Blind test $3000 LUMIN D2 with Sbooster sounds the same as a $600 Bluesound Node

[Poseidon77 (Marco)]

I don’t actually say that more expensive DACs (and other components) cannot sound better. The question for me is: how much more expensive?
I’ve opened a thread about the relationship between sound impressions, money, and eyes. You’re welcome to participate.

Golden Ears and the Power of Money and Eyes

I am a subjectivist to the extent that I find it absurd to argue that you should prefer measurements to your own ears. On the other hand, I find it equally absurd to believe that you should only trust your ears, as we perceive sound through our wallets and eyes as much as through our ears. (I won’t even mention unconscious biases) And I find certain claims made by the golden ears crowd even more absurd (or at the very least highly dubious.) I have two questions: Are some ears so good that the…

My system is not an über-system, but I think it’s fairly decent. Mind you, even if my system were much more expensive, that wouldn’t prove anything, as I might just have particularly low-resolving ears.

dCS Bartok
Moon 700i v2
Sonus Faber Olympica Nova III
cables and interconnects: Nordost (Blue Heaven/ Red Dawn/ Valhalla)

I am wondering whether I couldn’t have the same sound with less expensive gear. More importantly, as I’m very happy with the sound and the looks, I am wondering whether any possible upgrades would really make sense (that is, have a meaningful impact on my enjoyment of the music).