What is the most important component to consider while building a new system?

The most important component is synergy. (Everything is important and must work cohesively) People who assume they can get quality sound from a good set of speakers, in a bad room with crappy electronics simply prove that the second most important component is the listener.

Another vote for speakers.  I'm on my third pair of Magnepans.  
Love 'em.   

One's bank account? And perhaps a very clear idea of what you expect, desire,  your favorite reproduced music to sound like in your space.

The source. That is what matters.

I don't know that there is a holistic approach or even one which singles out a component within a hierarchy (yes, I remember Linn's marketing). I'd define objectives and priorities first.
For me, it starts with the midrange. It has to be grain free and transparent. I've relied on tubes to do that, since Biblical times. But, that may not satisfy someone with different priorities.
Amp-Speaker relationship is critical and you cannot buy one without the other in mind. Since most people think the overall shape of the sound is going to be dictated by loudspeaker type, that forces the amplifier decision.
Beyond that, it's a bunch of boxes and cables. Are you doing analog? Lot's of considerations, just as there are in putting together a good digital front end. 
I suspect most people start with certain "assumptions" (which could include not only budget, but space, room, appearance as well as availability). Me, I did it the long, step by step way and had a serious system by 1975, but despite the variety of interesting equipment I've owned over the years, I wouldn't say I "churned" through equipment. To the contrary, I tend to buy and hold.
The baseline starts with what you can hear and be exposed to in a decent listening environment with a variety of material to assess both the strengths and weaknesses of a given assemblage of components. Having "Tier1" components across the board is not a recipe for success-- that elusive "synergy"-- and you are the one who is going to have to live with it, whatever you choose. 

any single separate component of system is of no priority importance at all. 
synergy between them is 

+5, to olhvy for a 'cut to the chase' D system. 👍

If one begins from a premise, the remaining route is just the same 'hunt 'n peck' choices of accoutre', be it plain or sorta' SOTA....*g*

...but bring $ anyway.  It will be necessary...

overall system synergy, including the room, is what matters most

so the question by the op is better asked, given a room to work with, which component should one start with, when building a system anew

to that question, in my view, is the speaker choice

it is not about importance... it is a signal chain, so every link is important

sequencing is the practical question

The room. 

Would you guys stop arguing about "Tekton Moabs"....I'm in marketing and simply put: If you don't respect Eric for his efforts building speakers and a company on top of that....and the creme is everyone knows them...a Marketing Coup.....the guy is a genius in many ways

Something the haters never will understand. 

While not considered a component per se, the most important is the electrical supply , management. Without it you might as will buy a boom box and call it the day.

Hi again Moabman.
Are you listening in mono?

10 years into my audio odyssey I spent a year in England where I purchased a pair of Harbeth Compact 7s and custom Target Audio stands. I hooked them up to my roommates cheap mass market receiver and CD player in his loft, a lovely room with high angled ceilings and good acoustics. Sounded excellent. Did they sound better after freighting them back to the states at the end of my tour connected up to my all Naim system in a 10 x 12 x 8 room? A little better in some ways worse in others. My takeaway—get the speakers and room right first and foremost.

Easy answer - everything matters.

"I give up. You guys are right. The Tekton Moab is the single most important component."

Everybody realizes Chuck was just kidding there, right? No?
Well played, MC.

of course the line"everything matters" is true, but I believe room(not just size, but what else is in the room and where, as well as optimum placement of the speakers within the room) and speakers are the place to start....if things are excellent there, the sound will only get better and better as you feed them better signal.....you can gradually "grow" into them.....

For me, speakers are the part of the system that defines the sound the most. And the most by A LOT! Everything up the chain matters in terms of details and coloring but each pair of speakers has their own sound that is never going to be changed that much. For instance, doesn't matter what I do, my vandersteen speakers are never going to sound like Martin Logans. Doesn't matter what electronics and source and cables I use. They are fundamentally different and I made the choice I did because I like how they sound. My electronics and source can flavor things a little bit the overwhelming sound one hears is defined by the speakers.

As a former dealer, I can tell you as many here have, YOUR ROOM and your chosen SPEAKERS IN YOUR ROOM have more to do with accurate music reproduction than any other component.

Physics has not changed; there are only a fixed number of circuit designs available to the most genius of designers, so quality components that people on this forum argue about basically have minuscule differences in final sound in the whole world of things. (Close 'n Play ain't in the running any more.)

I suggest you ask your dealer to set up a pair of Magneplaner speakers IN YOUR ROOM along with some equipment you can afford and see what you think  If you cannot afford super expensive equipment, get what you can and slowly work up to better gear.  The speakers will reproduce what you send them, so they can stay IF THEY FIT YOUR ROOM.

If not, you will be forced to buy some box speakers, but they have improved greatly over the years.  Somehow, some designers figured out that tall speakers offer better imaging, etc., than short ones.  I have NO IDEA where they got that notion (Jim Winey?), so boxes are no longer horrible, but try the Maggies first if you can.

Happy listening!

Everything counts .

Speakers, room, preamp and then a good source. If you can vinyl, then you can easily get great sound. 

feel they bring a personalized touch to the discussions of all things audio. In the video mentioned Paul took a generalized approach in stating the speakers were the most important component to consider and that the relevant importance of each successive component rested in the chain down stream of the speakers. I am writing this to humbly disagree.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
may i also humbly disagree with your opinion.
= I have 40 yrs off/on, in this hobby, And based on my experience speakers are like 80%++ of the equation. 
IOW simply stated speakers are
~~~~~~~~everything~~~~~~~~~~~
My 2 cents.
amp  discussions bore me to death. 
IMHO
One PP  tube amp is just as good as another PP  tube amp. (generally speaking , comes down to quality of build =  repair thing, we do not want repairs)

What is the MOST important component to consider?

It has to be your wallet!

Followed by your marriage.

And don't forget the dogs!

I’m with Atmasphere and chorus. 

Except, of course, stating the obvious, if one does not have speakers or 'phones, then THEY are the most important.  :)

Over and out.

I am mainly in "the source" camp, but also a strong believer in system/room integration, which has to do with the speakers/amps match as well as the room. I also agree with priority to good electricity. If I could design a sound room and system today, I might start from a different proposition, maybe speakers rather than source. But my system has evolved based on existing rooms. My main strategy has been to invest mostly in the source, and then, into the best preamp, amp and speakers. Why?  Because, unless you have a good source, you will never be sure what the components further down the chain are doing - or not doing. 

i would add further that i disagree with folks who say it is the source... that’s silly because it is all important, it is after all a signal CHAIN

what must be primarily considered is which component has the most impact on the actual sound being produced in the room, and that is always the speaker -- the physical transducer that actually translates the electrical signal back into something we actually hear

speakers, even very good ones, have the widest range of sonic differences (or some would say, the greatest variability of amplitude and nature of distortion from an idealized musical signal being sent to them)... and the speakers’ dispersion pattern interacts intimately with the room they live in and the listening position - so this is by far the greatest variable - by far

not that the source isn’t important... it is absolutely important... but you put up 5 $5000 sources versus 5 $5000 speakers in a given room, the speakers will provide the greatest differences in what the setup will actually sound like

There is no question that speakers are central to the SQ.
However, the source can make or break a system. I once heard a million dollar system with a very digital edgy sounding CD player and I wanted to run out of the room screaming!
When I got my long searched for Woodsong Garrard 301, I wound up upgrading every part of my system. Only now do I have a destination rig. And the greatest and most significant upgrades were to my front end-TT, arm, cartridge and preamp with phono stage.
Garbage in, garbage out! Great “food”, great “meal”!

Another way of view: The order of cost for each component from most expensive to least expensive.
1. Speaker
2. Amp (power + pre)
3. Source (turntable/CD player)
4. Cables
That is how I spent for my components. 

Dollar amount can be a way to prioritize but I think that is a kind of different question than what is being discussed.  I certainly believe it is the speakers that is super important and how they perform in the room they are used in.

Speakers are the only component that can determine the radiation pattern of how sound is distributed in your room. 

For those of us who like dipoles e.g. maggies, omnis e.g. ohm/space pods, open baffle e.g. Spatial audio, wide dispersion e.g. LSA bookshelf  that is make or break.  

actual sound being produced in the room, and that is always the speaker


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Exactly, 
You could take jadis' finest compoments, well over $100G's. , tap into a  brand xyz speaker, and thats all you'll get 
is a generic crappy sound. 

Would best phono, amp/source hooked up to a Vandersteen, will sound exactly like a  **Vandersteen* image, 
No thanks!!
AS Troels says, **past 50 yrs the speakers have been a  source of bad distortion in our music**
(paraphrase mine)

The most neutral speaker wins the shootout, Its not rocket science folks. 

The most important component to consider is YOU.  End of story.  I've learned that in this hobby to build a system based around what's important to you.  This hobby is completely subjective so the most important component is YOU. 

If we used science to enjoy the music we'd never play a record again, yet most of us do!  

berner99133 posts07-15-2021 4:01pmSpeakers are the only component that can determine the radiation pattern of how sound is distributed in your room.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Can’t say it any clearer than berner99 just did.

speakersspeakerspeakers
Completely forget amp shootouts, digital shootouts.
Thats all nothing but nuances. Nothing more.
Whereas speakers are all the way from grossly, distortion to disgustingly distorted to OK, nothing great, and on to Nirvana pure bliss.
Every single speaker lab will havea certain characteristic sound.
A Wilson will always sound like a Wilson, no matter what model you choose.
ProAc = all ProAc’s,.
Etc.
AER = all AER’s, All Voxativ = all Voxativ.
So forget lab A PP amp sounding so much different vs Lab B PP amp.
Tube CD player A vs Tube DAC B.
Nothing but slight nuances.
The only component that makes a giganitic modification in how the sound , is the speakers.
All other components are nothing but nuances, nothing more.
Not sure if I can be any clearer.
Changing speaker labs will result in a ~~~modification of sound~~~, Not a nuance. A real substantial mod.
~~Speakers are everything~~~~
Amp discussions bore me to death.

Speaker room match
Then source
Decent amp
Cables
Isolation platforms (speaker and source) 
Power

There is a diminishing point of return on any component.   Spending more doesn't necessarily get you much better sound.   But it is the loudspeakers that you are actually listening to.  They are the primary transducer in your system

In order to get good dynamic range, the ability to play at concert levels in a good sized room, have good imaging and a truly natural tonal balance, there is no way around spending a lot of money.  But then "a lot of money" is a relative term.  

Most of your hi-end loudspeaker vendors (Magico, Wilson, Focal, Avalon, etc) have a top line loudspeaker selling in excess of $50,000.   Are they really better than a pair of KEF LS50 loudspeakers with sub-woofer augmentation?  Depends on how much you're demanding from a system.

There are solutions which are an exceptional value.   In most homes, I'd put the Dutch & Dutch 8c up against any of the $50,000+ loudspeakers.   They have astonishing imaging, clarity and a great natural tonal balance.  Damn near perfection.  But they cost $12,000, which is far beyond what many would pay for loudspeakers.  But what you forget is that they are a total system with built-in bi-amplification, built-in DSP and controlled directivity.  You could run the D &D 8c with an iPad, a hi-res streaming service and be done.   No preamp to buy.  No turntable with expensive cartridge, phono preamp, etc.  In light of that, $12,000 isn't all that bad.

Another cost effective solution to the extreme hi-end is the DIY Linkwitz LX521 system, which would run you about $6000 for loudspeaker components, cabinetry, active crossover, amplification and cabling.  Again, almost a full system.  Just add a preamp and the source of your choice.

So your question really starts with your requirements and budget.

The most Overlooked, Underrated, Un sexy Component is Power Delivery. I consider it a paramount component because having Clean Power gets your entire System working at its Optimal Performance, and then there is also the cost.

I did not start with an efficient Power Delivery system. I found that after a while I was looking for a new Power amp or Pre amp or Speakers. When I introduced Substantial Power Delivery to my system, it was like I had a whole new system. The only thing I have done since then is make tweaks.  

Speaker to suit the room first.  Then amp to match the speaker 

For me, the preamp is of ultimate importance. Everything goes through the preamp and each sound is shaped by its character. The preamp is the "first watt" that creates the overall sound of voices and instruments and creates the soundstage's width and depth. Not that a good amp won't help, but I think the preamp is fundamental.

I have a twenty-year old ARC Reference 2 Mk. 2. I'd buy a new ARC preamp if I had the money. Yet I do love the one I have. My SMC Audio amp (McCormack DNA-1 upgraded) and ARC preamp will sound excellent with most speakers.

Obviously I have chosen a certain type of sound to create what I think of as musicality. Opposite, I would say, of Dynaudio and Krell. I have not heard d'Agostino equipment, but I assume it has the powerful punch of its predecessor Krell.

Although I would say that my preamp is known for its soundstage and positioning of instruments, I do not need to hear each note isolated in its own space. I have had seasons tickets to the L.A. Philharmonic for years and live music does not sound so clinical. 

There is a solution even to this. But I can't decide if the most component is the bowl, the water pipe, or the green bud?

At Deer Creek Audio, we believe that the best way to achieve amazing fidelity is by combining excellent speakers and a quality power amp with an optimized digital source that leverages Dirac Live system room correction.

There are many high quality speakers and amplifiers in the under $10,000 range that are truly superb. Combine them with good quality cables, which don’t need to be expensive, just exhibit good neutral transmission characteristics.

Finally, the system is truly optimized using direct digital inputs and processing with Dirac Live. If you'd like to learn more about the benefits of Dirac, feel free to contact us at Deer Creek Audio. 

https://deercreekaudio.com/

@ czarivey

1. Speakers/room, as it has always been, and ever shall be.

Speakers give personality, source quality

Whichever component(s) is holding your system back from being its best.

Without doubt; speakers!

I reiterate- no speakers, no music.  Seems obvious but hey this is an "audiophile" forum, hence "common sense" is often not all that common.

Hmm...

No instruments, no voice, no recordings, no power generation, no electricity, no cables, no source, no..., no..., ....well...common sense...hmm....perhaps not so obvious....

I reiterate- no speakers, no music.  Seems obvious but hey this is an "audiophile" forum, hence "common sense" is often not all that common.

Speakers can only play what is fed to them, therefore they are not the limiting factor. You can have a fully capable speaker and not come close to realizing great sound if something upstream is messing up.

Same goes for the source. It can deliver everything you need only to be held back and made to sound bad by what's downstream of it.

That would leave the amp and the cables. Since most amps nowadays can do journeyman duty of such a high order as to have many sound similar, that would leave cables to consider.

To me, it seems that most speaker cables are just variations on a common theme with hardly any make doing real R & D in thinking outside the box. I think I've found a make of speaker cables and they've solved the riddle of the Sphinx, as far as I can tell.

All the best,
Nonoise

Speakers are most important.  Without good speakers you cannot hear any difference 

@david_ten

OP asked:
"What is the most important component to consider while building a new system?" Component. Singular.

He did not ask "What ARE the most important COMPONENTS to consider while building a new system?"

Hmmm? Hmmm indeed. I’m outta here. Even a little "chicken or the egg" is much more than I care to ponder. :)

 I would go with the most
expensive Component DAC
you can afford.   Also you would have 3 DAC,S laying around the house  thinking Audiogon is sure going to hammer me when i sell them