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Thread: Heart of the hi fi system

  1. #1
    Join Date: May 2010

    Location: Vancouver, Canada

    Posts: 2,166
    I'm Alex.

    Lightbulb Heart of the hi fi system

    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.
    Don't you just hate it when you cannot detect where the post ends and a signature line begins?

    Alex.

  2. #2
    Join Date: Oct 2012

    Location: The Black Country

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    I'm Alan.

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    I think you may have nailed it there Alex.
    Thinking about it both phono stage and DAC have to deal with very small signals without messing them up, plus keeping all the phase information correct.


  3. #3
    Join Date: Aug 2009

    Location: Staffordshire, England

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    I'm Martin.

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    Quote Originally Posted by magiccarpetride View Post

    ., if your DAC is substandard, the sound will be harsh and unpleasant.
    Only if there is something wrong with the DAC. I'm not saying they don't vary in quality but providing we are talking about the DAC as a whole unit and not just the DAC chip, IME the poorer ones just sound a bit two-dimensional, 'cardboard cut-out', they paint in thick strokes. But they don't sound harsh or unpleasant. Harsh and unpleasant means something in the system is not working properly, or the amp is clipping, or the amp is a very poor design.
    Current Lash Up:

    TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.

  4. #4
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: Gravesend and France

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    I'm paul.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Macca View Post
    Only if there is something wrong with the DAC. I'm not saying they don't vary in quality but providing we are talking about the DAC as a whole unit and not just the DAC chip, IME the poorer ones just sound a bit two-dimensional, 'cardboard cut-out', they paint in thick strokes. But they don't sound harsh or unpleasant. Harsh and unpleasant means something in the system is not working properly, or the amp is clipping, or the amp is a very poor design.
    My thoughts too
    Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers

    Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house

    Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck


    System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.

  5. #5
    Join Date: Feb 2013

    Location: W Lothian

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    I'm Grant.

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    Speakers can be harsh more than anything. But yes it's all important. Dacs vary enormously imv
    Regards,
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  6. #6
    Join Date: Apr 2012

    Location: N E Kent

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    I'm Geoff.

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    Cables of course!



    (just felt like being controversial )

  7. #7
    Join Date: Jan 2009

    Location: Essex

    Posts: 31,853
    I'm openingabottleofwine.

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    Quote Originally Posted by walpurgis View Post
    Cables of course!



    (just felt like being controversial )
    Don't you mean cable plugs?
    Barry

  8. #8
    Join Date: Apr 2016

    Location: Gravesend and France

    Posts: 1,498
    I'm paul.

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    Fuses?
    Bakoon 13r Denon DP80 Stax UA-70 Shure Ultra 500 in a Martin Bastin body with jico stylus, project ds2 digital Rullit aero 8 field coils in tqwt speakers

    Office system, DIY CSS fullrange speakers with aurum cantus G2 ribbons yulong dac Sony STR6055 receiver Jvc QL-A51 direct drive turntable, Leema sub. JVC Z4S cart is in the house

    Garage system another Sony receiver, cassette deck


    System components are subject to change without warning and at the discretion of the owner.

  9. #9
    Join Date: May 2016

    Location: Much Wenlock

    Posts: 1,522
    I'm Gary.

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    The size of the cable hole in phono plugs so that cable strain is minimised........Lol


  10. #10
    Join Date: Apr 2008

    Location: Warrington

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    I'm Neil.

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    The amplifier is obviously the 'heart' of the system because this is what 'pumps' the required power out of the signal (the blood) into the speakers to get music out of them.
    Mana Acoustics Racks / Bright Star IsoNodes Decoupling >> Allo DigiOne Player >> Pedja Rogic's Audial Model S DAC + Pioneer PL-71 turntable / Vista Audio phono-1 mk II / Denon PCL-5 headshell / Reson Reca >> LFD DLS >> LFD PA2M (SE) >> Royd RR3s.

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