No surprise everyone has a different generalized answer.
The correct answer is still the devil is in the details so it depends. Cost or product category alone assure nothing.
I will say from personal experience that $3k spent wisely on a digital front end can get one very very far these days. Maybe less if your amplification is already in order. After that you are splitting hairs most likely. But only if spent wisely. That means sticking to the latest and greatest technologies from proven vendors because the technology has come a long way in recent years and still moving.