I do think sometimes that those who mention the ‘law of diminishing returns’ have never heard products that would fall into that category. I’m not aiming that at anyone, I just hear it so frequently. I do sometimes feel it is used by those who would refuse to spend more money even if they could afford it. The meaning of the phrase exists to an extent, but it’s often overused and aimed at anything that involves four figures.
Having heard the latest iteration of the KEF Blades at Audio Show Deluxe over the weekend, and having owned the previous version myself, they’re a world away from the Eggleston Works Viginti (£30k vs £46k). It shows differences even at this level are just as wide as those between equipment below £10k or even £5k.
Recently heard a pair of £4500 loudspeakers with a £3400 amplifier, switched to a £5,000 amplifier, and the difference was astonishing.
The difference between a £2k system and a £10k system can be vast. Whether a product/system is worth £10k is down to the individual. The aforementioned Eggelston Works speakers were heard by many over the weekend, and having a chat with one visitor, he asked the price, and when I told him, he said that what they were doing for the money was very good value.
And I’m not saying this because I’m a dealer (most of you know I am). I am in the fortunate position to be able to hear this sort of stuff and spend some time around it, despite not being able to afford it. I do see some products like £150,000 speakers and have to question their value for money, what a potential customer would actually be getting for that money, and what else you can buy for that amount of money. 12 years ago I questioned £16,000 for KEF Blades, as you could buy a car for that, and comparing what you got from a materials point of view, seemed wrong. Nowadays, that’s not even a deposit on a house.
I have to say, if I had the money for those Eggleston Works, I’d buy them tomorrow.