You see the problem here is one of credibility.
Whilst I'm struggling to understand how a USB cable could possibly affect sound quality, the rest of what you've suggested is just conjecture.
- You've suggested that your experience with headphones allows you to guestimate sound increases with normal stereo systems. My experience is that it's simply not the case. A number of years ago, I looked at simplifying my system and going with only cans. I borrowed a headphone amp to use with my HD600s and also a Stax system. After 2 days of comparing, I returned both as for me, neither got close to my system, which back then was reasonable, but nothing close to what I now use
- You've stated that a £10k system is not really better, with seemingly zero experience. If you're genuinely interested, I don't know why you've not bothered. It's really not hard, just visit a decent show, some good dealers or if you have the chance, visit some people who have higher priced systems. Don't get me wrong, I've come across some really bad sounding systems regardless of price. However, I've also heard some that sound utterly sublime and make my own sound a little broken in comparison. At least you'll then have a reference point to understand what it's important to you (as we're not all the same)
Right now, you're just throwing stones over the wall, with pretty much bugger all credibility. It's like a Corsa driver trying to tell someone with a TVR why it's pointless.
I tested DAC and AMP's from £20 all the way up to £800 for headphone use. I found once you hit the £150-£250 mark after that you were paying considerably more money for details which tbh didn't add a lot. You could have lived without them very minute differences. Also each amp and sometimes even DAC's will colour the sound. This will translate into speaker amp's as well.
Sound is very subjective. A lot of people highly recommended hifiman he400's I bought and used them for 6 months I found them very fatiguing yet they are rated as one of the best you can buy. I didn't like their treble. They weren't for me however loads of people love them. I didn't like them.
You have people who also spend £200 on a cable for £150 headphones. That is quite frankly laughable IMO. The same translates to speakers. People spending money on overpriced crap which does the job no better than a £30 or £40 cable which has been well made. That is the hard part a lot of people don't bother to do any research and buy a crap £40 cable then decide all £40 cables are crap then buy a £300 cable or you have people saying you need this £300 cable as it's the best. You don't need the best in most circumstances. You can get away with second or third best and find very little difference between the two.
My choice if I'm going out to the cinema is it must be IMAX. I won't go to a normal cinema. Now the sound system in there yes is mind blowing but I know that it's also impossible to replicate in a home scenario the best you can get is like a 7.2.4 atmos system without getting too ridiculous and that is already ridiculous to begin with.
I've watched mad max fury road at IMAX twice. I've also seen it at home using just built in tv speakers and using a 5.1 system. Yes there is a difference but I could never replicate IMAX and you have to look at value for money as well. I can add atmos to my setup at home I have a capable AVR in fact I think I could go 7.1.2 with my current AVR however I could no longer BI-AMP my fronts if I do so. I found using my 5.1 system at home I enjoyed the film slightly less than IMAX but that's because I had that reference to draw from. If I hadn't seen it at IMAX I wouldn't have had it therefore I would have been blown away at home. Guess what when I walked out the cinema even my wife was like wow that was epic. Absolutely mind blowing as she hates action films. The sound is 90% of that movie. Now I had guests over who had never seen it and they use TV speakers in their home. When they left my home they were blown away by my system it was the exact same thing as what happened to me at the cinema. However I'd say my system at home doesn't need 360 speakers or however many they have in IMAX I can get close to that sound with less than £5K new or £3K second hand. I could go even cheaper to say as low as £800 and still get 95% of the same experience if not more. That extra 5% isn't worth spending £9K extra on.
I don't have a corsa like I say my bedroom setup is a £800 soundbar. I'm willing to bet my bedroom setup beats 99% of home living room setups out there because the average person either uses tv speakers or a £200 soundbar, so I value sound quality a lot higher than most if my bedroom setup beats most living room set ups. My living room setup is pretty epic. I don't know a single person personally who has a better living room set up than mine. Most people use TV speakers or a cheap soundbar. Majority of people just don't care.
Lets use the car analogy. I drive a fast car. It does 0-60 in around 5 seconds. Yes a Bugatti Veyron can do it in 2.5 seconds. However the average car does it in over 10 seconds the corsa can take up to 16 seconds depending on the model. I can get at least 95% of the experience with my car as it's fast and a lot faster than the average car user. Yes it won't be directly comparable to a Bugatti but value for money wise I'm getting practically the same experience for less than 5% of the cost.
Law of diminishing returns. There comes a point where you know what you can get better but it's just not worth it. It's why I bought a 2070 super and not a 2080 super. It wasn't worth it. Even though I can afford it, it's pointless to spend £400 more to get at best 5% more.
