The law of diminshing returns?

At what point, do you say, no more, Basta?

That’s really only answerable on an individual basis after listening to a given product preferably and optimally in your own system.  Fortunately DACs lend themselves well to buying used, which to me is the way to go for the more value oriented with relatively low risk.

I think the audiophile ultimately achieves a balance between price and enjoyment quality. 

In that equilibrium is satisfaction- at least for the individual is able to be satisfied.

When people talk about diminishing returns in hifi, what they really mean is that there’s a limit on how much they personally would be prepared to spend on it. That’s fair enough, but it isn’t diminishing returns. 

Diminishing returns can’t apply to hifi systems because it is a quantitative concept. Sound quality is by definition qualitative and there is no standard scale against it can be measured. 

Everybody’s entitled to their opinions on hifi. However, saying there are diminishing returns doesn’t make those opinions any more valid. It’s just an overused cliche that sounds impressive but doesn’t mean very much. 

....and one has to decide when to Stop

'enuff. 😉

It seems very few get the information right stuck and mesmerized  by "pricing" :

Diminishing return "point"  area, or zone, is defined and located by the difference and tension between  the subjective and objective  parameters of acoustics experience and the  subjective and objective parameters of gear design... Not by budget or price...

This is why this principle is real even for Bill Gates buying  a billion dollars system...

Perhaps a million dollars system would have even done better in another room with  a better optimization process....

 We cannot put a price on the ears and intelligence ...

Diminishing returns is not a law but a principle set by  the conditions of experience at play...

But we can ignore this and boast buying a billion system that this principle do not apply to our "majesty"  only to the "poors" unable to afford the experience...

I dont want to be the King walking  without clothes...