Ah yes, there is no one more vocal about the horrors of smoking than the reformed smoker who has quit smoking - except perhaps the reformed ‘Audiophile’ about so called ‘high-end’ hi-fi.
“I once was lost, but now I’m found ……”
Actually, as with most things there is a sensible middle ground. I completely agree that for most audiophiles (and I include in this category anyone who enjoys listening to music on anything other than a very cheap transistor radio) music and a love of music is of paramount importance, and that music can be enjoyed on a very cheap audio replay system - even occasionally on a cheap transistor or car radio.
However, I don’t think that many people would argue against the premise that music can sound much better on a ‘decent’ but not necessarily expensive system than on a cheap transistor radio. If you do argue against that, then either there is something amiss with your hearing or you are deluding yourself.
Whilst there is no doubt that the law of diminishing returns kicks in pretty quickly in respect of relatively expensive hi-fi gear for most people, there are some benefits to be had from relatively hi-end gear.
It is impossible to replicate a live performance of any scale on a hi-fi system. However, in my experience, it is more or less impossible to create even a relatively close illusion of the scale of such a performance without a pair of relatively large and consequently relatively expensive speakers. It is also often the case that these speakers present a difficult ‘load’, and consequently require a capable (and consequently often expensive) amplifier to drive them successfully.
There is no ‘black’ and ‘white’ in respect of largely subjective things like music reproduction. When I was much younger I lived very happily with hi-fi systems that were significantly less capable than the ones I now use, but the ones I use now are better and I am pretty sure that even ‘audiophile’ sceptics would agree with my assessment were they to listen to my systems. However, I am now happy with my systems and the music that they reproduce. My systems are more or less static. I don’t tinker constantly with irrelevances (to me) like non standard digital cables (I use standard cat6 ethernet cables), so called ‘cable dressing’ and other similar so called audiophile pastimes, although I don’t feel inclined to ridicule those who do. When constant experimentation and tinkering gets in the way of the enjoyment of music then that’s where I begin to agree with the audiophile sceptics or reformed audiophiles.