Mister Pig
Pigamus Maximus
Have you ever had someone in your family that cooks the best of something? Be it meatloaf, lasagna, a cake, perhaps fried chicken? There is something about her recipe or technique that is unique? Heard the stories where others tried to follow Mommas recipe and it never tasted the same? One thing Momma would often say is its in the ingredients she chooses, and they have to be certain ingredients to get the right taste. They may or may not be expensive, but they do have to meet a certain quality threshold. Momma never uses sub par ingredients.
In some ways I think system building can be the same thing. You can pick gear or accessories that check certain boxes. The right power, the right number and size of drivers, the right specs, the right pedigree, or the right price. Yet its how you combine those ingredients that result in something that is special. Some people call this synergy, but I think it moves past that catch all term. It doesn't mean the components are expensive, or that a less expensive one cannot eclipse a more expensive piece in the right application. But on the other hand these components have to meet a quality level, after all Momma does not use junk to make her specialty. I currently have a pre amp that is 1/3 of the MSRP of another one I got, and I prefer the less expensive one. Yet it still sold for $4K new. So how these components, and the bits and pieces, the tubes, the cables, the footers, the power cords, the cabinet, the room, the acoustic panels, and gear placement, well they all contribute to the end product. Much like Mommas spices, and how she blends them in.
Now you can make something that tastes good. You can make an audio system that sounds good by spending a bit of care selecting pieces. However, if you want special, and if you can discern and care about special...then system building might be as much a craft and an art as a selection of pieces by checking certain boxes off a list.
Cheers
Mister Pig
In some ways I think system building can be the same thing. You can pick gear or accessories that check certain boxes. The right power, the right number and size of drivers, the right specs, the right pedigree, or the right price. Yet its how you combine those ingredients that result in something that is special. Some people call this synergy, but I think it moves past that catch all term. It doesn't mean the components are expensive, or that a less expensive one cannot eclipse a more expensive piece in the right application. But on the other hand these components have to meet a quality level, after all Momma does not use junk to make her specialty. I currently have a pre amp that is 1/3 of the MSRP of another one I got, and I prefer the less expensive one. Yet it still sold for $4K new. So how these components, and the bits and pieces, the tubes, the cables, the footers, the power cords, the cabinet, the room, the acoustic panels, and gear placement, well they all contribute to the end product. Much like Mommas spices, and how she blends them in.
Now you can make something that tastes good. You can make an audio system that sounds good by spending a bit of care selecting pieces. However, if you want special, and if you can discern and care about special...then system building might be as much a craft and an art as a selection of pieces by checking certain boxes off a list.
Cheers
Mister Pig
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