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Significance of different components of audio ...

Virtually every component in stereo system is important but in my opinion, the impact is roughly in the following order:
critical
1. Quality of recording
2. Room acoustics, including placement of speakers
3. Speakers
...
important
4. Source (CD player, etc.)
5. Amplification
...
usually minor adjustments or fine-tuning
6. Cables
7. Power line, including power conditioning, cleanliness of electrical contacts
8. Some tweaks and adjustments (vibration etc.)
...
negligible, none, detrimental or unsafe
9. Majority of the tweaks...
This might serve as a guideline to allocated budget for properly balanced stereo system.
Do you agree? What's your opinion? What sequence your experience dictates?
jerzy777
getheleadout
144 posts
 
IMHO your omission of the "critical" impact of a preamp and/or volume control, is typical of this hugely overlooked component.

Like it or not, the signal path must run through some kind of volume control. And the Huge misconception that volume control doesn't enormously effect the OVERALL sound of the system is just that.

This may be the most overlooked and misunderstood area that exist in high end audio today.
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
For me, preamp would go into critical, speakers to important.
goatwuss
875 posts
 
I agree with your list - but I would add preamp/volume control into the "important" category.
gs5556
769 posts
 
Count me in for a disagreement. I place quality of recording in the "neglible" category. I place performance in the critical. A Walter Mahler or a Klemperer Beethoven in scratchy mono will be more satisfying to me than a not-so-inspired latest and greatest with sonic gymnastics. It'a all personal, like ye said.
photon46
1,008 posts
 
I have found the preamp to be almost as critical as the speakers in voicing a system. That's about the only change in priority I'd advocate. I think Gs5556 has the right attitude about recording quality. Those that only listen to recordings based on their audiophile attributes miss the purpose of music and music reproduction.
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