Best Value overall (from my perspective, of course).
Since I use digital, I have tended to go ho-hum ordinary gear with cables and digital sources, as this has the least impact on the sound per kilo-dollar spent. Besides my goal is to listen to great music and not feed a single CD tray all evening like an assembly line worker. In a listening session, I will listen to 20 to 30 different albums and at least 3 to 4 genres...so I jump around as one track makes me hungry for another...I guess I like buffet style!!!!
Just my philosophy based on listening and the science behind digital but I know vinyl users will spend a lot on their source and in this case it certainly pays off in spades. Some will spend a lot to get the sound coloration they desire and it certainly pays off too...just not my thing...if the mastering engineer got it wrong and messed up then I don't try to fix it with sugar....just my philosophy that's all...
You will note I spent, by far, the most on speakers (including active amplification) and then the room design/treatments. I find this holds the most value in what my tin ears register.
Digital sources do sound different to me but not enough to get me excited enough to part with more money. I often found sources just sound ever so slightly different...but which is better is often too hard to say... at least to my "tin ears".
Since I use digital, I have tended to go ho-hum ordinary gear with cables and digital sources, as this has the least impact on the sound per kilo-dollar spent. Besides my goal is to listen to great music and not feed a single CD tray all evening like an assembly line worker. In a listening session, I will listen to 20 to 30 different albums and at least 3 to 4 genres...so I jump around as one track makes me hungry for another...I guess I like buffet style!!!!
Just my philosophy based on listening and the science behind digital but I know vinyl users will spend a lot on their source and in this case it certainly pays off in spades. Some will spend a lot to get the sound coloration they desire and it certainly pays off too...just not my thing...if the mastering engineer got it wrong and messed up then I don't try to fix it with sugar....just my philosophy that's all...
You will note I spent, by far, the most on speakers (including active amplification) and then the room design/treatments. I find this holds the most value in what my tin ears register.
Digital sources do sound different to me but not enough to get me excited enough to part with more money. I often found sources just sound ever so slightly different...but which is better is often too hard to say... at least to my "tin ears".