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Post by John on Aug 3, 2014 5:01:59 GMT
Sorry to add another poll but think the results might prove interesting
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Post by pinkie on Aug 3, 2014 5:37:23 GMT
I can see "they all matter equally" picking up some votes, since clearly balance is important. You get a pretty silly system with expensive speakers fed by a 60's transistor radio. That said, the Lowthers will make a good sound (really good) driven by the nad 3020 and a simple record player.
But if voting, and when system building, its room and speakers first for me every time. The rest is important , but I put cables and other accessories some way down the list. Not irrelevant, but I've yet to see the system built with reference world standard cables and modest components that excited me
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 5:54:34 GMT
I agree with Monsieur Pinkie, the speakers and room probably contribute the most to a system, at least they do to mine. In one sense the size and shape of my listening room is not ideal since it's a small room and not a uniform shape (the wall behind the speakers is no parallel with the wall they face), but this actually helps avoid bass traps and whatnot. I have tried the system in the sitting room as well and it sounds very different and not as good IMO. Next in line for influence I would probably say "source" but it not in the sense that Linn mean it. The recording that you are reproducing is the next most important element IMO (the performance as well as how it's recorded and the medium). The remaining factors are hard to place in order. The TT pickup, the TT arm, the amps (preamp above power), the TT chassis and other mechanical items. The phono stage is very important in a vinyl system. At the bottom of the list we have cables, which make almost no difference, apart from to your bank balance  . |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 6:23:23 GMT
I suppose us pedants would say none of the above as its my ears that have the biggest effect. Especially now they are accelerating down the hill. However, when it comes to the equipment, provided all the components are at least of reasonable quality, its the speakers then the room for me. We have several different size rooms and have tried the Quads, Kefs, Teufels and the home builds in all of them now. Each time the defining sound was that of the speakers with some obvious small differences according to the room. PS I would stress that each of the rooms had different source and amps in place |
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Post by John on Aug 3, 2014 7:20:18 GMT
For me speakers and the room play the biggest part. Room acoustic/modes have a big influence on sound.
I believe that in the last 5 years source has become a lot more cheaper. In the past I used to have a Nu-Vista CD player with about £2000 of Audiocom mods. I think my cheap Blue ray player and DAC now outperform it(but hard to be certain as the system has changed so much since those days)
I had a lot of improvements with cleaning up the mains I think in my case I live close to a industrial estate with a house built in 1930's so perhaps mains effect my system more than others.
Depending on what you use Isolation can make a difference some products seem more sensitive that others. Its worth playing around with.
For me the least would be cables, for me they are more about fine tuning the system but still have a effect on sound quality.
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Post by MartinT on Aug 3, 2014 7:52:49 GMT
Room and speakers, no contest. Get that wrong and all your efforts elsewhere will be futile.
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Post by Chris on Aug 3, 2014 9:15:51 GMT
Seems to be the speakers for me.
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Post by Tim on Aug 3, 2014 9:46:48 GMT
I'm old school and was brought up on the speakers/room should be put first for achieving the sound you want and I also feel the largest part of your budget should go on the speakers. You can chase your tail endlessly changing the system components around looking for 'that sound' (I have been there and failed), but the speakers are often the last thing folks change - I suspect the WAF might influence this? I have had many people comment they love the sound in my room, but the next question is "Do Harbeth make those speakers as a thin floor stander or in a different style as I don't really like the look of them?"
So I voted Loudspeakers and room.
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Post by Stratmangler on Aug 3, 2014 10:20:02 GMT
Where's the good choons and beer option?
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Post by John on Aug 3, 2014 10:31:17 GMT
None of the above fits that well
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Post by John on Aug 3, 2014 10:34:49 GMT
So can we dispel a few myths
Source first none of us have voted for that
Cables might make a difference but they are not the first thing you should look at
Also perhaps a good bit of advice to the new buyer concentrate on getting the speakers that are right for you and your room
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Post by Tim on Aug 3, 2014 10:37:35 GMT
Where's the good choons and beer option? Absolutely, I always find my system sounds fooking fantastic after a few single malts  |
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Post by MartinT on Aug 3, 2014 10:41:34 GMT
Source first was devised by Linn to sell more turntables. It does have merit, of course, but they blew their own ethos too many times when they demo'd a fully loaded LP12 with Kan speakers. Madness, and sounded shite.
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 3, 2014 15:59:30 GMT
I don't know and I'm not convinced enough to vote for any as the least wrong
Everything but not necessarily all equal
If you have one very bad link in the chain you have rubbish
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 16:44:29 GMT
I don't know and I'm not convinced enough to vote for any as the least wrong Everything but not necessarily all equal If you have one very bad link in the chain you have rubbish That is why I said "as long as all the bits are reasonable quality". I wouldn't expect anyone here to have any real tat in their system. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 16:57:21 GMT
I don't know and I'm not convinced enough to vote for any as the least wrong Everything but not necessarily all equal If you have one very bad link in the chain you have rubbish There's always one..... I could replace my interconnects with coathangers and they would sound almost identical. Mains supply only makes a relatively small difference as well. Do you really think that bad mains can have the same effect as bad speakers? |
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 3, 2014 17:59:45 GMT
I've been through massive system, room and house (refurb) changes since 2003 My system sounded rubbish when we first moved in here - mains - responded very well to unswitched sockets and a decent earth connection. For most/a lot of people... "what the hell has mains got to do with my hifi ?!" I need a Zen answer |
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Post by John on Aug 3, 2014 18:04:13 GMT
Its the sound of one hand clapping
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Post by MikeMusic on Aug 4, 2014 9:35:02 GMT
How about
Nothing and everything ?
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Post by Deleted on Aug 4, 2014 13:19:44 GMT
One big item that was missed on this pole
The Wife / Girlfriend / Partner as generally they control the purse strings.
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