What punches much higher than it's price point?

I meant to say Image 2B, not 1B!

Denafrips Ares II 100%

A good marriage. 

Source Analog-Rega

Source Digital-Teac

Electronics-Bryston/Octave/Yamaha

Loudspeakers-Acoustic Energy

Phono Cartridges-Audio Technica

Added 3 Electronics for different price points. If one prefers a slightly more saturated sound add Audia Flight.

Products punching above their weight class is always a hot topic… synergy as mentioned by others tends to be the real magic.  When designers of audio gear use their knowledge to design gear that picks the best parts for that design, that work as force multipliers when paired together.  When that gear gets paired with other gear that it has synergy with, magic.  When the use of both scientific measurements and modern engineering are used in combination with intuition, ears that tune gear that sounds great not just measures great, bam, magic. When designers understand the sound signature they are shooting for and the consumer aligns with that sound signature, that’’s when gear lunches above its weight class.  Schitt Gear, Linear Tube Audio, Omega Speakers, Pine Tree Audio, MHDT, Coda, Legacy, Fritz, Alta Audio all make gear that is often reviewed to as Giant Killers.