How Important Are System Cable Upgrades and Where to Start?

My limited experience indicates that the order of most to least important is:

Room Treatment: Room selection/ Audio furniture (vinyl playback)/ Equipment placement /absorbers/diffusers

Component upgrade

Component power supply

Power Source conditioning &/or dedicated circuit

Power Cable

Interconnect

Speaker cable

The exact order of the first five items likely vary a good bit depending on the room, starting components and quality of power.

What are your priorities?

Are your priorities based upon trial and error, or the logic of your thinking?

vonhelmholtz08-15-2022 1:06pm

lalitk Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,117 posts 08-15-2022 at 04:02pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete “I would never do components last… it can negate all the work you just did.” @ghdprentice I hear you but I hope you’re not suggesting to upgrade components outright without maximizing the potential of existing components?
lalitk Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 5,117 posts 08-15-2022 at 01:43pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Looking at your list, I would start in this order; good luck! 1. Power Source conditioning &/or dedicated circuit 2. Room Treatment: Room selection/ Audio furniture (vinyl playback)/ Equipment placement /absorbers/diffusers 3. Cables with existing components (my preference is to start with Power Cables then Speaker or Interconnect) 4. Component power supply (address those first with wall wart power supply). 5. Component upgrade Point #3, it’s unlikely that you find any consensus as everyone who believes cable matters have their own methodology. Just ignore the cable naysayers:-)