Op if the system is not synergize, you won’t get good sound and musicality. I learn many years ago even your gear are not that expensive as long as they synergize , you will be able to enjoy music. Two months ago I decided to run my viva integrated tube 22 w after 4 yrs to save my 300B tubes concern about expensive tubes during pandemic and Russia and Ukraine conflict. So just to warm it up , I used my Klipsh 600m monitor , $150 speaker cables , aq cobra ic, and $49 Pangea pc for my viva. Two days later I sat down and to my surprise, Iam getting musicality I have never experienced , I admit my Borensen has better sound quality. For now the Klipsh are sounding so musical. I believe it was a perfect match with viva and cables and components.Lesson I learned from this hobby , matching is the key especially amp and speakers.
Synergy
New and interesting experience for me....I recently rolled the tubes in my LTA MicroZotl Pre to the RAY Reserve 6SN7/Select 12AT7, which resulted in quite an improvement with my WEISS DAC....BUT it actually made my phono front end WORSE...I was really puzzled, and asked LTA about this, and they suggested that this change with the NOS tubes I had in my HERRON Phono might now be TOO WARM...So I rolled the tubes in my HERRON back to stock, and VOILA, now it sounds great, again....so the lesson here is that SYNERGY between components is SO important, and tube rolling can result in quite significant changes