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A mistake spending too much on amplification?

I was wondering if I screwed up by spending too much money on amplification? I have been upgrading my amp/preamp for awhile now (I started with a CODA Unison, then upgraded to a McCormack DNA-125 and EE Minimax, then to a Herron pre, and now mating that with Sixpacs). And, although there are subtle improvements, I am not hearing any night/day improvements, even when I go back to the CODA. And the CODA is much cheaper!

Does this mean I outpaced my speakers? Kind of like putting a supercharged turbo engine in a car with bald tires? Speakers are VS VR2's and Soliloquy 6.3's. Anyone have a good estimation on amplification costs relative to speaker costs? Sell the better amplification; use the money to buy better speakers?
chiho

Showing 3 responses by narrod

narrod
1,064 posts
 
Regardless of what reviewers say you are not going to hear
night/day differences between quality components. The real differences will, in most cases, be subtle. Be wary of anyone you tells you that product a "blows away" product b. It's audiophile speak which as very little to do with the real world.
narrod
1,064 posts
 
BOA2 says,

"The fact is there are significant variations from one component to the next"

It is certainly a strongly held opinion by many but is not and, in my opinion, cannot be proven as "fact". I've been in this hobby a very long time and experience tells me that quality components are much more alike than different.

This does not mean that the differences aren't important. In many cases they certainly can impact how a given listener responds to a given component. Night/Day? I don't think so.
narrod
1,064 posts
 
This has been interesting. I happen to believe that transducers (cartridges and especially speakers) have the most impact on perceived sound. Followed by source, preamp, amp and cables. There again, this is opinion. I'm skeptical of anyone who presents their preferences as revealed truth.People can get so emotional about this stuff as if disagreement with their position in some way invalidates them personally.
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