What does your Virtual System page say about you? 

I had to look to see how I had my stuff listed.  Neither source or speakers first.  Amp, preamp, streamer, speakers and the rest is the balance of components and cables. 

I guess I view the amp and preamp as the heart of the system.  My speakers are the most expensive item, but they were 4th. 

Not sure what that means, if anything. 

My 'virtual system' is stale (very stale!). But if I had a preferred methodology, it would be for listing the speakers 1st as the rest, i.e. electronics, serve the needs of the speakers and their set up. If I were to look at your system that is exactly what I would look at and judge the extent of your knowledge about audio stuff by. 

@newbee Doh! I didn't think about just listing my components, without pictures, as you did. That would solve my "too messy to photograph while moving too frequently" problem. Maybe I'll add a virtual system soon...

I also wonder if people who use multiple sources tend to be "speakers first" out of practicality, and sole-source people list "source first" more often... for space reasons, I gave up vinyl in favor of streaming (+ a CD transport for albums I have that are not available on streaming). But being 98% streaming, I'm biased toward creating my listing "source first"...

#2. Source first. As it should be.

I started source to speakers as that's the direction signal flows but as I added stuff later I just tacked it on at the end.

Mine stale as well, that probably speaks volumes as well.

Chaos theory….with some top quark spin

i am in the transducers matter most camp… and have been for 50 years…..

I guess mine is hodge podge. I listened them in order of what occurred to me. I think it simply mean I am not anal retentive. 

OP, Get out your phone and take a photo, post in the virtual system area. Takes only a minute. you can post a new photo with each change. It would be fun to watch. 

#2 Source first, where the signal to the rest of your system begins.
But whatever your system, it could be helpful to the rest of us for you to list it. If nothing more than for curiosity’s sake.
 

Mine says nothing which means I need to quit being lazy, take pictures, and actually add it to the site! Thinking through the original question I would start from source through speakers in the reproduction chain but to me my speakers, in my room, are the most critical. Well, other than the room itself.

I think I have speaker wires listed first, lol.

What does it mean? No idea.....maybe I'm just disorganized. 

OP, Get out your phone and take a photo, post in the virtual system area. Takes only a minute. you can post a new photo with each change. It would be fun to watch. 

@ghdprentice I will do so this weekend. Thanks for the push.

You are assuming all order is a conscious decision.  I had to go look.  I upgraded my speakers last and as a result, they ended up at the bottom below HT surround speakers and cables.  I'll fix that when I get a moment.

Mine are speakers first, amplifier, source and then everything else. It also turned out to be in descending order of cost with the exception of my audio rack and bass traps. I also took the time to add details for most of my components.

Anyone on here who doesn't have a virtual system should post one we all love audio porn and ogling others gear here!

Mine order is influenced by timing of system upgrades. I originally put it in order of stuff starting at the top of my rack going down then out😀

Net time I see some school kids hanging around outside my house, I'll grab one and have him help me post my system. Until then, I'll just keep on spinning records, something I understand.

Very surprised by these responses. I'd have thought that audiophiles were compulsive perfectionists who never do anything with their systems that they can't justify with elaborate arguments. 

For me, I list components in order of their importance for sound quality. Therefore, speakers first, then the room, then amplification, source, cables, etc. The "etc." includes silly tweaks (cable risers, Schumann Resonance Generators, and so on).

I do have a virtual system, by the way, with 25 pictures and a narrative of over 5,500 words. But I've long since closed it to general viewing.

I uploaded the images based on the serial numbers (in ascending order) of the particular component.

I originally had them in an alphabetical sequence, but that seemed slightly weird to me.

Hee. Hee.