Cable vs. Electronics: biggest bang for the buck


I recently chronicled in a review here, my experience with a very expensive interconnect. The cables cost nearly $7000 and are well beyond my reach. The issue is, the Pursit Dominus sound fantastic. Nothing in my stereo has ever sounded so good. I have been wondering during and since the review how much I would have to spend to get the same level of improvement. I'm sure I could double the value of my amp or switch to monoblocks of my own amps and not obtain this level of improvement.
So, in your opinion what is the better value, assuming the relative value of your componants being about equal? Is it cheaper to buy, great cables or great electronics? Then, which would provide the biggest improvement?
nrchy

Showing 4 responses by subaruguru

Oy! Wires are simple conduits whose imperfections can be labelled those of a "filter" of some sort. Amplification devices, CDPs, transducers have MUCH more complicated functions. Thus a reasonable approach is the apply one's resources in proportion to the complexity of the function(s) required, given cost/benefit equations.
The majority of us then agree that the transducers (CDP, TT/catridge, and speakers) need highest priority, then the amplification required to achieve proper SPLs, and then the
appropriately-resolving and MAYBE tonal-coloring cabling required to ice the cake. Does it really have to be any more complicated than that? Ernie (a Maslowian!)
Ok, cables are components, y'know, like a rug, or a pillow propped up on a sofa narrowing a sidewall flare. So yes, if a damned wire is as important as a transducer, than so are room treatment apparati, for example. Asa, I can't help but think that semantics issues are just becoming vehicles for highly sophisticated passive aggression.
So I took your damned bait!
And oh, is the digital equalizer that's needed to reflatten the VERY high-ender's speakers' in-room response after being trampolined by high output impedence tubes a component too?
Given what I experience spatially with Aleph P and Aleph 2 monos pushing my arsifal Encores, are you really sure that
my system's deep and palpable sounstage (extends 15-20' BEYOND the speaker plane (this is predominantly due to nearfield geometry using EXTREMELY matched drivers, BTW, and LESS the quality of amplification) is somehow compromised because it's solid-state?
Yes, tubes are great with harmonic TEXTURE (at the expense of amplitude response flatness), and have a TON of compression built into them, so they don't overload harshly
with those ultrashort huge transients we surmise are doing in ALL solid state systems, eh? Talk about absolutist statements, Asa. I oscillate between suggesting that you shame yourself by being self-blind of aspersions you cast that are pure projection...and suggesting from fatigue after wading through the monologues that we just turn the thread off! I sincerely DON'T want to hurt your feelings, here, NOR insult you, and I willingly admit that my human foibles perhaps run deeper or wider than yours. But please, try to wear life like a loose coat, 0k?
Good Night. Ern
Asa,
Yeah, the pillow was a cheapy, but how can you then concede that mindstate is also an ersatz "component" to Detlof's inability to get off in his system that night...immediately after hogging the sandbox by cleaving "external" effects on sound propagation? Trying to have it both ways?.................Detlof, yeah I'm still really struggling with the sciatic pain; hoped that the medication wasn't making my wit abrasive, though. Not my intent.
Give me a break, here Asa, I can only take one pain in the ass at a time!
Cheers.