Here's where I've seen differences rated on a scale of 1 to 10(10 indicating the biggest impact):
Speakers: Anyone who can't hear major differences between speakers may as well just get those cute little Bose cubes as they take up next to no space. This, in my opinion, is the cornerstone of any system and will make the largest impact on the overall sound. I chose Soliloquy 5.3s for their detail, soundstaging, musicality, and ability to disappear in a room. Rating: 10
Preamp: I think since they act on relatively small signals that then get amplified, I hear quite a big difference between preamps. That said, I've had a Rotel pre/pro for years and have been looking to upgrade, but nothing I've yet tried has blown it out of the water, especially when price is taken into consideration. Other preamps have been better, but not by enough to make me switch--but I also think the Rotel(laugh if you must) is an over-achiever in holding its own vs. some high-end products. Rating: 9
CD/DAC: Started with a decent one-box CD player and added an MSB Link DAC which significantly improved the sound. Then got an EVS Millennium DAC and I got my first dose of what true transparency is all about. Right up there with preamps in importance to overall system. Rating: 9
Amp: Although obviously very important, I've found smaller relative differences in amps(at around the same price point) than the above components. That said, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and if the amp is weak or doesn't synergize with the rest of your system it will hold you back. I upgraded from an NAD amp to a McCormack DNA-0.5 Rev. A and it really helped bring my system together. Rating: 8
Interconnects: Differences were immediately obvious between similarly priced interconnects, especially silver vs. copper. Like preamps, I think since they operate on small signals that then get amplified, any impact gets magnified too. I chose DH Labs BL-1 Series II. Rating: 8
Speaker cables: Here's where the brutal part of my honesty comes in. I've been living with some of the original Monster Cable with bare ends(single run) for over 20 years and have been hot to replace them. Problem is, every time I try something I can't hear any damn difference. I've tried cables up to $1000/8ft. and even bi-wired, and still no appreciable difference, but I'm sure they do make a difference so I'll keep trying. For now I'd have to say this is the last component I would focus on in my system. Rating: 2
As you can tell from my equipment my system is more toward the revealing side than the warm/lush side, which makes it even more puzzling to me that I don't hear significant differences with speaker cables. Just shows that everyone's system is different, and changes in individual components will affect each system in a unique way. Bottom line: there are no short cuts around trial and error to optimizing a system--but the art of discovery is part of the fun of this hobby anyway, right?
Tim
Speakers: Anyone who can't hear major differences between speakers may as well just get those cute little Bose cubes as they take up next to no space. This, in my opinion, is the cornerstone of any system and will make the largest impact on the overall sound. I chose Soliloquy 5.3s for their detail, soundstaging, musicality, and ability to disappear in a room. Rating: 10
Preamp: I think since they act on relatively small signals that then get amplified, I hear quite a big difference between preamps. That said, I've had a Rotel pre/pro for years and have been looking to upgrade, but nothing I've yet tried has blown it out of the water, especially when price is taken into consideration. Other preamps have been better, but not by enough to make me switch--but I also think the Rotel(laugh if you must) is an over-achiever in holding its own vs. some high-end products. Rating: 9
CD/DAC: Started with a decent one-box CD player and added an MSB Link DAC which significantly improved the sound. Then got an EVS Millennium DAC and I got my first dose of what true transparency is all about. Right up there with preamps in importance to overall system. Rating: 9
Amp: Although obviously very important, I've found smaller relative differences in amps(at around the same price point) than the above components. That said, a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, and if the amp is weak or doesn't synergize with the rest of your system it will hold you back. I upgraded from an NAD amp to a McCormack DNA-0.5 Rev. A and it really helped bring my system together. Rating: 8
Interconnects: Differences were immediately obvious between similarly priced interconnects, especially silver vs. copper. Like preamps, I think since they operate on small signals that then get amplified, any impact gets magnified too. I chose DH Labs BL-1 Series II. Rating: 8
Speaker cables: Here's where the brutal part of my honesty comes in. I've been living with some of the original Monster Cable with bare ends(single run) for over 20 years and have been hot to replace them. Problem is, every time I try something I can't hear any damn difference. I've tried cables up to $1000/8ft. and even bi-wired, and still no appreciable difference, but I'm sure they do make a difference so I'll keep trying. For now I'd have to say this is the last component I would focus on in my system. Rating: 2
As you can tell from my equipment my system is more toward the revealing side than the warm/lush side, which makes it even more puzzling to me that I don't hear significant differences with speaker cables. Just shows that everyone's system is different, and changes in individual components will affect each system in a unique way. Bottom line: there are no short cuts around trial and error to optimizing a system--but the art of discovery is part of the fun of this hobby anyway, right?
Tim