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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: My advice to Nubies about assembling a good system posted by John C. - Aussie on December 2, 2004 at 16:53:45:
Any professional audio sound contractor will tell you that in putting together a sound system the very first thing you do is to "look at" the enviroment that you want to fill with sound. Second you determine the type of "sound" you want to reproduce. In this case we are talking about music, so you need to determine if your going to listen to rock, jazz clasical ect. This, along with the "venue" size or room size will determine the sound pressure levels required and dynamic range requirements of the audio system. With this knowledge you can select a proper "driver" or speaker that will produce the desired sound preasure levels and dynamic range required. This determination will limit your speaker choices. WAF may also limit. Professionals always select speakers first that are able to produce the quanity and quality of sound needed for the enviroment. In this regard building a home stereo system is no different then what professional sound contractors do for concerts or for a custom installation in a home. So you must select the speaker first because it has to work with the room size and type of music you like to listen to. It is the speakers that determine your amplification needs. Amplification can never be selected without knowing what must be driven and to what levels as well as you headroom requirements.On the other hand I agree with John regarding the source. A good source will work well with any system with very few exceptions. This means that it's almost impossible to select a source that is too good. On the other hand you can select one that is of too poor quality. A poor quality source will or may prevent you from realizing the advantages of a quality system. John has been pushing a CDP with outboard DAC (benchmark). For $1500 to $2000 you can obtain a reliable transport and the benchmark. I did this recently and the improvement was substantial and real. A source of this quality, I use an HHb 850 and the benchmark and am very happy, while far from the "best" will take you a long long way down the path of upgrades. You never have to worry if your source is holding you back so you can basically disregard it for quite some time untill the rest of the system "catches up". In this regard spending a little more from the get go will remove a lot of questions later. So I agree with john that you can purchase the source first if you wish without regard for the rest of the system and it is worthwhile to hit it hard up front. You need to spend a hell of a lot of money on amplification before you source will be the week link with the above option. You can also get some very good speakers for $2000, I use magnapan 1.6qr. Again you will need to spend a hell of a lot of money on amplification before your speakers will be the week link.
So I quess what I am saying is that you should get the best source your can afford and the best speakers you can afford and an amplifier with plenty of power for your needs but you can cut costs here. It's not that amplifiers don't matter, they clearly do, but with limited funds, and the large cost of some amplifiers, they are a good area to leave for upgrades later and ofcourse first because you planed it this way.
A very nice system can be had for about $5,000. While this may be too much for a starter system I believe it is best to go heavy on speakers and source from the start, used amplification is a good bet because you know you will be upgrading, you can get your money back and you can get a very good value on this expensive component(s) with your remaining limited funds.
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Follow Ups
- agree and disagree.... - rrikola@hotmail.com 08:54:56 12/03/04 (4)
- W.A.S.T.E. - vocalion 10:45:14 12/03/04 (3)
- Re: W.A.S.T.E. - vocalion 13:51:54 12/04/04 (2)
- Re: W.A.S.T.E. - newbilong 01:53:31 12/05/04 (1)
- Re: - vocalion 12:34:37 12/05/04 (0)
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