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

The speakers and the Amp chosen to drive them is The most important. Then the quality of the source components. Some say source component is most important, however, if fed into a poorly chosen Amp driving a mismatched pair of speakers, nothing will sound good, no matter the quality of the sourse....makes sense to me...

D A C is most important period !! 

MOLA MOLA TAMBAQUI DAC might just be the world's best DAC !

Everything involved impacts sound quality.

So what are we talking about here? 

Are we starting from scratch with a completely empty room and a fixed budget?

Most times, people already have equipment and are desiring to upgrade.  If you aren't happy with your speakers, then go down the speaker path (really difficult).  Then you find that your existing amp doesn't match well with the new speakers and you start down the amp path.  Now, that existing pre-amp isn't quite up to snuff with the new amp and guess what?  new pre-amp.

Digital source (CD transport, DAC, music server/streamer) another long upgrade path.

Don't even get me started on an analog system (turntable, arm, cartridge and phono stage). 

And then you have cables.

It is not an all in one path, it is a timely point by point, piece by piece upgrade path that takes a long time, a lot of money and hopefully some fun along the way.

So, in my opinion, the most important component would be where will this stuff be placed?  what does the room look like?  acoustics?  Also, how does the buyer like or appreciate music?  Background music only?  or will that person actually sit and listen and appreciate music and real instruments?  not a one size fits all scenario.

interesting subject, but not a simple answer.  What is the starting point, what is the budget?  where will the equipment be placed (room)?  all new equipment? or piece by piece upgrade?

enjoy

I would choose the speakers to fit with your music taste and your room size before anything else.

Speakers and or DAC

I would definitely say it is the speaker first, especially in these times when there are many streaming based digital sources (D/A converters) with very clean and low distortion sound available for a reasonable and modest sum.  Not like the old days when tuners, record players, cd players could sound very bad.

1) Speakers. 
2) Active or Passive
Then start building

Audiofound: 

My amps (Futtermans) and my speakers (Altec 604Cs) sorta live for each other. I can’t say that the amp or the speaker are more important. 

The wiring between your ears snd your brain? 

For analog systems, the turntable/tonearm/cartridge as a system. If you don’t get it off the record properly, there’s nothing you can do downstream that will fix it.

Speakers usually. However, amps these days sound so different from one another that they’re becoming a more important component all the time. It used to be that if you weren’t building your system around your speakers you were going about it wrong. That’s not necessarily the case anymore. There are so many small shops building top notch amps for very competitive prices, amps have suddenly become almost as important as speakers in building a system. In some cases the amps are more important, especially if you're looking for a specific type of sound.

Setting up your room and placing speakers will be the greatest part of starting from scratch. Choose the best speakers for your room, then amplifiers and cables to best match the speakers. Then look for preamp/processor, DAC, turntable, tonearm, cartridge, phono stage, etc., that will bring out the best in the media you choose to play.

The most important components in an ANALOG system in priority order, most important first:

- phono cartridge
- tonearm
- phono preamp
- preamp/power amp
- turntable
- speakers

Hi scottya118...thanks for the topic,

As a senior contributor for 2 channel, so far, I can agree with several differing responses so far.  For many years, in a conventional multi-component, analog setup, a GREAT preamp and phono-stage was the heart and soul of a great system.  Now, in 2021, with variety of excellent source options, focus is on room-speakers-tuning devices.  Then... mating the best amplification affordable to the speakers, paying great attention to the load and characteristics of both.  Same holds true in pairing the source to the amp with the many choices now available, expertise being invaluable.

Once that's all locked-in, for my money, EXPERT DSP can now take everything to levels never before imagined.  Old thinking of the "purity" of getting from A to B to C, is simply that...old thinking.  My super experienced Tech and I have carefully measured the sweet-spot, then have consulted our way, over time taking these measurements forward with great success.  This is not a "problem fix" per se...it's more, "now, let's see how far we can take it."  Once again, please don't think parametric equalizer.  These are adjustments 1/100th of a db capability...a mastering engineer approach suited for YOUR room.  We use music with which we are both intimately familiar, and fine tune.  

I also have my musician 23 year old son as another pair of ears.  He doesn't use our verbiage, but he is honest with his findings and gets them across to me nicely.  A recent cable upgrade, he reported "more clarity and a larger soundstage."  That truly said it all.

Even my Tech and I disagree on some things.  He's at a point where he can use most any quality cabling and fine tune it to his flavors.  Mine is more the approach of using the best sounding wire I can reasonably afford, THEN taking things forward with DSP.  I'm adding this to point out that there may indeed be more than one "right" answer to many things in our hobby.  The fun is, finding your individual truth.  More Peace, Pin

Restraint....lest ones’ credit/debit card(s) meltdown to the Void....;)

SAF can refer to Sometimes A Flaw....in observation and obstruction by SAF/original version.....*g*

lol. So the most important component isn't the DAC. It's the SAF.

Check with your significant other as to what they will allow you to prioritize. Your nine months will turn into a lifetime.

If you are alone I would focus on pre, front end, amp, speakers, room treatments then cables and voodoos . 

ps566 posts07-16-2021 8:46pmI reiterate- no speakers, no music.  Seems obvious but hey this is an "audiophile" forum, hence "common sense" is often not all that common.


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And 50 yrs later we are still asking this Q..

Let this thread be the final word on this matter.
Yet for some reason, amplifiers continue to facinate audiophiles interests..
Why???
Discussions on amplifiers bore me to death.
I like EL34/KT88/KT120's about equal, any PP amp under 50 watts is all thats needed. 
Pick your lab, they are all ~~~about~~~ equal in terms of sound.

The only thing   important when choosinga  amp is build quality/reputation. 
Thats it, and of course price. 
A $7k intergrated is not any much superior to a  $1500 intergrated in terms of sound.
Its what you can afford. 
Speakers, here is the problem. 
You can throw  tons of money intoa  speaker, and still get less than a  much lower price speaker that does not have the distortion issues a  speaker 10X's its price.
IOW 
a  $3k speaker can  out shoot a  $30k speaker, only due to The Distortion factor. 
My speaker of choice is  magnesium cone midwoofers, due to its extremely low  coloration/dampening  character. 
Any paper material I will not like as it sounds like speakers from the 1970's and all the issues of those early  cone materials. 

 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 

@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. :)

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

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

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.

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

Without doubt; speakers!

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

Speakers give personality, source quality

@ czarivey

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

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/

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?

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. 

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

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.  

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.

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

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


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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.

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!  

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


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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. 

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.  

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.

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. 

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”!

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

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’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.

What is the MOST important component to consider?

It has to be your wallet!

Followed by your marriage.

And don't forget the dogs!

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.


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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)

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