Do hi-end DACs offer true value or diminishing return...

Price has nothing to do with sound quality.  I see equipment racks going for $50K.  It all means nothing.  You can get great sound for less money, but you don't get the last 10-20% or more of the sound the better sounding components can deliver.

Look inside your components.  What makes them different?  Are there Audio Note non-magnetic resistors in there No?  Audio Note capacitors No?  Plitron transformers or chokes NO? Point-to-point wired NO?  So then why would you think the higher price components should sound better?  There are relatively no new designs in audio components just slight variations.  Learn what makes sound good and then you will find out how to make a system sound the way you would like it within your price range.

Happy Listening.

Happy Listening. 

You’d have to try hard to find a magnetic resistor these days. Even the cheapest available are more likely than not to be nonmagnetic. And although Audio Note silver foil in oil capacitors sound great, there are many less expensive alternatives that arguably sound as good or even better and are less expensive.

@bigkidz 

What is your current system? 

I cannot believe how lucky i am with my Dac paid 20 bucks on Ebay...

Dont invest money in costly dac invest in reading about acoustic...

You can almost guarantee that high-end anything is just an overpriced offering to those who need to spend a lot to feel good. People start chasing mirages and they think they're achieving small steps to perfection but are really just getting sucked into the hype stirred up by manufacturers, retailers, and reviewers. You have the cash and its their job to get it.