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AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Importance list
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Message started by Donnie on 11/04/26 at 16:20:15

Title: Importance list
Post by Donnie on 11/04/26 at 16:20:15

So where does one spend his money in buying a decent stereo system?
I'm thinking about what to tell someone just starting out, not to you all wacked out junkies!

I've seen these types of lists before but of course they varied by whatever the list maker was trying to sell at the time.

I know that some people swear that you spend a large amount on source equipment, you know, garbage in-garbage out. Others swear on the amplification gear, tube over SS or the other way around.
Of course I'm a big proponent of speakers, because changing speakers around seems to make the biggest change to me, but again, I'm a speaker guy.

I'll throw my numbers out there, take them as they are, just my crappy opinion.
25% front end, 40% speakers. 30% amplification, and 5% of cables and such.
Yeah I know that I didn't have any power stuff or magic boxes etc. I consider those things as more advanced stuff that people add as they fall further on down the bottomless pit that is audiophilia.

So tell me what I got wrong, I'm sure that everyone has a different take on this.

Title: Re: Importance list
Post by Lon on 11/04/26 at 16:31:45

My take is: it's important to have a great amplification to speaker foundation. And sources become increasingly more important after that, the right foundation of amp and speakers will show you so much that is wonderful--and not so wonderful--in source components. After that it's fine tuning. Clean electric, isolation control, cabling--all became important to me once I got the amp-speaker and component foundation selected and perfected.

Percentage. . . there are so many variables (new, used, vintage, SOTA and combinations etc.) that I won't throw out numbers.

To a new listener/enthusiast an important question or three is/are: tube or solid state, vintage or new production, digital or analog or both, and perhaps patient or impatient.

Also: what music one predominantly will listen to will influence choices. I'd like to say that a great system will treat any genre with equivalent excellence, but in the world of practical selection and daily use a system that has one dancing and head banging to rock or other amplified material is one that may not showcase classical, folk or jazz etc. in the best light, and vice versa. (Just my experience, I'm beginning to realize this more as time passes). Keeping in mind what will go in and come out of the system can help pinpoint the system one wants and needs.