Affordable vs. ultra expensive speakers - what's the difference?

@cakyol 

The difference = a lot of money for about 2-5% improvement in sound.....

The curve of diminishing returns.

As I said earlier, while this curve does exist, it is highly subjective, and is different, sometimes drastically so, for everyone. 

For some people, even people that can't afford the difference in money, that 2-5% difference you posit, may actually stick out like a sore thumb.

Some aspect of audio reproduction, that you may find inconsequential, for others, may be one of the things they place at very high importance. And of course. vis versa.

Remember, the vast majority of music listeners use $20 ear buds, to listen to MP3's, on their smart phones. Or they listen to all their music on their Alexa, or similar while at home.

I am sure a substantial percentage of them think that those of us here, who have modest systems, no where near the very high end, are at the extreme end of that curve of diminishing returns you mentioned. 

@rbwnc Several people have already mentioned this.

But as to the Rivals, you are the first I have seen to call them "awful". Where did you hear them, which models, and with what ancillary gear?

I haven’t heard them nor am I apt too. I haven’t heard Border Patrol either nor am I apt too.

I could use DSP and EQ the crap out of them so perhaps awful is to strong a word, maybe extremely nonlinear is what I should have said.

I haven’t heard them nor am I apt too. I haven’t heard Border Patrol either nor am I apt too.

I could use DSP and EQ the crap out of them so perhaps awful is to strong a word, maybe extremely nonlinear is what I should have said.

Mind blowing. First your grasp or lack thereof of basic English. You misspelled "to" and "too" twice in a row. Zero for two. Or "too" in your world. Second, making such a bold statement about components you have never heard. 

Mind blowing. First your grasp or lack thereof of basic English. You misspelled "to" and "too" twice in a row. Zero for two. Or "too" in your world. Second, making such a bold statement about components you have never heard. 

The use of “Too”, subtly changes the meaning.