Is the source the most important aspect of a sound system?
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similost
Rockin and Rollin....
I say speakers, then pre-amp.. but yes, source is very important too..
Speakers and the pre-amp will usually make the biggest difference in sound, but, a good source is required too.. garbage in.. garbage out.. and the better the speakers, the better you can hear the garbage..
Speakers and the pre-amp will usually make the biggest difference in sound, but, a good source is required too.. garbage in.. garbage out.. and the better the speakers, the better you can hear the garbage..
A few thoughts:
In a purely 70s-based system (i.e. turntable, or source, receiver, and speakers), I would say that any of the devices where energy is converted from one form to another is the most important element. So, that would mean the cartridge (converting the potential kinetic energy on the vinyl into electrical energy) and, on the other end, converting that electrical energy back into kinetic energy (the speakers).
While the other elements may affect the sound, their overall level of impact will be minimal when compared to the cart and the speakers.
As far as your blu ray question goes, well, that depends. Does your receiver support HDMI 1.3? If not, does the PS3 have at least 5.1 (or, better yet, 7.1) analog outs that you can run to your analog ins?
As I understand it, to get the full, uncompressed audio over HDMI from Blu Ray, you need to do everything through HDMI 1.3. So, for me, for instance, my receiver uses HDMI 1.2a, and, therefore, if I were to go with a Blu Ray player, I'd need to use the analog outs on the player and run them into the analog ins on my receiver.
In a purely 70s-based system (i.e. turntable, or source, receiver, and speakers), I would say that any of the devices where energy is converted from one form to another is the most important element. So, that would mean the cartridge (converting the potential kinetic energy on the vinyl into electrical energy) and, on the other end, converting that electrical energy back into kinetic energy (the speakers).
While the other elements may affect the sound, their overall level of impact will be minimal when compared to the cart and the speakers.
As far as your blu ray question goes, well, that depends. Does your receiver support HDMI 1.3? If not, does the PS3 have at least 5.1 (or, better yet, 7.1) analog outs that you can run to your analog ins?
As I understand it, to get the full, uncompressed audio over HDMI from Blu Ray, you need to do everything through HDMI 1.3. So, for me, for instance, my receiver uses HDMI 1.2a, and, therefore, if I were to go with a Blu Ray player, I'd need to use the analog outs on the player and run them into the analog ins on my receiver.
I'm a huge fan of Oppo players, and have an Oppo 980. A month or two ago, they came out with their first Blu Ray /universal disk player (includes all forms of CDs, DVDs, DVD-Audio, SACD, etc...). I believe it's called the BDP-83. I'd post a link, but I can't remember if we can post links directly to manufacturers' sites.
As all Oppo machines do, it's getting pretty good reviews. It's about $500, though. Certainly less than the next Blu Ray universal disk player (which, I believe, is around $3500), but more than your typical Blu Ray player.
As all Oppo machines do, it's getting pretty good reviews. It's about $500, though. Certainly less than the next Blu Ray universal disk player (which, I believe, is around $3500), but more than your typical Blu Ray player.
john72953
Live Life Leave A Legacy!
Here is my answer to the question.
Your SOURCE is the most important piece of your equipment. Like mentioned earlier it comes down GIGO. You cannot retrieve information from a source componant that doesn't have the ability to extract it. Your speakers have nothing to do with this. They are only carriers of information. Feed it a better source and they will sound better. Get a better source and they will sound better still.
Separating out your componants is the next best thing you can do. Instead of being satisfied with a Receiver, get a seperate power amp/pre-amp/tuner. In fact, go Mono power amps and get to the next level again.
Next up is adding a Phono pre-amp (for vinyl) and/or a seperate DAC (digital sources). The addition of these units can and will make a huge difference in how your speakers sound.
Next on the list is the lonely and often misunderstood "tweak" market. Speaker cables, interconnects, power cords, conditioners, stabilizers, vibration/isolation devices and the like. These can make a difference, but their results are subjective.
This is how I think you should go about building a great system.
SPEAKERS to me are almost like a seperate category. They have nothing to do with the quality of your componants. They are the carriers of the information your componants are able to extract. It is also why speakers are the most difficult part of your setup to buy. Additionally, speakers cannot just be bought to match componants. They need to be matched to your listening preferences. If there is a mismatch, you won't be happy and you won't be getting everything out of your system that it can.
This is my humble opinion only and written with respect to everyone, despite disagreements that are sure to follow.
John
Your SOURCE is the most important piece of your equipment. Like mentioned earlier it comes down GIGO. You cannot retrieve information from a source componant that doesn't have the ability to extract it. Your speakers have nothing to do with this. They are only carriers of information. Feed it a better source and they will sound better. Get a better source and they will sound better still.
Separating out your componants is the next best thing you can do. Instead of being satisfied with a Receiver, get a seperate power amp/pre-amp/tuner. In fact, go Mono power amps and get to the next level again.
Next up is adding a Phono pre-amp (for vinyl) and/or a seperate DAC (digital sources). The addition of these units can and will make a huge difference in how your speakers sound.
Next on the list is the lonely and often misunderstood "tweak" market. Speaker cables, interconnects, power cords, conditioners, stabilizers, vibration/isolation devices and the like. These can make a difference, but their results are subjective.
This is how I think you should go about building a great system.
SPEAKERS to me are almost like a seperate category. They have nothing to do with the quality of your componants. They are the carriers of the information your componants are able to extract. It is also why speakers are the most difficult part of your setup to buy. Additionally, speakers cannot just be bought to match componants. They need to be matched to your listening preferences. If there is a mismatch, you won't be happy and you won't be getting everything out of your system that it can.
This is my humble opinion only and written with respect to everyone, despite disagreements that are sure to follow.
John
Certainly the source can be considered the most important piece of equipment.
If it is my desire to watch and listen to television over my system and I only have an FM and CD player, I'm SOL! Same if I want to listen to a CD but have no CD player.
Doesn't matter how good (or bad) the rest of the audio chain is if I don't have the appropriate source to plug into it.
If it is my desire to watch and listen to television over my system and I only have an FM and CD player, I'm SOL! Same if I want to listen to a CD but have no CD player.
Doesn't matter how good (or bad) the rest of the audio chain is if I don't have the appropriate source to plug into it.
sheltie dave
Addicted Member
Look at your stereo system as a water pipe. No matter what you do, there always will be a component that is the weakest link(bottleneck) in your system.
You can have many different approaches, but the two I take are to have the best possible set of speakers I can find and afford, and second, try to have all components that I will not quickly upgrade be of a similar base level of quality. You may always luck into a topnotch source, but EVERYTHING goes through your speakers.
Great speakers and good compatible synergy with the rest of your system will keep you happy for a long time, and puts you in a good position where you can poach, snipe, stalk, and pray for some stellar sources. :thmbsp:
You can have many different approaches, but the two I take are to have the best possible set of speakers I can find and afford, and second, try to have all components that I will not quickly upgrade be of a similar base level of quality. You may always luck into a topnotch source, but EVERYTHING goes through your speakers.
Great speakers and good compatible synergy with the rest of your system will keep you happy for a long time, and puts you in a good position where you can poach, snipe, stalk, and pray for some stellar sources. :thmbsp:
jimimac
UTOPIAN UNIVERSE?
O.K. the difference in components is minimal.Providing you have enough power to drive you,re speakers.Sure the recording quality,room ,proper setup of speakers are very important.But listen to A lot of speakers and spend the most on you,re speakers.I,ve owned about A dozen pair..
I'm listening to a MAC 1900 on B&W DM2 speakers. Earlier it was on AR3a, and this morning it was on Dynaco A25s. Each time, it sounded like a completely different system. If I were to do the same thing with turntables or CD players, it would sound different, but it would not sound like a completely different system.
Source is very very important...after you find an amp and speakers that work well together (my opinion).
Source is very very important...after you find an amp and speakers that work well together (my opinion).
mrt2
Super Member
:thmbsp: Speakers will actually be the single most important component you get, as each speaker has its own sound. You need to have good synergy between your amp and speakers.
You will want a quality source, but the difference between digital sources at comparable price points will be fairly subtle, as opposed to speakers where the differences will be obvious and immediate.
The whole source first idea was a Linn thing back in the days when there were big audible differences between turntables.
grillebilly
Empty Head
I agree. I'm no expert, but have found this to be the most important. Some gear just works best with certain speakers. If all you listen to is CD's, this is the golden rule.
Second thing that made the biggest difference when listening to records was the phono cartridge.
Of course you need decent records.
I work in advertising, and I've always thought his selling point was genius. And yes, a mistake at the front end will continue down the line. Which makes no difference, however, if your line is terrible. I just think speakers make the biggest impact on the final sound. They're the vocal chords of the system. Many singers can hit perfect or near-perfect pitch, but it doesn't mean they have a memorable timbre to their voice. (of course, with loudspeakers it's often 'no' timbre of voice that's important.
Nothing against the LP-12, I'd be happy to have one (and I have an Axis that sounds great when the belt isn't stretched out) but I believe things about audio more when they come from somebody who doesn't have something to sell. Of course the LP-12 sounds better than the average plastic BSR of the day, but I think the prices of TD-124s that predate the LP-12 are testament to the fact that 'garbage' is a relative term.
Highef
New Member
Human beings cannot breath in another planet with an atmosphere without oxigen.
Our systems cannor breath in a closed environment without a good environment.
Before thinking about the equipment, think about the environment. The most important part of a sound system is the room acoustics.
In second plance are the speakers.
(my opinion)
Thanks
Highef
Our systems cannor breath in a closed environment without a good environment.
Before thinking about the equipment, think about the environment. The most important part of a sound system is the room acoustics.
In second plance are the speakers.
(my opinion)
Thanks
Highef