The $10K systems I reference really are about just top of the heap and its actually hard to argue diminishing returns in their case, they do justify the cost based on raw performance. You may not need that level of perfection and power, but they're objectively that amazing.

Things like the Genelec 8361A: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/g...

Or the Dutch and Dutch 8C: https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/d...

That said, agreed you can put together nice systems for not much. There are systems for just a few hundred dollars that perform admirably.