Thoughts on Diminishing returns

Mikado463 said:
just the fact that the word 'subjective' has been used in many of the responses is but one way that ones ego can influence. trying to out-do the next person buy spending more, not necessarily achieving 'better' yet satisfying your ego. Our egos are fed and satisfied in different ways .......
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This thread is limiting returns to money. The return from a high end audio system is primarily intangible.
But yes, hifi and nearly everything else in the world has diminishing returns.
I have sex with the most beautiful woman in the world. The first time is more rewarding than the 1000th.
 
I am not sure that you can put a number as to how many times a system sounds better. Does any one know what 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x sounds like? It is all subjective. You can't quantify it. I can see terms like it is slightly better, moderately better greatly better or what ever term you want to use.
 
Mechnutt said:
I am not sure that you can put a number as to how many times a system sounds better. Does any one know what 2x, 3x, 5x, 10x sounds like? It is all subjective. You can't quantify it. I can see terms like it is slightly better, moderately better greatly better or what ever term you want to use.
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Absolutely agree Mechnutt. It can be subjective since it is our own ears and opinion but can't really be subjective since how do you measure or make rules for improvement.
 
brad225 said:
Absolutely agree Mechnutt. It can be subjective since it is our own ears and opinion but can't really be subjective since how do you measure or make rules for improvement.
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Only by a jury of your peers....? LOL

I kid, I kid [emoji3]
 
Having always been a frugal, value oriented type of guy "diminishing returns" was a major factor in any purchase. That said, as time goes on the fine line of diminishing returns is continually re-defining itself; be it audio equipment, food or lawn mowers.
 
In other words, when is good enough, good enough?

For someone like myself who is now soundly in the “it all matters” camp, the bar for diminishing returns is pretty high. But just like consumers, dealers also have to look at this proposition on a daily basis.
 
Mr Peabody said:
Maybe it's not so much diminishing returns as people may spend a bit more money but actually be making more of a lateral move.
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If room acoustics and speaker setup are not properly addressed, at some point any 'upgrade' becomes a mere lateral move.

To paraphrase Art Noxon from ASC (the tube trap company): if you don't take steps towards proper room treatment, your room acoustics may at some point be so limiting that true improvement of sound through gear upgrades cannot be achieved anymore, and the audiophile is left with each upgrade being just something different, another flavor, but never an actual step forward in sound.

From my own personal experience on work to improve my room acoustics, I agree with that opinion.

Granted, there may be the exceptional room where no or just marginal treatment is needed. Much more likely though is if an audiophile doesn't perform serious room treatment, he may never realize even half of the potential his gear is really capable of.
 
If only those of us could cure the disease that would get us to "good enough", LOL

Mike said:
In other words, when is good enough, good enough?

For someone like myself who is now soundly in the “it all matters” camp, the bar for diminishing returns is pretty high. But just like consumers, dealers also have to look at this proposition on a daily basis.
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Al M. said:
If room acoustics and speaker setup are not properly addressed, at some point any 'upgrade' becomes a mere lateral move.

To paraphrase Art Noxon from ASC (the tube trap company): if you don't take steps towards proper room treatment, your room acoustics may at some point be so limiting that true improvement of sound through gear upgrades cannot be achieved anymore, and the audiophile is left with each upgrade being just something different, another flavor, but never an actual step forward in sound.

From my own personal experience on work to improve my room acoustics, I agree with that opinion.

Granted, there may be the exceptional room where no or just marginal treatment is needed. Much more likely though is if an audiophile doesn't perform serious room treatment, he may never realize even half of the potential his gear is really capable of.
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True, that is why I have 3 absorption panels on my ceiling and two Daad4 bass traps. IN the future I might like two more DAAD4 traps. Nu sure if my g/f will tolerate that.
 
Al M. said:
If room acoustics and speaker setup are not properly addressed, at some point any 'upgrade' becomes a mere lateral move.

To paraphrase Art Noxon from ASC (the tube trap company): if you don't take steps towards proper room treatment, your room acoustics may at some point be so limiting that true improvement of sound through gear upgrades cannot be achieved anymore, and the audiophile is left with each upgrade being just something different, another flavor, but never an actual step forward in sound.

From my own personal experience on work to improve my room acoustics, I agree with that opinion.

Granted, there may be the exceptional room where no or just marginal treatment is needed. Much more likely though is if an audiophile doesn't perform serious room treatment, he may never realize even half of the potential his gear is really capable of.
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agreed 100%, your 1st sentence speaks volumes. As for those in the 'it all matters' camp, while true, it matters nothing without first a proper 'foundation' !
 
Mordante said:
True, that is why I have 3 absorption panels on my ceiling and two Daad4 bass traps. IN the future I might like two more DAAD4 traps. Nu sure if my g/f will tolerate that.
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Seriously, unless it's her house....???
Diminishing returns, ... there are some on here that have the same qualities, I'm one of them. Components, well, thats just easy,... how much joy does it give you.......
 
bzr said:
Seriously, unless it's her house....???
Diminishing returns, ... there are some on here that have the same qualities, I'm one of them. Components, well, thats just easy,... how much joy does it give you.......
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My girlfriend and me have been a couple since 2001. We bought this house together 10 years ago. So it's as much her house as it is mine.
The audio set is in the living room.
 
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