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A stupid question for which there's no sensible answer.

I know, I know. At least I've labeled it properly.

Here goes: of the following elements of a system, how would you rank their influence on the sound? In other words, generally, which would someone want to upgrade or prioritize, and in what order,  if all of the following pieces were inferior to an amp/preamp and speakers they were happy with? Power cables, connector cables. speaker cables. streaming source, music source, dac (I vote for this one as #1), room treatment, speaker placement, type of chair, earwax quotient, what you ate for lunch, etc.

I hereby give my permission for everyone to tell me this is an idiotic question since the real answer is: it depends. (But I did put a "generally" in there somewhere). Anyway, I prefer that we debate this based on what we've experienced when we've tinkered. So I guess I'm really interested in anecdotes.

m669326

Showing 4 responses by sokogear

sokogear
1,120 posts
 
+1 @clearthinker. If the source is bad you can't possibly get good sound. Most important for turntables. If you read the Linn white paper (of course they are biased, but correct), it just makes sense. Each step down the line can only distort the signal, so the order of importance is turntable (or other inferior source unless you're talking about reel to reel) ( tonearm/cartridge/phonostage - integrated amp (or separates, but more interconnects to distort), speakers. Cables important too.
sokogear
1,120 posts
 
I was thinking of small rooms with limited options for speaker placement. I guess you I could try, but in tight spaces with bookcases, speakers in places of differing heights, some offices, Bedrooms, dorm rooms, etc. My first real stereo was in a bedroom, then dorm room, and I wonder what it could have sounded like in a decent room.
sokogear
1,120 posts
 
Of course the room impacts the sound quality most @mahgister. That’s a given. My cousin has a basic system in a converted warehouse with extremely high ceilings and a concrete floor. The room is completely open, slightly rectangular and must be 2500-5000 square feet. His system sounds amazing with NO treatments since none are needed. I think his system is under $2K or so with turntable, receiver and speakers. Biggest % in his turntable (used Rega P5 with mid Grado cartridge).
That’s why I mentioned the Linn paper and the source being most important - for him it is. the room treatments can’t fix a terrible room.
sokogear
1,120 posts
 
Depends what you mean by complex. If you happen to have a large room that is open without walls close  to the speakers and a listening position between the speakers, then yes. But that wouldn’t be complex.

if you’re room is carpeted, and you have wall coverings that absorb/disperse the sound and high ceilings, and he wall behind and in front off the speakers is a good distance then maybe treatments won’t matter. Still need to make sure electric is isolated and vibrations are eliminated/minimized.
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