More expensive doesn't always mean sounds better.

I own 3 older AV Receivers, a Sony STR-DA7es that retailed for $2500 in 2002, a Pioneer Elite VSX-55txi that retailed for $1800 in 2004, and a Yamaha RX-V2500 that retailed for $1100 in 2004, and out of those 3, the Yamaha, which was the least expensive, sounds the best, for both music and movies.

 

I agree that there's no correlation between audio quality and price.
There's also little correlation between technical audio quality and personal preference.

As to pricing, different manufacturers pitch their products at different price points, even when there's next to no difference in manufacturing cost.

Personally, I buy entirely on facilities and specification, especially if I can get the specification corroborated in a technical review, so buy the cheapest that'll do the job I need it to do.

S.

 

Very sensible, you have listened to each and made good choice.