Rules of getting best audio ? maybe..


I have just started the hifi audio journey since about a year or so and have learnt a great deal. I am sure many of you here have much more experience in this arena and have gone through your journey. Some mistakes made, lesson learnt, but still it is ongoing journey.
I have set up my stereo as well as home theater, spent great deal of money and have learnt some valuable lessons and thought of setting up some guidelines/rules, so that if I could go back in time, I wish I had these steps in mind and followed these "rules" instead of doing costly trial and errors. 
These are my rules for my past, if I had to start all over: Hopefully this might help someone who is about to start. 
1. Buy the equipment you think is the best for "your ears" and not the second best, even if it is a little bit expensive compared to your budget, but within reasonable margin: this will prevent you from regretting and trying to sell the second best equipment you brought for significant loss, to go back and buy your best. We all know that in this journey "the law of diminishing returns" are real and costly. 2. On the other hand, just because the equipment is expensive, does not mean that they are necessarily best option for your ears. Something cheaper (less expensive, I mean) can be the best for your system and your ears.
3. Just because you are getting something for very cheap, does not mean it is a good deal: They are cheap for a reason.
4. Cables do make a big difference in quality of hifi. You don't have to be a "believer": you will hear those difference, if you audition them. 
5. Add a good subwoofer to any stereo set up (full range speakers or not): They make you mids and highs shine like diamond. 
6. Spend some time and money to set up room acoustics, consider room size, before you decide on how big your system will be. 
7. There is no quantitative metric to measure "qualitative" fun. Trust your ears and your ears only. Pay attention to good reviews but don't rely solely and only on "reviewers" ears.
8. All said, in the end, it is "your ears" " your wallet" and "your music". Use it and enjoy it wisely. Work hard and play hard. 

Share your "mistakes" and "lesson learnt" moments if you agree: if you don't agree, ignore this and don't trash please. Constructive criticisms are always fun though. 
romney80

Showing 1 response by heaudio123

If great sound is your final goal, then start with #6. Don't spend some time .. spend a lot of time and good money on room acoustics and learn or hire someone. I would take good speakers with a good set of electronics in a great room over a great set of speakers and electronics in an average room any day. It wouldn't even be close. Most audiophiles have not been exposed to a really well done acoustics set up. Trade shows have about the worst acoustics you can find. It is rare to even find high end dealers with a really well done room with properly placed speakers. 


The what I feel is distorted spend on various equipment in the modern audiophile world is in my mind not going to get you to where you want to be the most cost effectively.  Again I would take great speakers with a reasonably good amp, over the very best amp and not so good speakers. Your speakers and your room are the #1/#2 or 2/1 weak links in your system (almost always). If your speakers are so so, no matter what you spend elsewhere, you will be limited in your outcome. Get good speakers and you can upgrade other components over time to match.


I agree completely with noble100. The optimum place for two speakers for upper bass, midrange and highs is unlikely to be the same as deep bass in most rooms. As well controlling room modes for deep bass requires large bass traps or smaller narrow band traps that may not be ideal for your situation. Multiple smaller subs I feel are ideal for most people. Put this into your speaker spend.


Most DACs, SS amps sound similar. Not the same, but similar so hard to tune "to your ears". Diminishing returns much quicker than speakers (and acoustics). You may prefer a more traditional tube sound so definitely compare. Good turntable setups take a significant investment that will take away from other items. If you don't have a big quality vinyl library now , you may want to pass.