High End System Building. How important is the matching, cabling and room? Thoughts ?

@calvinj , I am also going to say that in my small untreated flawed room with the speakers and front end that I now have on board, what I now hear that makes the biggest difference in SQ is due to the quality of the source material. I am (for good or for ill) all digital, and I am not just referring to my taste in music. I am not a huge jazz fan, but over the past couple of years I have been trying, and although it is not my favorite genre, some of the jazz SACDs I have bought over the last few years have some of the best sonic quality ("more musical", ha ha) in my collection. And then there are CDs in my collection from genres that I really like and those from genres that I used to really like that have the nails-on-a-chalk-board-effect on me. I have SACDs that are nothing special in SQ as well . . . on the other hand I have red-book stuff that I am totally blown away by, and I assume it is my front end (most specifically the SACDP) interacting with a "well" recorded mixed and mastered disc.

Which leads me to conclude that the very front of the system MIGHT be the most important link in the entire chain. But since I know that is an invitation to pushback, I am going to qualify that by saying that I am only speculating as a mostly satisfied and not disgruntled consumer who loves the sound of his system in a small bad room when it (the system) is getting things right.

@mahgister i am. Not doing anything behind your back at all. Look I respect your opinion. I just strongly disagree with it. I understand how you strongly feel. I’m not mad at you and I’m not offended by you disagreeing with me. I strongly disagree with your position but please don’t take it personal. I respect how professionally you have responded. But I disagree with you. Don’t think I hate you as a person or that I’m sneak dissing you behind your back. It’s Audiogon you will see what I post. Look we have debated this topic on and on. You have wrote long answers and explained your position. Yes the room can help you some. But not as much as you probably think in my eyes. I respect your ideas and arguments in your position. But I’m not talking behind your back. It’s Audiogon. You will see my response like you are seeing it now. Just don’t take it that personal. You are a smart thoughtful guy. Continue to engage on this thread or any others. But the more you respond the stronger I feel about my own position. Based on those responses. It’s ok to disagree and still be ok with each other. Always feel free to respond on my threads.

@mahgister you are talking to someone who works in audio where I used to be just an hobbyist. I know the work, build quality, research and design elements that go into products and why at this point. It should not surprise you that based on that that I would disagree with you about how much the room affects the sound.  It affects it some but it’s not gonna make average equipment compete with the best of the best. Sorry that’s as direct as I can be. 

I would disagree with you about how much the room affects the sound. It affects it some but it’s not gonna make average equipment compete with the best of the best. Sorry that’s as direct as I can be.

 

I am tired by your misreading but i thank you for your invitation to post...

You seems a very good person to me then ... I want that to be clear...

Now i will clarify something you MISREAD about my experience...

No room acoustic will correct a bad design or compensate for it or replace gear choices...

IS IT CLEAR? ...

But on the other hand No high end speakers and system can perform at their PEAK POTENTIAL in a bad room ...

Is it clear ?

And any low cost system will improve a lot with room acoustic controls BUT WILL NOT EXCEED THE POTENTIAL OF A HIGH END SYSTEM for sure ...

Is it clear ?

Now we can have a low cost systen that give a relatively good " audiophile"  experience if we work with not only acoustic but with electrical noise floor control and vibration/resonancve control...

I call it the minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold ...

Is it clear ?

Then in no way a low cost system giving a minimal acoustical satisfaction threshold because of acoustic and electrical and mechanical control well done, in no way such system will rival some very high end system... The only exception may be high end system in bad room ...

is it clear ?

 

In a word claiming as you do that high end system exist and are better than low cost one , is a common place fact known by everyone even me ... What i said dont contradict that... But you dont seems to understand what i said ...

Psychoacoustics rule the gear not the price tag...

 

 

I thank you even if we differ because you are a gentleman ...

My deepest respect ...

 

 

@mahgister thanks for the clarification.  Respect my friend.