Componets first, cables second?


I often hear about the improvements cables have made to systems, whether IC or speaker cables. Then IK hear the advice, buy the best components you can afford and upgrade cables along the way.

What I am wondering is is it, buy the best compnents you can afford and worry about cables later on down the road, or is it, a balance between the two to achieve the sound one is after?

For xample, to be more concrete, should I buy a better CDP and sacrifice on the cabling or should I buy a more moderate CDP and get a high quality cable?

Any expereince/advice is welcome
Cheers
mariasplunge

Showing 9 responses by mariasplunge

Thats good to hear the word balance in there. Synergy as well. Thanks John for being the sacrifical lamb. Your advice is always a pleasure.
Peter
Shadhorne, I hear you there and although I am not familiar with most of the forums here, I'd say you are not in the minority of my way of think at least. I have chosen components indeed because they do have massive power supplies. Whether they condition the power or not, I cannot rightly say. But I am like you, I do not want fussy components whose sound will change substantially with the addition of a cable. I agree there.

Tpsonic-great analogy to the analogue world. That puts it in perfect perspective for me. Thanks
I guess ultimately what I am getting at here ( and it is good to hear all these opinions) is in my process of upgrading and budgeting how much should I put aside for cabling?

Of course that is impossible for anyone here to answer except myself. But the way I see it now is putting down a signifigant chunk of change for a choice component and then slowly upgrading cables might be wisr than splitting the difference. Sure i could buy a set of steath indra's but then my cdp might end up costing equal to or less than the cables.
So do have the cables cost a third of my player, a quarter, less? Or do I go all out, for a component, throw in a 100-200 dollar pair of cables and worry about upgrading later?

Maybe this line of thinking is like trying to put holes in swiss cheese...or something like that
I guess ultimately what I am getting at here ( and it is good to hear all these opinions) is in my process of upgrading and budgeting how much should I put aside for cabling?

Of course that is impossible for anyone here to answer except myself. But the way I see it now is putting down a signifigant chunk of change for a choice component and then slowly upgrading cables might be wisr than splitting the difference. Sure i could buy a set of steath indra's but then my cdp might end up costing equal to or less than the cables.
So do have the cables cost a third of my player, a quarter, less? Or do I go all out, for a component, throw in a 100-200 dollar pair of cables and worry about upgrading later?

Maybe this line of thinking is like trying to put holes in swiss cheese...or something like that
I'm up and down. John I hear you. I am relaxed, breathing just fine. Really, I don't get worked up over much, unless theres a lack of beer in the house.

Really I'm not even making an component change right now. I'm just gathering knowledge from the folks here who in general have vastly more expereince than I. Thats all. If the time does come to upgrade this or that or balance one way or the other, I'll have an arsenal of knowledge and hopefully a little wisdom to make the appropriate choice. That for me is the journey, to be prepared when the time comes.
Wow, I leave for a day and this thread has truly disintegrated into a pissing contest.

Thanks to anyone trying to indeed steer it towards a useful conversation. Of course Mrtennis is right, there is no substitute for personal expereince. Yet, I have and will continue to gain insight from those with vastly more expereince on these threads. So, I won't stop asking the questions.

However, if we could leave the adolescent attitude of "I am holier than though" out of the fray, we could really get to the heart of the matter which is how do we continue to refine our systems for maximum enjoyment no matter what our listening preferences are.

Peter
Metro, point well noted. Shadorne, I've read your comments throughout other threads and certianly respect your knowledge and advice particularly because it can and does go against the grain. A rebel spirit.

Save the attacks for some other type of forum.