Are higher-priced component sets actually worth it over budget coaxials?

For listeners who care about detail, imaging, and treble smoothness, component sets generally deliver a clearer step up — and premium brands like Focal carry strong reputations. But the data we have here is mostly retailer ratings rather than head-to-head lab measurements, so the gap is hard to quantify precisely. Budget coaxials like the Pioneer TS-F1634R still earn strong verified-purchase scores for the money.