Banana oil

An audio tiering system is not new, sub RM1 million, sub RM3 million and above RM3 million system division, literally speaking. To some minds, sub RM1 million outperforms sub RM3 million system only in your dream. Unthinkable. Equipment reigns king, this notion is an absolute banana oil. 

They're really something! They're more of a poster than a player. 

Do you see the problem? This is an unmistakably a gearslut's shallow take on audio, money buys sound. You get what you pay for, buddy. Well, audio manufacturers want you to think that way. Capitalism exploits consumers, they know what the agreeable price is, a price that customers are willing to pay and price it accordingly. You want fabulous finishing, you pay for it. You want separate power supply, you pay for it. You want blink-blink, you pay for it as long as your conceit of ownership is met. 

A higher model will sound better than its siblings, hands down. The manufacturers are striving for engineering excellence, to create an opening to something greater. This is for the top 1% of the top echelon. Good for you if you belong to the privilege club. But for the ordinary people living paycheck to paycheck, we exercise extreme caution on how money is spent. Value comes first. Don't be discouraged, when one door closes another door opens. You go study physics of sound, sound behavior. You study mechanical vibrations, how you benefit from damping. You learn sound, to know sound. You put in double effort, with the knowledge, experiences and problem solving, you will one day raise above. 

System synergy, the door to good sound. On wrong footing, a disaster is in making. Your chance to reverse the situation is zero. LS3/5a with Goldmund, Westlake with Boulder, Vivid with Devialet and et cetera, these are known match made in heaven. How do you recognize system synergy if not through skilled listening? Sound. If you think through specifications and measurements can help you to attain system synergy, I wish you luck. With that being said, the budget allotment of the ratio 1:1 sounds foolish. I don't see the correlation? Do you? Logics has no place in sound. On an extreme case, expensive cabling is needed to bring the best of the system. I'm sure you will suffer cognitive dissonance on this matter. Paus and do soul searching, are you serving your ear or logics? You know what? Most audio enthusiasts with engineering background inclined to the later.