is getting in the way of reason the more I read about the Marantz Ruby Sa1 and the CD only functioning Hegel Mohican. Would there me "noticeable" listening experience in either of the two aforementioned players to the tune of $3000 and $4000 respectively? It would be a struggle financially to make such a move but am curious of you folks expert opinions!
Thanks.
128x128voodudrew2
verdantaudio's avatar
verdantaudio
1,500 posts
 
i have recently done some testing on this with DACs rather than full CD players but when you upgrade, a big part of the upgrade should be a better DA Converter and analog output stage. 

My experience is there is way more difference between a $2K DAC and a $10K DAC than between a $2k amp and $10K amp.  There is a shocking amount of tradeoff between detail and soundstage and image.  

I cannot speak about the exact products you are discussing as I have not heard them.  It is worth your time (and possibly your money) to explore it.  You might find you get more than you think.  


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noske
783 posts
 
@divertiti

If our brain is not on a linear scale, what scale is it on?

What is this "last 5-10%" concept?  Is that also not linear?  Is it iterative, or recursive, or fractal, or exponential?  Or something else?
abraxalito
93 posts
 
What is this "last 5-10%" concept? Is that also not linear? Is it iterative, or recursive, or fractal, or exponential? Or something else?
It can't be turned into numbers, its a qualitative change. For the closest analogy, find one of those autostereogram images and stare at it. If you let your focus drift and stay on it long enough you may suddenly get a 3D image that 'jumps out'. Its unexpected. Very non-linear. Its rather like that with audio when you get to a holographic presentation where the speakers completely vanish and all you're left with is the performance spread out before you.
mahler123
3,387 posts
 
I agree that DACs seem to improve as one ascends the price scale, to a larger degree than amplifiers.  The OP, back in 2020, asked about a Quad Arteria vs a Hegel Mohican.  My experience is that as ones from 2K to 3K in digital audio, the difference can be very significant, but of course you need to listen to know.
  I disagree that it is only at the highest limits of price can one experience Sonic Nirvana.  With streamers, in particular, I find it hard to justify any increase over 1K.  DACs, otoh….Amplication improve to become asymptotic as well.  It’s possible to have a great Amp that plays the first 10 watts in Class A, and since that is what is required most of the time you can have sweet sounding amp at a reasonable expenditure.  Speakers are all over the place, but the size of the listening room is a major factor.  Focal Grand Utopia would look and sound ridiculous in my listening room, for example
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