Where to spend the most money in your audio chain?

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a.wayne said:
wouldn't you say , the Harbeth 30.1 is under powered in your current rig ... ??
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Nope. Best sounding speaker I’ve owned and perfect for the music I tend to listen too, my room and seating area. The REL sub fills it out seamlessly into lower registers. Harbeths are amazing and the 40.2 would be too large for my application. If I listened to a lot of metal, yeah I’d probably go with a larger full range but I don’t.

If you’re referring to my PrimaLuna HP Integrated, it’s 70wpc in ultra linear mode and can be bumped up to 100 wpc with tube rolling. It sounds great and can get plenty clean and loud in my room. Add the powered REL sub and there’s no stress at all. The crucial factor is that it’s very musical. It replaced a McIntosh MA6600 Integrated at 200 wpc.
 
Over the past couple of years I have replaced my entire system one component at a time. Each component brought its own level of improvement but was also dependent on it's compatiblility with the other components in line. I am at the point where everything is playing together well and I am very happy with the system. However, the most dramatic improvement I experienced was when I purchased the "Get Better Sound" book and dvd. I say this from the perspective of having a small, difficult room to work with and limited options in the arrangement of the room. I followed he basic tips in Mr. Smith's book/dvd and the change in my listening experience was remarkable. For the most part, it only involved small adjustments to my listening position and speaker placement/toe in. I already had some basic acoustical treatment but nothing very elaborate or expensive. Without addressing the interface of the room and the sound system, maximum performance will be an elusive target.
 
I ended up integrating

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Moby said:
Mechnutt - This is more like the balance I’d look for.
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classic audiophile comeback......... you asked for thoughts / opinions yet in the end all you're looking for is confirmation of you're own personal biases !!
 
Mikado463 said:
classic audiophile comeback......... you asked for thoughts / opinions yet in the end all you're looking for is confirmation of you're own personal biases !!
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What, I’m not allowed to express an opinion? I don’t need confirmation, I was interested in others views. But you’re apparently only interested in being a troll - thanks, but I’m not playing.
 
Moby said:
Room/system setup important. Yeah, I get it, that’s why I spend hours and hours on it over several weeks when I set up a system or change components. Now explain to me how this relates to the topic of the post.
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Spending time and getting it right are - IME - not related, and sadly, the disparity is all too often.

Please post an image of your set-up, as well as an image of your listening area.

That'll give us an idea of how far along you are.

I'll say it again, no amount of money spent on components can equal the results produced from effective time and effort spent on proper system set-up.

Plus, it becomes far easier - and much more reliable - to evaluate the relative merits of possible new components.
 
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?
 
Moby said:
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?
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Yes, just post the images... :)
 
Mike said:
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.


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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.
 
Moby said:
What, I’m not allowed to express an opinion? I don’t need confirmation, I was interested in others views.
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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.
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not trolling, I was trying to assist but obviously you've had too much cannabis today ......
 
Moby said:
Thank you, but no. My room is a complicated shape and not susceptible to being photographed properly for this purpose.
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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?
 
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 [emoji90] 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 [emoji57]
 
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.
 
Mikado463 said:
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 ......
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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.
 
Sharp 2160 said:
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.
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[emoji23][emoji23][emoji122][emoji122]
 
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.
 
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