magiccarpetride
30-03-2018, 15:27
I have been flip-flopping over the years trying to figure out which part of the audio system is its 'heart'. Meaning, which component is the decisive part that makes or breaks the system.
Naturally, I was swinging from one extreme (the source) to another extreme (the sink, that is, speakers, their positioning, the room and its treatments).
Finally, reached the conclusion that it is nether of those. Of course, it is important to obtain the best possible source, as it is to obtain the best possible speakers and position them optimally in a well treated room. But even if you get to that point, the sound quality may still end up being substandard. So what is it then that is the most important part?
In my experience, it is the middle kingdom -- the phono preamp (for analog) or the DAC (for digital).
You could have the best possible turntable, tonearm, cartridge, cabling, preamp, power amp, speakers, room etc. But if your phono is not up to the snuff, you'll end up listening to grainy, hard, dry and unpleasant sound. Same goes for having the best digital transport with best cables etc., if your DAC is substandard, the sound will be harsh and unpleasant.
Naturally, I was swinging from one extreme (the source) to another extreme (the sink, that is, speakers, their positioning, the room and its treatments).
Finally, reached the conclusion that it is nether of those. Of course, it is important to obtain the best possible source, as it is to obtain the best possible speakers and position them optimally in a well treated room. But even if you get to that point, the sound quality may still end up being substandard. So what is it then that is the most important part?
In my experience, it is the middle kingdom -- the phono preamp (for analog) or the DAC (for digital).
You could have the best possible turntable, tonearm, cartridge, cabling, preamp, power amp, speakers, room etc. But if your phono is not up to the snuff, you'll end up listening to grainy, hard, dry and unpleasant sound. Same goes for having the best digital transport with best cables etc., if your DAC is substandard, the sound will be harsh and unpleasant.