Audio hobby is like tasting wine.

[Rensselaer]

Great analogy.

With wine there are 'good' $10 ones and 'good' $100 ones. However there are also 'less good'. Then there are actually 'bad'.

Subjective opinion cannot change when a bottle is corked. Interestingly in my experience the more costly the bottle the more one tries to reason around a corked bottle. Human nature...

In regards your "Subjective opinion", the same could be said about hi fi systems, the more costly the investment the more one tries to reason around less-than-expected performance.

 

[Rensselaer]

Or masking.

But I can judge wines so much better when they leave the label on!

 

[Lee]

I am working on an article about diminishing returns in audio.

After working with audio for four decades, my view is that audio is an area where increasing returns exist!

 

[Barry2013]

I am working on an article about diminishing returns in audio.

After working with audio for four decades, my view is that audio is an area where increasing returns exist!

Yes providing you can see through the hype, make wise choices, get the required synergy and choose a system that suits your listening room

 

[Rensselaer]

But I can judge wines so much better when they leave the label on!

I meant, I can judge wines at a wine-tasting so much better when they leave the label un-masked.