Point of diminishing return for a DAC

Just my 2c.

I've had the Yggy, Holo 2 KTE, and now the Rockna base model.  I've been able to compare them all back to back and the Rockna is the clear winner.  

From an MSRP standpoint - the Rockna is ~ 2.5x the price of the other two.  Is it 2.5x as good ? No.  So there are definitely diminishing returns at this level.    

That said, the Rockna is objectively better than the other two when you compare each quality/category individually (i.e. bass, staging etc.).  All of the minor % point gains in each category add up to a more complete listening experience in my system. 

More satisfying listening = less listening to the system, more listening to the music. 

So to me - totally worth it.  

As an aside - adding a quality streamer is a more juicy vein to mine relative to moving up from a 2k DAC to 4k+.  

I'm a firm believer in spending a good chunk of your budget on the digital front end.

Good clocks + reduced jitter + w/e other mumbo jumbo is happening = improvements in PRaT, low end tonality, reduced sibilance, better staging, holographic imaging, blacker backgrounds and just a sense of ease/liquidity. 

It's effectively replacing a CD player.