[lextek]

Do you think the gap in performance from less expensive gear and uber, high end stuff is getiing smaller?  I've heard asoke "low end" stuff that sounds pretty, damn good.

 

[Willakan]

Uber high-end stuff is more illusory improvements in expensive cases IMHO and has been for some time. In fact, you could argue that what is effectively audible perfection (everything the amp adds to the music (distortion, FR error) is too low in level to be heard) is not very difficult to reach, either in amps or DACs.
 
Obviously, with headphones/speakers it gets a bit more complex, but I don't doubt that silly-expensive speakers are in many cases not necessarily improvements on cheap and well-engineered counterparts. Stereophile slated speakers from Carver for a while, then gave a rave review to a much more expensive speaker - using the drivers from the speaker they declared was awful!

 

[lextek]

I do understand the pride in ownership.  There is a good feeling about a well made item.