Important Components
Which Component is the Most Important?
29/03/12 10:02
Another age old question that is still debated to this day without any real answers - I hope this will assist!
Before we delve further I just want to mention Component Resolution - which refers to the amount of detail a component is able to provide or allow.
Extremely well built components will allow you hear minute details, such as the sounds of an instrumentalist breathing while they play, or the concert hall reverberations that makes it sound as though you are right there at the time of the recording.
Every component has a limit to the details it is able to resolve due to its construction. One consideration when building an audio system is to match those limits across all components - otherwise the component with the highest resolution ability is being under-utilized.
Good quality cables become more important as the output voltage of a component reduces e.g.
This same argument could be made for every component in the audio chain, but once the signal becomes amplified, the higher voltages in play are able to overcome the internal resistance of a lessor quality cable, allowing the next component in the audio pipeline to still receive those fine details for subsequent processing.
However, as the voltages get higher there is a tendency for poorly designed cables to permit noise to be induced into adjacent conductors within the cable itself, which degrades cable and component performance
Extending this to an outrageous conclusion might imply that you could use a rusty nail to connect the amp to speaker?
Alas not so, since there are many other factors at play in the audio pipeline, which I am not going to get into. However, I have recently experienced a situation which has required me to re-assess some of the aspects of component selection and matching, so here goes...
Over the past few months a friend has been required to use his "consumer grade" receiver in place of his pair of tube amps that are out of service for a component retro-fit.
He has an extremely good turntable with a custom built phono stage, a very good CD Player and very detailed speakers, but the one thing that surprised me is just how good the consumer receiver actually performs - specifically, very good spacial definition in width and depth and a pretty dynamic response, which surprised me and him a lot.
So from this, is the answer to the question - always spend the most money on source components?
It would certainly seem that way to some extent from my friends experience.
I think in todays world, the levels at which some affordable hi-fi products can perform is much better than most people realize
e.g. My NAIM integrated amplifier is priced far from the exotic brands, but turns in a very respectable performance when connected to higher quality source components.
So, I seem to be leaning towards spending more money on Source components
What else could be considered "Important Components"?
How about speakers? - the final frontier - before your ears
These are the work horses of the system and providing they are chosen wisely - they should provide an excellent listening experience for a long time - so choose wisely and for the long term.
So, speaker choice may dictate amplifier choice (and amplifier price)? - YES!
Choose wisely and apply those budget savings to better quality source components
There are systems out there using very small wattage amplifiers and efficient speakers that sound as good as some of the systems with huge amplifiers, just maybe not as loud
What About Interconnects? - the "arteries" of a system
OK - here's a statement!...
Every component deserves an interconnect of a quality that reflects the abilities of the component!
So, if you have a high quality component, you should have an interconnect that is capable of transferring the entire signal made available by that component. This applies to analogue and digital forms of signal transfer also.
Some people declare that they have tried better quality interconnects and heard no difference!
And Power Cables? - YES - they really make a difference
Power cables make a significant improvement in the performance of a hi-fi component - please refer to Why Good Power Cords Make A Difference for an in depth look at their importance in a system.
Hey - what about turntables? - the most complicated of sources.
With respect to Turntables as a source - it is extremely important that the technical aspects of the cartridge, turntable and phono stage be matched, however if budget is a limiting factor (when isn't it), then
In my case I "evolved" the abilities of both my turntable and my phono stage over a period of time with several upgrades, which may not have been the most expedient or cost effective method, but it was certainly the most educational
If I could go back in time and knowing what I know now - I would opt for the better quality turntable and save myself all the upgrade hassle.
CONCLUSION: - Hey! - read the detail above - don't just cut to the chase
So, if I were to go out there and purchase a new system from scratch, here's the order in which I would proceed
So as you can see in this discussion - I lean towards the purchase of better source components - even though I posses more modestly priced sources. But MY sources have undergone significant DIY upgrades over time to augment their performance level. Other people may not feel "equipped" to perform such enhancements, but whichever route, good source components are definitely worth the investment .
Today, there are some great pre/amps at reasonable prices that are capable of performing close to the levels of higher priced source components when connected via good interconnects and good power cables. Opting for a more affordable pre/amp may be a better budgetary choice without sacrificing too much on the performance front.
Good source components tend to make a more appreciable impact when coupled with the right power cords, interconnect cables and power supply components.
Matching the source components with their interconnects, the amp with the speakers and all components with power supply components can be time consuming and expensive, but the internet is a wealth of information that is at your disposal, so make use of it.
Bottom Line: it's up to you to determine what components you require. Do your homework, otherwise you will find yourself owning some very questionable purchases.
Before we delve further I just want to mention Component Resolution - which refers to the amount of detail a component is able to provide or allow.
- active components - like a pre-amp are able to "augment resolution" i.e. amplify it, whereas
- passive components - like an interconnect simply allows whatever resolution is present to pass through them - or not.
- A subtle distinction, but worth addressing since resolution is more easily affected the closer to the source you get
Extremely well built components will allow you hear minute details, such as the sounds of an instrumentalist breathing while they play, or the concert hall reverberations that makes it sound as though you are right there at the time of the recording.
Every component has a limit to the details it is able to resolve due to its construction. One consideration when building an audio system is to match those limits across all components - otherwise the component with the highest resolution ability is being under-utilized.
Good quality cables become more important as the output voltage of a component reduces e.g.
- a moving coil phono cartridge is best served by the highest quality conductors, preferably a single uninterrupted run from the cartridge to the phono stage
- Due to it's incredibly small output voltage it requires a cable of the lowest possible impedance in order to transfer the entire signal.
This same argument could be made for every component in the audio chain, but once the signal becomes amplified, the higher voltages in play are able to overcome the internal resistance of a lessor quality cable, allowing the next component in the audio pipeline to still receive those fine details for subsequent processing.
However, as the voltages get higher there is a tendency for poorly designed cables to permit noise to be induced into adjacent conductors within the cable itself, which degrades cable and component performance
Extending this to an outrageous conclusion might imply that you could use a rusty nail to connect the amp to speaker?
Alas not so, since there are many other factors at play in the audio pipeline, which I am not going to get into. However, I have recently experienced a situation which has required me to re-assess some of the aspects of component selection and matching, so here goes...
Over the past few months a friend has been required to use his "consumer grade" receiver in place of his pair of tube amps that are out of service for a component retro-fit.
He has an extremely good turntable with a custom built phono stage, a very good CD Player and very detailed speakers, but the one thing that surprised me is just how good the consumer receiver actually performs - specifically, very good spacial definition in width and depth and a pretty dynamic response, which surprised me and him a lot.
So from this, is the answer to the question - always spend the most money on source components?
It would certainly seem that way to some extent from my friends experience.
I think in todays world, the levels at which some affordable hi-fi products can perform is much better than most people realize
e.g. My NAIM integrated amplifier is priced far from the exotic brands, but turns in a very respectable performance when connected to higher quality source components.
So, I seem to be leaning towards spending more money on Source components
What else could be considered "Important Components"?
How about speakers? - the final frontier - before your ears
These are the work horses of the system and providing they are chosen wisely - they should provide an excellent listening experience for a long time - so choose wisely and for the long term.
- There is no magic formulae - you have to get out there and listen to as many as possible
- It is extremely important that these be matched to the amplifier, otherwise neither will perform to their fullest potential
- Some brands are inefficient and require very large amplifiers to drive them
- Some brands are very efficient and require only a small amplifier to drive them
So, speaker choice may dictate amplifier choice (and amplifier price)? - YES!
Choose wisely and apply those budget savings to better quality source components
There are systems out there using very small wattage amplifiers and efficient speakers that sound as good as some of the systems with huge amplifiers, just maybe not as loud
What About Interconnects? - the "arteries" of a system
OK - here's a statement!...
Every component deserves an interconnect of a quality that reflects the abilities of the component!
- NOTE: that statement also applies to speaker cables - which is also an interconnect in the true sense of the word
So, if you have a high quality component, you should have an interconnect that is capable of transferring the entire signal made available by that component. This applies to analogue and digital forms of signal transfer also.
Some people declare that they have tried better quality interconnects and heard no difference!
- that may not be the fault of that particular interconnect
- the problem may be elsewhere either side of the interconnect (i.e. cables or components)
And Power Cables? - YES - they really make a difference
Power cables make a significant improvement in the performance of a hi-fi component - please refer to Why Good Power Cords Make A Difference for an in depth look at their importance in a system.
Hey - what about turntables? - the most complicated of sources.
With respect to Turntables as a source - it is extremely important that the technical aspects of the cartridge, turntable and phono stage be matched, however if budget is a limiting factor (when isn't it), then
- A very good turntable will allow even an entry level cartridge to perform to the best of it's abilities, but a less adept turntable will diminish the performance abilities of any cartridge
- A very good phono stage can extract an exceptional performance from an entry level cartridge, but a higher priced cartridge will not improve the performance of a less adept phono stage
- Electing to use a good turntable with a less adept phono stage or a good phono stage with a less adept turntable would be down to the individual, their desired performance level requirements and their budget
In my case I "evolved" the abilities of both my turntable and my phono stage over a period of time with several upgrades, which may not have been the most expedient or cost effective method, but it was certainly the most educational
If I could go back in time and knowing what I know now - I would opt for the better quality turntable and save myself all the upgrade hassle.
CONCLUSION: - Hey! - read the detail above - don't just cut to the chase
So, if I were to go out there and purchase a new system from scratch, here's the order in which I would proceed
- Find a pair of speakers that I like the sound of - using a good amp and source in the store
- Find an amplifier or Pre/Amplifier combo that is capable of driving them (but more modestly priced)
- Find a pair of speaker cables that allows the amp to control the speakers completely
- Find the best Source components I could afford!
- Find the Interconnects and power cables that match the components purchased
- Most Important - find a store that will put a package together and demo them together
So as you can see in this discussion - I lean towards the purchase of better source components - even though I posses more modestly priced sources. But MY sources have undergone significant DIY upgrades over time to augment their performance level. Other people may not feel "equipped" to perform such enhancements, but whichever route, good source components are definitely worth the investment .
Today, there are some great pre/amps at reasonable prices that are capable of performing close to the levels of higher priced source components when connected via good interconnects and good power cables. Opting for a more affordable pre/amp may be a better budgetary choice without sacrificing too much on the performance front.
Good source components tend to make a more appreciable impact when coupled with the right power cords, interconnect cables and power supply components.
Matching the source components with their interconnects, the amp with the speakers and all components with power supply components can be time consuming and expensive, but the internet is a wealth of information that is at your disposal, so make use of it.
Bottom Line: it's up to you to determine what components you require. Do your homework, otherwise you will find yourself owning some very questionable purchases.