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Around $5,000.

Lots of really good low-hanging-fruit actual improvements and solid equipment in that price range (combined, for the whole system); above that you're just getting crazy, and likely seeing marginal gains you can't actually hear and/or aren't worth the cost for what you (maybe, possibly, unlikely) might be fooled into hearing.

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And I'd argue that's still extremely high. Something as simple as a standalone DAC or good headphones/speakers can make a noticeable difference, even entry-level devices!

Yep, there are big steps up at around $300 and $1000 before that. Tons of opportunity to get great sound without losing your mind or your savings :-P

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