Erik Mandaville Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Of the individual parts that together form the audio chain and system -- source/s, preamp, amplifier/s, cables, AC supply, loudspeakers, listening room, -- which one is the most important? It's something I've found myself wondering about at times. Erik Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhilMays Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 That's a good question and the very reason we tend to upgrade so much. Let's say you have a system with medium grade equipment. If one of those is a high end piece I think it may be less noticable in the chain rather than if one were a very low end piece. As for your question I really don't know. You could have some B & W 802's (I use this example as they are power hungry) with a nice MAC preamp and a Denon 100 watt amp and the speakers would not sound as good as if you had a Denon preamp and a nice MAC amp. On the other hand you could have some Korns that were very effecient and the amp would not be nearly as important as the pre amp. Hard one for me to answer, but I'm interested in what others say! Phil Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormin Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Speakers get my vote. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 ...you could have some Korns that were very effecient and the amp would not be nearly as important as the pre amp.But my experience has been different -- some amp changes have made a real difference with my K-horns. But so have other changes, so it may depend on which component in your system needs upgrading the most. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Your choice of Speakers...................The Best equipment in the world will not sound good on the wrong speakers...........Just my thoughts, no fact to prove it, other than what you hear with your ears................... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maxg Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 The holy grail - and just as elusive. My take: The most important component is the weakest link - whatever that is in any given system. However good the back end equipment it is not going to sound all that good with a 128 kb/s MP3 source.However good the source it is not going to sound all that through a pair of $12 computer speakers.However good source and speakers it will sound bad with the wrong amp (2A3 and a B&W 801 for example)Do I dare mention the room - how good can the best system sound in a closet? It goes on and on. In any extreme case where one item is weak then that is the most important part. Even cables - if you dont have any the system wont sound like - well anything. I think this is one reason we end up with so many arguments. Speakers are important - probably the most obviously important, but without the support of matching equipment behind them....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldbuckster Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Maybe I should reconsider the Most Important Component...........Your EARS........Audio Equipment means nothing to a deaf person.!!!!!!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mas Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Maybe I should reconsider the Most Important Component...........Your EARS........Audio Equipment means nothing to a deaf person.!!!!!!!!!!! The deaf still viscerally feel the music. The irony is that even Gallaudet University recommends "a high quality sound system" for use in deaf dance instruction. http://depts.gallaudet.edu/dance/techniques.html [] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryC Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 The irony is that even Gallaudet University recommends "a high quality sound system" for use in deaf dance instruction. http://depts.gallaudet.edu/dance/techniques.html Absolutely! I'm deaf in one ear and sometimes have really bad tinnitus and hearing distortion, so very high quality in my system is critical to making music even more enjoyable for me and not aggravating the inner-ear problems that I have. Larry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 IMHO no single component can be nailed down. It's the balance of all components that makes for an awesome experience. What works great in one system can be a total different in the next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Absolutely! Yikes.... please don't encourage him! [:|] Although I'm inclined to think speakers are the most important component as they can have the quickest most dramatic change in the sound... but isn't it simply more like life in general? The whole thing is about BALANCE? Ipod through Khorns might not sound as good as CD & good amp through Cornwalls? (having never done neither, maybe it might too??!!) Just seems to me that if you have a well balanced system then it might sound better than a different system that has concentrated all the performance in one area. Now... can we spice this thread up? which is better, SET/PP, gear (tractor) or hydrostatic?, synthetic oil or regular? tubes or solid state? blondes or brunettes? legs or... uh, never mind [6] [A] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 oops...the dreaded double post... perhaps it's time I be banned? [:^)] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrench722 Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 To me it would be the room. With out it you would not be able to tell what it sounds like. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joessportster Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 i have heard it said a person should find a speaker they like and build a system around that choice, by that rational the speaker would be most important to begin with...........but as the system evolves and changes inevitably made importance would have to fall to the weakest link..............and once you reach what your ears would consider audio bliss............importance should fall to the ears of the listener[:S] and then of course you go out and listen to someones system and the game begins again[8o|] joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigBadBabyBoomer Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 IMHO no single component can be nailed down. It's the balance of all components that makes for an awesome experience. What works great in one system can be a total different in the next. No argument ...but (and ain't there always a butt!?)...The Cartridge......The Cartridge..........The Cartridge!!.......oh, you got a cd[li] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest " " Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 speaker wires, interconnects, and AC power correction devices. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coytee Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 speaker wires, interconnects, and AC power correction devices. I've reconsidered and Fritzie gets my vote! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
meagain Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Alcohol or whatever alterer floats your boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seti Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 My ears brain and mood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kaiser SET say Posted April 13, 2007 Share Posted April 13, 2007 Joe made a good point sans his addiction[] Sorry Joe, I'm just jealous you can afford to play/experiment as much as you do[] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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