Well, I hope so as I have a foot in both camps. Each is a way to achieve performance which would otherwise be unaffordable, and one permits some progress (and some satisfaction) while waiting for the other.
But this simply isn't true. There is no performance difference never mind advantage for a large proportion of audiophile hardware. Where there are significant and real performance advantages such as adequately sized drivers, controlled off-axis radiation, room response control, multi-channel, etc... there is usually little interest. Whatever pleasure most audiophiles are deriving from their hardware it isn't performance in any real technical sense.
Value for money in terms of performance when DIYing is also not clear. For modest 2 ways a DIYer has to pay more for the parts than it would cost to buy a finished mass produced equivalent plus the resale value will be a lot less. Value from such speakers has to come from other sources which for many it does.
Large DIY speakers offer more of a chance to pay less in parts than the price of a commercial equivalent. The bigger issue here tends to be the knowledge and skill to achieve a high standard of design, finish and performance in order to match the expensive commercial equivalents. In addition, most commercial speakers with real technical advantages in their drivers, electronic control, materials, manufacturing,... are not available to DIYers as parts but only complete speakers.
It's music that triggers the quest for technical perfection in the first place, but at some point it's also music that provides the antidote. Which is pretty strange.
I blame the wine.
No I don't think music itself has much to do with the quest. Many that are passionate about music have no interest in the hardware once the performance is above a threshold where linear and nonlinear distortions don't intrude on the comprehension of the music. This is achievable with hardware that for many audiophiles would be well below a level they would consider. In addition, if you compare the comments of audiophiles that have visited shows with what you yourself heard when visiting the same shows it will become apparent that many are not seeking, and not attracted to, a high technical performance. Nothing wrong with this but it does cause a degree of confusion and sometimes conflict when technical performance and attractive sound effects are not distinguished.
