The most important component of a system is...

[bonzo75]

I have heard trios with bass horns with Oppo, Esoteric, Audionote dac 5, and Feickert TT. I loved it either way.

But I heard a spectral with Rockport Avior system in a small room that sounded boring with below average digital. It absolutely wowed me when he played his SPJ Alba with Koetsu Blue Lace and FMA 122. This happened with a pair of Apogee Divas as well. After that I mentioned to Ron, who insists on doing his speaker demos on vinyl only, that if one is looking for a speaker, demos should be on digital to keep things consistent. Differences in digital are much lower. Variances in vinyl set ups are extremely high, so you can’t exactly pinpoint if you are demoing the person’s analog set up or his speakers.

 

[thedudeabides]

But I heard a spectral with Rockport Avior system in a small room that sounded boring with below average digital. Differences in digital are much lower.

One person's boring can be exciting and involving to another person. There are significant differences amongst digital setups. All depends on your personal biases and expectations.

Many folks, myself included, recognize that musical enjoyment is all relative and generalizations are oftentimes false and misleading.

In audio, no one is the arbiter of "truth". One's personal perspectives / views are merely one's opinion. A one point plot on a graph.

 

[bonzo75]

One person's boring can be exciting and involving to another person. There are significant differences amongst digital setups. All depends on your personal biases and expectations.

Many folks, myself included, recognize that musical enjoyment is all relative and generalizations are oftentimes false and misleading.

In audio, no one is the arbiter of "truth". One's personal perspectives / views are merely one's opinion. A one point plot on a graph.

Very wise perspective, view, and opinion Gordon

 

[still-one]

When we say the speaker is the most important what we are saying is a speaker that works in your room of choice. Unfortunately for some the room is a given, the options for speaker placement are limited, hanging or inserting wall or other sound treatments will be limited. Therefore choosing a speaker that works in your room is most important. Then finding a amp (and pre-amp) that handles your speakers and gives you the sound you are looking for is second. Whether cables or sources some next is a coin flip depending on what your purchase.

This whole the source is first is a bunch of crap all initially promulgated by Ivor Tiefenbrun and his marketing strategy when ironically all the company made was turntables. I could put a $99 dollar blu-ray player and spin CD's or stream from Tidal in my system and the sound will be excellent, but not optimized. If I put a $30k turntable or DAC with a some $1000 speakers from Best Buy, I am not going to be happy.

1-Speakers
2-Amp
3-Source
4-Cabling

 

[Kal Rubinson]

If the room and/or are fixed and unchangeable, they are still the most important factors. It is just that they are out of one's control. Fixing the value of one or more variables does not decrease their contributions.

 

[DaveC]

If the room and/or are fixed and unchangeable, they are still the most important factors. It is just that they are out of one's control. Fixing the value of one or more variables does not decrease their contributions.

A directional speaker can reduce the importance of the room quite a bit, as can a nearfield setup if you have speakers that allow for it. With your average conventional dynamic speaker though, the room is extremely important. Personally, I prefer a setup that has a greater proportion of direct vs reflected sound.

 

[Al M.]

A directional speaker can reduce the importance of the room quite a bit, as can a nearfield setup if you have speakers that allow for it.

I sit quite close to my monitors, but extensive room treatment is still very important in my case.

With your average conventional dynamic speaker though, the room is extremely important.

If I sit further away, I notice the room's effect on the frequency response, also in the low mids, quite dramatically. And it is not to my liking. One of many reasons to sit closer.

Personally, I prefer a setup that has a greater proportion of direct vs reflected sound.

Me too. It also allows you to hear more of the recorded space proper, with less interference from your own acoustic. This also allows for much more variation in spatial reproduction.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Totally agree .

Greetings from koh phangan sunny thailand

When we say the speaker is the most important what we are saying is a speaker that works in your room of choice. Unfortunately for some the room is a given, the options for speaker placement are limited, hanging or inserting wall or other sound treatments will be limited. Therefore choosing a speaker that works in your room is most important. Then finding a amp (and pre-amp) that handles your speakers and gives you the sound you are looking for is second. Whether cables or sources some next is a coin flip depending on what your purchase.

This whole the source is first is a bunch of crap all initially promulgated by Ivor Tiefenbrun and his marketing strategy when ironically all the company made was turntables. I could put a $99 dollar blu-ray player and spin CD's or stream from Tidal in my system and the sound will be excellent, but not optimized. If I put a $30k turntable or DAC with a some $1000 speakers from Best Buy, I am not going to be happy.

1-Speakers
2-Amp
3-Source
4-Cabling

 

[Lee]

I don't think you can isolate it to just one component. Everything matters.

Go to audio shows and you will hear all manner of super speakers that suck due to poor amp matching. You will hear amazing systems from more humble systems that have been put together with great synergy and setup expertise.

One of the most impressive systems I heard recently was Jim Smith's Tannoy Canterburys. Very well thought out setup as you would expect but loads of resolution and natural ease even from humble CD playback.

 

[andromedaaudio]

Some systems are indeed commercially matched instead of proper matched , but the rooms on shows are far from optimal off course

 

[Lee]

Some systems are indeed commercially matched instead of proper matched , but the rooms on shows are far from optimal off course

True, but I don't like the show excuse of "it's a hotel room, what can we do?" as there are many folks who get great sound from those hotel rooms.

And many mfrs have been in the same room for 8-10 years!

 

[andromedaaudio]

IMO very few get a good sound , i never go anymore been there done that

 

[DaveC]

I've been going to RMAF from the beginning and several things stand out...

- Setups have improved. Good sound is still not common but it is much easier to find than it used to be.

- Tweeters are getting much better.

- Speaker design is much better overall. There are far fewer bad speakers than there used to be.

 

[Lee]

I've been going to RMAF from the beginning and several things stand out...

- Setups have improved. Good sound is still not common but it is much easier to find than it used to be.

- Tweeters are getting much better.

- Speaker design is much better overall. There are far fewer bad speakers than there used to be.

I agree 100% on all of these. I would also add:

- Budget price points offer incredible sound these days.

- The center of energy in hifi is at the CanJams. Portable audio is the best entry for better sound due to awareness and price.

 

[TBG]

I've been going to RMAF from the beginning and several things stand out...

- Setups have improved. Good sound is still not common but it is much easier to find than it used to be.

- Tweeters are getting much better.

- Speaker design is much better overall. There are far fewer bad speakers than there used to be.

I know that the electrical service has been greatly improved for the last several years.

 

[DaveC]

I know that the electrical service has been greatly improved for the last several years.

That's good... but it's still not clean power. In 2014 my modded SurgeX made a massive difference in the Von Schweikert VR-55 room, cleaning up a lot of harshness and glare. We went on to win a Best of Show, Cost no Object award by TAS. In 2015 my modded SurgeX was used to good effect in the Vapor/Lampizator room, we won numerous awards for that system. It was also used in the successful dc10 Audio/Audio Teckne system. If you're going to a show as a vendor power conditioning is CRUCIAL!

 

[Lee]

That's good... but it's still not clean power. In 2014 my modded SurgeX made a massive difference in the Von Schweikert VR-55 room, cleaning up a lot of harshness and glare. We went on to win a Best of Show, Cost no Object award by TAS. In 2015 my modded SurgeX was used to good effect in the Vapor/Lampizator room, we won numerous awards for that system. It was also used in the successful dc10 Audio/Audio Teckne system. If you're going to a show as a vendor power conditioning is CRUCIAL!

A number of the vendors have gotten great results with Shunyata. I know of one room in particular where a Shunyata conditioner made a night and day difference.

Also, setup matters. Having Jim Smith work on the room can work wonders.

 

[Geardaddy]

That's good... but it's still not clean power. In 2014 my modded SurgeX made a massive difference in the Von Schweikert VR-55 room, cleaning up a lot of harshness and glare. We went on to win a Best of Show, Cost no Object award by TAS. In 2015 my modded SurgeX was used to good effect in the Vapor/Lampizator room, we won numerous awards for that system. It was also used in the successful dc10 Audio/Audio Teckne system. If you're going to a show as a vendor power conditioning is CRUCIAL!

I think that's an important point. Power is a "source" in some sense and makes a big difference. I have heard the Tripoint Orion make a profound difference at a show and have owned Mosaic audio's Suspension bridge which also makes a huge difference.

Norm, how is Hi Fidelity's conditioner?

 

[YashN]

If you're going to a show as a vendor power conditioning is CRUCIAL!

Note that it's crucial for audiophiles too, and so crucial in fact that we look to combine it with quite radical vibration/seismic isolation as well.

 

[witchdoctor]

The most important component of an audio system is...balance. You need to balance the room, the components, and clean and plentiful POWER.
For example, put bookshelf speakers with 5 inch drivers and a 30 watt tube amp in a 5000 square foot room and I doubt you would be pleased. Have a beautifully decorated and acoustically treated listening room with cheap components and they will still sound cheap. Power runs through all of your components and a grungy power line will make things sound bad regardless of the room and the components. Balance is the key.