At the top of the line is it really all that different?

@yesiam_a_pirate You pose an excellent question!  I think the difference between a $20k speaker vs. a $80k speakers would not provide a $60k worth of an upgrade.  If your room is treated properly and you have good synergy with your selected hifi gear, it may be hard to create a “night and day” improvement with the $50k gear you used as an example.  I was told by a dealer of D’Agostino that the Progression integrated amp was the best value of the D’Agostino line.  Yes, it costs about $21k without the DAC, streamer and phono stage, but most hifi folks prefer an external DAC and streamer anyway, so you can save there.  For $21k, you’re getting the core sound signature of the DAG line without spending $50k+ on their separates and their DAG Momentum MxV integrated for $65k.  I’m confident you will hear an improved sound that you will not forget and desire to have that sound in your setup.  But, is that $50k+ improvement a “night and day” difference to justify the cost?  It’s all subjective and what you demand in your system and I respect anyone who wants to pay for the sound they want.  I don’t have super high priced gear, but it costs more than the average are willing to spend and I really wish I had some of my previously owned gear that was much more inexpensive to compare in my nicely treated room.

Cheers!

At times it is alot better...but lots,of times is just the wpc.

A really great question, and a lot of thoughtful responses.  One thing I’d add is it also depends on how you listen.  I’m often astonished at how much I can enjoy a wide variety of completely different systems.  

I have a friend who primarily listens alone, and prioritizes detail, frequency extremes, and soundstage (and has a lot of money).  So he’s a digital guy with Wilson Sasha Vs, Wilson Loke subs and Simaudio top-of-the-line separates.  

I do my more serious listening in a more social environment, with a friend or two sipping brown liquor, and no one in the exact sweet spot. And I’m a midrange/tonality guy - and I suspect I’m a little bit sensitive to phase coherence.  So I do vinyl, with relatively low powered tube amps and simple, efficient speakers.

I love my friend’s system and can hear and appreciate its differences from mine.  But when I listen the way I listen, I actually just prefer my system, which at current MSRP would probably cost half, or less, the cost of his.  I’m not trying to identify the tinkling of the crystal on the tables in the club; I’m just focused on emotional engagement with the music.  Don’t get me wrong, the presence of the tinkling crystal can help to establish the vibe of the club, which in turn can connect me to the music, but for me its emphasis is much less important.

And here I am going to shamelessly quote myself from another thread

At the end of the day, it depends on how much obsessiveness and pathological compulsion dedication and commitment one is willing to bring to the table.

A purpose-built listening room becomes a necessity if one is to even hear the difference better gear makes. That room alone can cost $250K or more, though it doesn't have to.

I don't have a dedicated listening room and I don't want one. I sometimes listen to music 12 hours a day, so I need to do something else while listening, namely, in my case, work. That supposes, by definition, a very imperfect room, which in turn limits how much better gear I can get while still reasonably hoping to hear significant improvement.

But I wouldn't last an hour in a dedicated listening room before I got cabin fever, so I'm more than willing to live with what I have as it lets me listen to music for another 11 hours, and ultimately listening to music is what I'm here for.