Where is the weakest link?

List your equipment and we'll tell you the weak link but be prepared, it might not be the path you are thinking about. 

Its a general question relating to cabling.

"...Its a general question relating to cabling..."

I can't help you or your system if I don't know what it is. Generalizations usually don't work out...that might be a generalization but mine works.  

It depends. It is an unsolvable problem without knowing the components. I have addressed mine starting with digital interconnects, analog interconnects, speaker cables, dedicated line, power cords. But you have to have components of sufficient sensitivity, appropriately matched, before really knowing what to go after first.

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There is also the issue of how clean is your power and how much reactive stuff you have in your house.

Your system is a system. 

Heres system,

signal begins with a nucleus connected via usb carbon from audioquest to a chord tt2 dac, which connects via monster rca cable to a NAD M17 v2i processor, which connects to a mcintosh mc 255 via rca cable (sb balanced ?)..  

Am considering transparent super cables to connect to b&w 802 d3 mains and b&w htm2 d3 center.   

very appreciated, thanks

I have all Transparent cables and interconnects. They are excellent. Don’t know what you are using for speakers now... but probably a good choice.

You’ll probably notice the differences most in two channel since video, at least for me, is video is really distracting, so I don’t notice subtitle changes in home theater mode.

Also, I would consider upgrading the monster cable from DAC to Processor. This might result in a bigger difference than speaker... hard to be sure until you do it.

Once that is done, look at a power distributor / conditioner and power cords.

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Then look to installing a dedicated line.

You’re running a $5500 stereo DAC into a prepro. Cables are the least of your worries. Get a good stereo preamp worthy of that DAC and run the Chord along with the front L/R pre outs from the NAD into the stereo preamp so the NAD is out of the 2-channel signal path, then you can worry about wires IMO. A good stereo preamp will absolutely stomp the NAD for 2-channel performance, so to answer your question the NAD is your weakest link relative to the rest of your system. 

What is it that you are trying to improve upon? You do not indicate what your perceived area of weakness is...what is it that you are hearing or not hearing? That may help point in the right direction. Just remember, there is nothing that is perfect. 

Focus i have is cables, i do have a cheap stereo tube preamp that i plan to insert, a schiit freya that i want to replace. I will run chord dac into a tube preamp eventually. Am testing the nad’s stereo playing expertise.  I dont like using a tube preamp in a home theatre system as no one has created a nice high end stereo tube fit that is convenient and is a true ht bypass.

great comments herein, thanks.

no one has created a nice high end stereo tube fit that is convenient and is a true ht bypass.

I believe Rogue, VAC, and Backert make tube pres that may work in bypass mode without tubes glowing so might be worth checking out. 

Anyway, in my system I get the biggest impact from interconnects closer to the source.  I’d start with an Optical Rendu from router to streamer, then I’d replace the Monster with an Acoustic Zen Silver Reference interconnect (balanced if possible) as it’ll preserve all the detail/dimensionality of your DAC without adding etch or bleaching tonality.  I think those two changes will make very meaningful improvements to start.  Hope this helps, and best of luck in your search.  

Thanks soix

No mention about speaker cable?

transparent for use as rca interconnects?

Optical rendu intriguing but another layer?

Talk the Electric Company into putting a transformer on the pole that your house wiring feeds off.  20+ years ago, the local electric company added a transformer on the pole across the street from my house and my wire to my home was connected right after the transformer.  Since then, I get a constant 124 volts from my outlets and all my systems since then sounded much better.  Prior to that my house voltage was always between 117 volts and 120. 

Here’is my opinion…
If you would upgrade one connection only it would be between preamp and amp. There is a huge difference between monster RCA interconnects and a good pair like Acoustic Zen Matrix Ref 2. I can vouch for that, I tested this in my system. You can hear it. Doesn’t have to be AZ you can try different cables. Next in line would be a DAC to Preamp interconnects followed by a power cord upgrade on DAC, preamp and amp. Polish all that off by a speaker cable upgrade.  

audphile1

Fascinating, you lean to doing interconnects as more important vs amp to speaker cable, which i thought would be the most important.

Of course if you buy that story then you have to wonder why not use an integrated amp and eliminate that weak link altogether. Hmmmm..... seem to have located a weak link in that one....

I think speaker cables can have the most influence on the sound of the system. Speakers are a very complex load with impedance that varies considerably over the frequency range. A quality speaker cable that is a good match with your system can make a significant impact on how it sounds. 

My sense is that interconnects need to be of quality but their role is greatly exaggerated.  Speaker cables are of more value.
The area between the router and the stereo preamp or the processor is a crazy mess of technological creativity; the good, the less than clear and insanely overpriced gear.  Connectivity issues are complex and frankly are a challenge to communicate and most seem to have a limited understanding.   Also the energy supply path between the wall outlet and the back panels of all the various components is also complex.

and we all attempt a best effort to address connecting the pathways from the wall and the router, and spend thousands to feel good about it.  Benefits at times are not really discernable. If i dont hear it maybe someone else will.  
I have seen so many pictures of systems and related equip lists.  So much variety.  So many brand names.  It can be fascinating as i begin to understand how all the pieces are fitting together.  I dont want to create an overly complex system.  So i try to be very prudent.  And have no idea when the buying will stop. It seems to go on and on and on. 
My not being married provides more freedom with my choices. Yeah. 

@jumia
“i have thick interconnects, some better than others, but not the cheap stuff, have spent alot on cables to speakers, including center.”
you’ve asked about priority in fixing the signal chain. 
Turns out those thick interconnects are monster cable. And your speaker cables based on a “spent a lot on cables to speakers” statement didn’t seem to be pointing to a weak link in comparison to the monster interconnects. I chimed in with my opinion based on details you have provided. You will connect a clean faucet to a sewer and drink from it directly or will you purify it first before drinking from that faucet? What did I miss?

@jumia - ALL cables are important, not just IC's and speaker cables.

But in order to hear the improvements I suggest tackling the cable issue  in the following order

1. Speaker cables
2. Interconnects
3. Power cables

That way you will be able to hear exactly what is changing

As for your statement

My sense is that interconnects need to be of quality but their role is greatly exaggerated.

ALL My cables provide the best ROI - better than any of my components ever provided - they are the most important part of my system, because they allow the components to work at their very best. 

As for which brands make a "real difference"

• try KLE Innovations cables - all of them (IC;s apeaker and power) are very good.
• If you want to step up a notch, try Nordost or Inakustik.

As for RCA (i.e. Single Ended) vs. XLR.

• some people prefer XLR
• others prefer RCA
• XLR has the advantage on long cables (over 30 ft) 
• otherwise well designed single ended will equal XLR performance
• I happen to use single ended

That's my "five thousand foot"  assessment - diving into the details of "what makes a good cable" gets complicated fast and most cable companies do not provide the details required to make a meaningful assessment of their products (for obvious reasons) so best rely on observations and recommendations from others.

Hope that helps - Steve