NorthStar
New member
You'd be good company to have a drink with Dan. ...At a strip joint?
Source or speakers?
- Thread starter daveyf
- Start date
- Status
first and foremost…without question………your ears (hearing). After that those of us that have been at this long enough know full well that there is NO single answer, it's all about the synergy as it relates to the 'sum of the parts' !!
- Thread Author
- #43
+1.
But I do believe that IF we lose information at the source, then nothing down stream is going to be able to make up for that. Remember, I'm talking components here.
RedSectorA
New member
Don't do trip joints anymore, my balls came off due to road bike seat overuse
anic:. But I do have the occasional drink :exciting:
Hm, what if we are looking through multiple panes of glass? Would it be better if the first one or last one was the most opaque? How about one in the middle?
Caelin Gabriel
Shunyata Research
the professor
Well-known member
RedSectorA
New member
I think Caelin that we all agree that a sound system is as strong as it's weakest link, or do we? I understood Daveyf's question as where do one start when building a sound system as you have to start somewhere. The majority it appears use the sonic trait of a speaker and build around it whereas some will use the source as a starting point.
MDP
Behavior Moderator (be nice police!)
Welcome Caelin !! I'm really glad you're here. I hope you can share what you figured out with the Alpha Digital cable, I love mine !
Well, some here have said that it is a balance. When helping someone to decide how to improve their audio system, I look to identify the weakest link in their current system. If you have a speaker with a broken driver - obviously, you would replace that. That is an extreme example but the method is a valid one. Everything matters in an audio system. But, following an upgrade path by rote does not lead to cost effective performance advancements. This is where an experienced dealer or industry expert opinion is helpful.
Any and all systems CAN be upgraded and improved. But at what cost? I have heard inexpensive systems that were musically satisfying and million dollar systems that were almost excruciating. Finding that balance in a system, no matter the relative cost, is the key to satisfaction. Robert Harley's audio guide is a good resource and was written to answer this seemingly simple question.
MDP
Behavior Moderator (be nice police!)
You're correct. I posted this in the Shunyata section.
- Thread Author
- #52
Caelin, I happen to believe that a system sounds better IF we have a strong front end ( digital or analog or tape) and a weaker back end ( Speakers) than the alternative. ( Great speakers and a weak source). That has been my listening experience. Obviously for overall system balance, the system is ONLY going to be as strong as its weakest link. BUT, as you may notice, my thread title is "source or speakers".
Caelin, I happen to believe that a system sounds better IF we have a strong front end ( digital or analog or tape) and a weaker back end ( Speakers) than the alternative. ( Great speakers and a weak source). That has been my listening experience. Obviously for overall system balance, the system is ONLY going to be as strong as its weakest link. BUT, as you may notice, my thread title is "source or speakers".
I hear what you are saying. I am just politely disagreeing with the simplicity of "source or speakers". But if you want to take that approach, I suppose you would have to define what constitutes a weak speaker versus a weak front-end. I find that even relatively inexpensive speakers from the respected brands are competent and musical. Perhaps, the flaws of front-end electronics (specifically digital equipment) are more egregious to the listener. If that is what you are saying then I would agree.
I can say that I find an inexpensive turntable based system more satisfying than some very expensive digital based systems. That could start a fight.
eace:
I can say that I find an inexpensive turntable based system more satisfying than some very expensive digital based systems. That could start a fight.
No arguments here! Welcome to the forum Caelin. I purchased my first Shunyata product (Alpha Digital Power Cord) and I'm hooked!
dlb2
New member
I can say that I find an inexpensive turntable based system more satisfying than some very expensive digital based systems. That could start a fight.
How funny that I just grabbed the latest Stereophile from my mailbox with the dCS Vivaldi stack on the cover...
I'd pick vinyl as well.
NorthStar
New member
Some people go shopping for a home according to their priorities:
- Good neighborhood, nature surroundings (trees, wildlife, mountains, water; ocean, lake, river, chute)
- Great rooms (for sound, good acoustics)
I'm one of them people.
Other people buy a house, and build around it; the rooms. ...Their inside.
Then next the loudspeakers are chosen (should be) in harmony to that room where they'll be performing, reproducing sounds, from music recordings and movie scores (their own sound, not for their looks but it could become a bonus attribute; daytime listening).
The source (be it a digital or an analog front end) is last (should be).
I'm talking about true sound (music) lovers here, and that is my honest opinion. And it is in fact how I do myself in my own life.
I feel free, and I can compromise with the people I love (share), and still get the sound I like.
- Good neighborhood, nature surroundings (trees, wildlife, mountains, water; ocean, lake, river, chute)
- Great rooms (for sound, good acoustics)
I'm one of them people.
Other people buy a house, and build around it; the rooms. ...Their inside.
Then next the loudspeakers are chosen (should be) in harmony to that room where they'll be performing, reproducing sounds, from music recordings and movie scores (their own sound, not for their looks but it could become a bonus attribute; daytime listening).
The source (be it a digital or an analog front end) is last (should be).
I'm talking about true sound (music) lovers here, and that is my honest opinion. And it is in fact how I do myself in my own life.
I feel free, and I can compromise with the people I love (share), and still get the sound I like.
Caelin, I happen to believe that a system sounds better IF we have a strong front end ( digital or analog or tape) and a weaker back end ( Speakers) than the alternative. ( Great speakers and a weak source). That has been my listening experience. Obviously for overall system balance, the system is ONLY going to be as strong as its weakest link. BUT, as you may notice, my thread title is "source or speakers".
davey, given that reasoning I can easily prove it wrong………. source(10k CDP) - speakers(generic 'white van' speakers) = YUCK !!
source ($200 CDP) - speakers (Magico Q7) = SONIC BLISS !
the professor
Well-known member
If your going to have a system that unbalanced.
Spending the same money. I would MUCH rather have the following system than Q7s in your system.
Great power cables and interconnects
Great turntable
Great DAC/music server
Great preamp
Great power amp
Some Magnapan MMGWs ($300 a pair new)
Spending the same money. I would MUCH rather have the following system than Q7s in your system.
Great power cables and interconnects
Great turntable
Great DAC/music server
Great preamp
Great power amp
Some Magnapan MMGWs ($300 a pair new)
jock, OMG, for crying out load I was merely pointing how really silly (IMO) the whole premise is to begin with, the Op (davey) is trying correlate two components, source / speakers. if you can't see the example in my post then I suppose your lost.
Any disagreements if I close this thread?
- Status