An analogy for sound improvement in high end gear

Would this thing provide the described mig difference?
http://www.thecableco.com/Product/MiG--Mechanical-Interface-Grounding--Set-of-3-

 

No, the opposite is more often the case, because HIGH PRICE PAID does not always mean HIGH PERFORMANCE IN RETURN

Much less "marginal improvements" even if such a thing were objectively definable without a scope and a lab (what's "better", the porterhouse, the rib eye or the New York strip from the same steer) Sure cost different don't they? So one HAS to be "better" right? Or should I buy that filet mignon?

You get to a point where you really need to THINK about what you are doing

In automobile racing that 10th of a second you mentioned might be achieved with a chassis adjustment by someone who truly understands the TOTAL machine and it's interactions with the track and doesn't view it simply as a sum of it's parts (and price tags)

The amount of ("more") money one spends does not guaranty substantial, or even a marginal, "improvement" in sound quality, ever
Other than the "improvement" one realizes when starting from scratch (no system or component at all)

But, there are no absolutes or guarantees

You spend a "lot" of money it is not unreasonable to expect a certain level of good quality and performance (and it used to be that way most of the time; marketing was a wee bit less "cynical") Not always sincere, clearly , but in general more so than today (I think so anyway for what that's worth) Until some of the wattage wars got going

The BUILD standard was definitely more competitive between more players; today more about "features and technology" whatever that may mean

Just do not make the mistake and assume it has to be so (price equates performance)
Even then that outcome will be component(s)/system/room/set up/circuit specific........and often times more

(we're talking comparable build and circuit quality here, not implying that a JVC boombox will best a Krell in the right hands or room, just saying you might just not NEED a Krell (the 40 pounds of aluminum @ $100 bucks a pound ) if you do everything else with a little planning and forethought )

To continue with an automotive analogy (not really the best but "OK") :
You want to race stock cars, you want to win, you want the "best"
You have NO car to race but plenty of money; you even have sponsors
You contact Hendrick Motorsports about building you a car
You choose Hendrick Motorsports because their cars have won a lot of races, a LOT of races and they've been around a long time, since 1984; they have 4 big time drivers in their "stable"
Maybe more than anyone, they've won a race in every major event there is; they are a power house; some people (a LOT of people) say they the "BEST" in the game
They even have heavy consideration given to their input on writing the rules

You contract Hendrick for EVERYTHING they have to offer, just like their "pros"
Hendrick is a "one stop shop" as for building cars, so everything you are getting for your money is on par and the same quality as their own drivers
That costs you a LOT of money
You now have a top tier automobile to race and it's a Chevrolet
Does that mean you will win a race? Does that guarantee you the car will even finish the 500 laps?
Does that guarantee that you will even be competitive on race day?
Well I would hope so, after all I bought the "BEST" you can get!

Of course not, there are too many other variables at work here

You are in a race and competing against Kevin Harvick
Kevin Harvick is driving a Chevrolet too; his Chevrolet even enjoys some of the same roots and even parts as yours
Kevin Harvick's Chevrolet is a Stewart-Haas built car
Respected outfit but they've only been around since 2003; they have 4 big time drivers too (including Kevin Harvick)
But they don't build their own engines, they buy them from Hendrick!
Same fuel, same tyres, same rules, same track

Your qualifying time was BETTER than Harvick's, a lot better (plus, you've got that all Hendrick car) You start the race in a better spot

But on race day Kevin Harvick kicks your ass and kicks it hard; he not only kicks YOUR ass but he wins the race that day

You both finished the race without incident; you at 28th out of 43

A guy who built most of his car himself finished in the top 10 at 8th across the line with the checkered flag
He had about 50 stickers and logos on his machine from the local car dealership to the doughnut shop in his small hometown in Pennsylvania someplace
Two of the guys in his pit crew are buddies from high school
A local skilled and knowledgeable machine shop built his engine
They also build engines for competitive water skiing boats in his region

What happened?

I realize that building a winning race team (or any sport) goes well beyond this example of "how much?"
Same as building an accurate, good sounding system
You can apply a football analogy here; how many teams have addressed Super Bowl aspirations with a check book only to be "one and done" if they even make it to the playoffs?

The point is, money might get you to the race track but it damn sure doesn't mean you're going to win or even place

When the final results suck, it hurts even more

Go with, and trust your ears for what works, NOT what somebody had to say or how much it cost

Get your room right, buy a sound level meter, set your stuff up the best it can be

Read textbooks on acoustics not reviews of equipment

Try to avoid buying anything you can't hear first (that is the one big downside with the ever getting easier e-commerce only electronics biz; it is really opening the door for the Pied Pipers to steer folks rather than honest objective and subjective superiority between pieces)

And NEVER NEVER NEVER be foolish and poo poo or deliberating dismiss Vintage options

(sports analogies aren't very good for this )

 

"deliberately"

and make sure to visit the "high end" classifieds for a reality check every now and then if you feel as if you're going to slip

take a look at the dollars hits being taken on all those "recommended" "best "xyz" I've EVER heard"

There has to be a connection, mmmmm wonder what that could be?