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Finding the 'weakest link' when upgrading?

Being able to find the weakest link when upgrading is really, really important.
Otherwise a different new component may never really be able to show how it is better. Since the other ’weak’ component(s) is(are) masking the new components better sound.

This is a difficult problem.

My best example is not exactly about the least sound quality, but it may show something about it.
I upgraded a good portion of my equipment all at once when I retired. And I still had in my system an old DAC I bought used. When I received most of the new components (including new preamp, new amp, new speakers and a new turntable and cartridge), I was comparing my old DAC with the new one. And found no sonic difference. I mean I tried every way I could and could not hear any difference between them/ So either I just wasted $25,000 for nothing or?? I was very frustrated.
Anyway, after three weeks I got another new bit which had to be ordered and built
.
When I plugged in the phono box, an epiphany and a flood ot tears.. My $25,000 of new equipment really was better. Since the phono box sounded glorious, thus it made it clear all the rest of the system WAS NOT holding back the new DAC. That new DAC was actually just not any better than my old one. And I returned it.

And unless I just happened to acquire that new phono box a week later, I would have been stumped why the new DAC (which was praised to the skies by both Stereophile and TAS) was not doing better.
I was seriously bummed and confused about wasting a ton of money... until I played the new phono box.

Now it was kind of odd that the two DACs, one, used for $250 )it’ original list price was $1,000) and the other $2,400 and 12 years newer) could sound so alike. But chance happened. (And toss in the official guru magazine praise with it all)
==================================================================

Anyway, how do we find the right part to upgrade? Since making the wrong choice can leave one in the same boat I was in back in my example? (at least until I got the phono box)

I do not have an answer. and I ask.. does anyone?
For me it is just kind of a sixth sense, with little real science to it.

In general I have been kind of lucky.
But how do I know I have managed well?

I do not know.
It has been better more often than not.
(Though I have made a few really terrible choices over many years now and then. Costly choices)

Anyway, my question is how do you make the choice of what to upgrade?
How do you know or decide which is you weakest component?

And do you agree finding the weakest component is really important in the path of upgrading, or one might be making expensive mistakes buying gear, or trying gear? (which may really be great, yet you cannot hear it due to some other weak links in the chain? And though I hate to say so, this weak link may even be cables, or powercords or even the AC from the wall*.

*(but please do not get into a big theory arguments about interconnects and powercords and power conditioners.) Stick to the main topic of knowing how to find the weakest link.
elizabeth
shadorne's avatar
shadorne
7,333 posts
 
Weakest link is your own subjective confused expectations. Too many confused folks hearing radical change because they imagined so. If you suppose after significant investment that a system is excellent and truely high fidelity then a “radical improvement” from a tweak is totally inconsistent with the original assumption.

EITHER people are highly imaginative and influenced by their expectations more than anything else...

OR people have such a lousy crap system that “radical improvement” is still possible...

So what is it?

Do you have an excellent setup that can only be incrementally improved?

Or

Do you have a system where a contact goo applied to your fuse box made the earth move and the heavens open up and the angels sang?

Which kind of setup do you have or how much are you fooled by your own wild imaginings?

And you cannot have it both ways.

This is food for thought for those on the merry go round.
nonoise's avatar
nonoise
4,382 posts
 
Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed.


ivan_nosnibor's avatar
ivan_nosnibor
782 posts
 
@shadorne 

Your point about it all being subjective is well taken.

But, IMO I think you may be conflating a "weak link" (still a subjective term) that can be tied to some distinct, negative aspect of sound or lack of performance, once it has been successfully eliminated, and those tweaks or general improvements to the overall sound that can be applied **without compromising the sound and performance in any way**. Two different things. In regards to the OP, one requires diagnosis, the other does not.

But yes, the impact of all that on total system performance, real or imagined, is something to keep in mind and, in general, I'd say that our expectations do typically grow along with our systems.

Regards
gs5556
769 posts
 
For me, I insist on auditioning any component in my own system before I buy, whether from a dealer or an online retailer. This way you can make your own judgment what needs to be upgraded and then confirm candidates by actually listening to them. 

I wouldn't go by Stereophile and TAS. They make their money from the industry side, not the readership.



jond's avatar
jond
3,400 posts
 
I guess I don't have a methodology I go more on gut feeling and very good advice from my dealer at times. I agree with the above comment on synergy my components work very well together and I believe the sum is greater than the parts. Currently my upgrades, since my speaker purchase last year, are of the incremental type. A new power cable here, new tubes there, working on the margins. I do realize I've gotten, and many others get there too, to a point where any meaningful component upgrade would require an outsized outlay of capital.
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