Where to spend the most money in your audio chain?

[Jim Smith]

I don’t really understand why it has become a thing on this thread to discuss my room/system set up. While I appreciate the concern, it really is off topic. And for those of you who are concerned, this is not my first rodeo. I’ve been trained by Sonus Fabre/Sumiko specialists on how to do it properly years ago, have done it many times in different homes, have read up extensively on the subject, and currently set up my system with a friend of mine who used to do it for a living. It involved selecting the listening space (limited options there), moving furniture for the seating position, and moving the speakers and the sub an inch at a time to their best locations and toe in while listening. I double check this if I change a major component. So I appreciate the concern, but my system is set up correctly for my listening space - can we please put this issue to bed?

Yes, just post the images...

[Moby]

Thank you, but no. My room is a complicated shape and not susceptible to being photographed properly for this purpose.

[asindc]

I don’t think Linn had the whole story. It’s all important - source, speakers, electronics, cables, etc. but none of it will matter with a bad room and a poor setup. Focus on the room, then speaker/listening position setup, then power (AC). Get those three things right and you have the foundation for which to build a great system. After that, find the speakers that will work best in your room. Most rooms I’ve seen have some odd quirks. Find the best speaker for that room.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

This seems to be overlooked by some when planning their setup. It isn’t just about the most appealing speakers you can afford in the general sense, but what works best in your particular listening space. I’d love to have a pair of Martin Logan Renaissance 15As but even if they were in my budget, they wouldn’t be a good fit for my listening room. I also very much agree that getting your power right is fundamental step that should be done in the beginning of the process.

[Mikado463]

What, I’m not allowed to express an opinion? I don’t need confirmation, I was interested in others views.

utter nonsense, we've all given you other views and options and you just poo-hoo them ! basically because they are not what 'you' want to hear !!!

But you’re apparently only interested in being a troll - thanks, but I’m not playing.

not trolling, I was trying to assist but obviously you've had too much cannabis today ......

[Sharp 2160]

Thank you, but no. My room is a complicated shape and not susceptible to being photographed properly for this purpose.

That is a "cop out",and you know it. "Complicated shape" what exactly does that mean in terms of photography? There's a wall missing or something? The minute you post a picture of your system (assuming it is yours), you and I both know there will be at least one person that will criticize something about it and feelings will be hurt! It appears you brag about setting up systems in your past but are reluctant to "show off" your expertise with a photo? One other question, married or single? The reason I ask if there is a WAF involved?

[cmalak]

Moby...I just quickly scanned through this thread and the only thing that is “boring” as you have repeatedly remarked some of the responses have been, is your incessant whining and and argumentative approach. Since you seem to on most participants’ contributions (and by the way it would behoove you to Google Jim Smith to look up his pedigree and then decide if you know more than he does about system design and voicing) because their point of view does not mesh with your predicate, just Google this topic and The Absolute Sound and/or Stereophile and you will get a gazillion articles from various contributors at both rags over the years and call it a day.

Yeesh! I got tired just typing my reply to this nonsense

[MikeCh]

Because each system plan, componentry and room are different there is no one general solution for where to spend the most money.

If you want to continue spending money on your room treatments, go for it. If you think the money is best spent on your front end components, go for it. If you think the money is best spent buying software then go for it.

Your results with your analog front end being the more expensive portion / percentage of spend is unique to you. It may well match what others are doing or have found to be true in their own systems but it doesn't have to be that way for everyone.

Over the years I personally have spent more money on pre-amplification then anything else. I could easily tell people that's where they should spend their money because that's what I've done... but I don't.

[Sharp 2160]

utter nonsense, we've all given you other views and options and you just poo-hoo them ! basically because they are not what 'you' want to hear !!!



not trolling, I was trying to assist but obviously you've had too much cannabis today ......

Must not be cannabis, the reverse should be in effect. Mellow and no anxiety and and open mind to ingest the information. Now if you posted alcohol was involved, that would make sense, arguing about whose opinion is "right". Neither of them are relevant to how he responds. Maybe he's just hard headed as many people become as they get older.

[cmalak]

Must not be cannabis, the reverse should be in effect. Mellow and no anxiety and and open mind to ingest the information. Now if you posted alcohol was involved, that would make sense, arguing about whose opinion is "right". Neither of them are relevant to how he responds. Maybe he's just hard headed as many people become as they get older.

[Moby]

Ok, let’s shut this down. It’s veered way off topic and has now become abusive. I appreciate that Jim and others have great expertise on setting up systems - far greater than mine. But my system, my room, my use of alcohol or pot (neither), my marital status, etc. is not and has never been the point of this thread. I have no desire to exchange barbs and insults - life is too short and the energy would be wasted. Sorry I started this thread - never would have guessed this reaction. My experiences posting on this site have always been so positive and informative previously, this has not been. Likely will be a long time before I make the mistake of posting again. Good luck to you all.

[cmalak]

Well if my commentary contributed to your decision not to post on here than I did not mean it to have that outcome. It’s ultimately your decision whether you post or not from here on out obviously.

[a.wayne]

One other question, married or single? The reason I ask if there is a WAF involved?

Phew .... Thanks for clearing that up ...

[Try1256]

Please don’t be offended. When you ask the question, “where to spend the most money in your audio chain”, it implies that you are wishing to improve the sound of your system and want to know where others think the dollars would be best spent. Thus the recommendation to make sure you have heard the best your existing system has to offer before spending money chasing something that you may already have. No offense was intended, just trying to help.

So to try and answer the question, my phono cartridge probably made the most significant impact of any of the gear I own. So I would stear toward a high quality source.

[AJ Soundfield]

[Mechnutt]

No amt of amplification would get those speakers to sound like real music , i would go for better speakers ,,bigger differences there than in the amplification...

a.wayne, while I do respect your opinion I do not agree with it concerning the PSB's. I certainly agree that the 3.7i's would sound better in most respects as I a Maggie guy but it is a matter of preference. And I could have easily included them in my example system along with several other speakers. If you have never heard a pair of PSB Synchony's or the newer, better version the T3's, then you are mistaken about them.

I heard a $120K system with $50K Rockport speakers in a large dedicated audio room that was professionally built for home audio and my son and I came away unimpressed. While it did some things better than my humble system, we preferred my system which sounded more accurate and natural.

Here is part of the Stereophile review on the T3's, although I fully understand that most pro reviewers embellish to please their clients.

As I mentioned before, the first music I listened to through the PSB Imagine T3s was a set of Brahms's Piano Trios. The date was April 21, 2016. And as I was deciding what to play next, I heard the news that Prince had been found dead. I was struck uncharacteristically silent. I set the title track of Purple Rain (ALAC file ripped from CD, footnote 2, Warner Bros.) on repeat and let the music wash over me. The electric guitar, like the tenor saxophone and the cello, has the same tessitura as the male voice, and every great artist who plays one of those instruments develops a unique voice on it. You just have to hear one phrase to know that it is Prince playing the electric guitar. That is the sign of greatness, and that day in April, my PSB-based system allowed Prince's greatness to shine through, unencumbered by artifact.
Conclusions
While more expensive than its predecessor, the Synchrony One, PSB's Imagine T3 offers superb sound quality for what is still a relatively affordable price. To improve on its combination of full frequency-range sound, clarity, and neutrality, you would need to spend almost three times as much. It is also a beautiful piece of audio furniture.

Here is another review from TAS which is very similar-

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/psb-imagine-t3-loudspeaker/?page=2


Enough said as I do not want to get into a tit for tat. Just my opinion.

Best Regards,

Larry

[a.wayne]

a.wayne, while I do respect your opinion I do not agree with it concerning the PSB's. I certainly agree that the 3.7i's would sound better in most respects as I a Maggie guy but it is a matter of preference. And I could have easily included them in my example system along with several other speakers. If you have never heard a pair of PSB Synchony's or the newer, better version the T3's, then you are mistaken about them.

I heard a $120K system with $50K Rockport speakers in a large dedicated audio room that was professionally built for home audio and my son and I came away unimpressed. While it did some things better than my humble system, we preferred my system which sounded more accurate and natural.

Here is part of the Stereophile review on the T3's, although I fully understand that most pro reviewers embellish to please their clients.

As I mentioned before, the first music I listened to through the PSB Imagine T3s was a set of Brahms's Piano Trios. The date was April 21, 2016. And as I was deciding what to play next, I heard the news that Prince had been found dead. I was struck uncharacteristically silent. I set the title track of Purple Rain (ALAC file ripped from CD, footnote 2, Warner Bros.) on repeat and let the music wash over me. The electric guitar, like the tenor saxophone and the cello, has the same tessitura as the male voice, and every great artist who plays one of those instruments develops a unique voice on it. You just have to hear one phrase to know that it is Prince playing the electric guitar. That is the sign of greatness, and that day in April, my PSB-based system allowed Prince's greatness to shine through, unencumbered by artifact.
Conclusions
While more expensive than its predecessor, the Synchrony One, PSB's Imagine T3 offers superb sound quality for what is still a relatively affordable price. To improve on its combination of full frequency-range sound, clarity, and neutrality, you would need to spend almost three times as much. It is also a beautiful piece of audio furniture.

Here is another review from TAS which is very similar-

http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/psb-imagine-t3-loudspeaker/?page=2


Enough said as I do not want to get into a tit for tat. Just my opinion.

Best Regards,

Larry

Hi larry ,

So you do agree the 3.7i with subs would have been the better choice , great minds Larry , great minds ............

[Mechnutt]

For sure the 3.7i's with subs would be better. I was just throwing out examples. I would buy a pair in a NY minute if I had the room for them. When I bought my 1.6's I could have bought the 3.6's (even the wife told me to get them) but my room would not have accommodated them and my electronics were not up to snuff back then, Parasound Halo A21 LOL. My room is 17x17 with 9.5' ceilings. Door panels 4' out into the room just wouldn't work. My 1.6's are 3' out but the larger models need more room to breathe.