High End System Building. How important is the matching, cabling and room? Thoughts ?

@mahgister im not minimizing your points. I think at certain situations a proper room can raise your system levels above where it is at. I agree with you somewhat but there are speakers and pieces that are just built better and sound better 

ossicle2brain

105 posts

01-04-2024 at 03:28am 

An interesting experiment would be to take two DPDT switches like these

And hook up two competing cables. With a simple throw of the switch one could easily A/B test cables. I wonder why this isn’t done by the cable sellers at audio shows. It would prove the value of their cables.

If you consider the alternative possible outcome, you’ve answered your own question. 😉

Incidentally, sighted switching (A/B’ing) between 2+ items does not relieve the lack of experimental design that can prevent bias in the outcome(s). IOW, it’s still not a real experiment, unfortunately.

I think at certain situations a proper room can raise your system levels above where it is at. I agree with you somewhat but there are speakers and pieces that are just built better and sound better

Hi @calvinj - with all due respect, the speakers-room interaction is a practical reality, scientifically proven - it is not a belief or "school of thought". 😁

It is all about actually hearing your system - or as much of it as possible!
Speaker placement and even small touches of "treatment" make an appreciable difference, particularly in the low frequencies and the audibility - or not - of certain frequencies.

• REW is excellent free software, graciously available to music & audiophiles allowing you to model your room and get speaker placement tips as well as listening optimum position
• Since you are satisfied with your system / hardware, you could consider small, unitrusive "room treatments": placement of couches and armchairs which absorb low frequencies; artwork strategically placed that offer absorption or diffusion (Paintings, sculptures)...
• Don’t forget the benefit of using a sub or two -- not necessarily to add bass, but to disperse room modes (somewhat) making the bass more intelligible... i.e. you can hear it better. You could even hide these (I have...) and they will still be useful!

Of course the equipment makes a difference - but any system can only operate within the confines of the room it is in.

Believe me (😀) it is a practical matter - not a philosophical one.

My opinion too .... Thanks ....

Hi @calvinj - with all due respect, the speakers-room interaction is a practical reality, scientifically proven - it is not a belief or "school of thought". 😁 It is all about actually hearing your system - or as much of it as possible! Speaker placement and even small touches of "treatment" make an appreciable difference, particularly in the low frequencies and the audibility - or not - of certain frequencies. REW is excellent free software, graciously available to music & audiophiles allowing you to model your room and get speaker placement tips as well as listening optimum position Since you are satisfied with your system / hardware, you could consider small, unitrusive "room treatments": placement of couches and armchairs which absorb low frequencies; artwork strategically placed that offer absorption or diffusion (Paintings, sculptures)... Don’t forget the benefit of using a sub or two -- not necessarily to add bass, but to disperse room modes (somewhat) making the bass more intelligible... i.e. you can hear it better. You could even hide these (I have...) and they will still be useful! Of course the equipment makes a difference - but any system can only operate within the confines of the room it is in. Believe me (😀) it is a practical matter - not a philosophical one.

 

My opinion too .... Thanks ....

Well, you know what they say about opinions. . . .