Exactly! I for one would love to shop for gear in a world where the manufacturing cost was the sole variable - in other words, where I could reasonably expect that
any piece of gear would perform near the optimum levels allowed. I think most consumers would like a product costing multiples of a cheaper device's price to be at least a small amount better in
every way. Most would even understand that there would be diminishing returns in that pursuit.
There won't ever be a time where a $6000 DAC performs 20X better than a $300 DAC - especially if the $300 DAC is already at a level where it's audibly transparent to the source. However hopefully, along with the beautiful chassis, large, clear display panel, and great customer service - it is
also engineered to have at least
slightly better measurements. Even if we assume that the $300 version has attained such amazing levels that it simply
can't be improved upon with current technologies - then at least make sure it measures
100% as well as the cheaper one. Let the consumer decide if the premium is worth it for appearance alone (you might be surprised at how many do)!
Companies like Matrix Audio, Okto Research and others have shown that it's possible to make objectively superior and subjectively
appealing components. Similarly the SMSL, Topping, Khadas, etc. offerings show that by shedding the majority of the aesthetic bits (and trimming a few features)... fantastic performance is attainable within a
very modest budget as well. All while leaving plenty of room for companies and individuals like
@March Audio to provide products which reside somewhere in the middle.