What component is responsible for dynamics ?


If one is looking to increase the dynamics of their system , what one component will offer the most beneficial change ?
saki70
They all contribute to different extents case by case. It depends on the specific system.

The component used with the worst dynamic range is teh bottleneck and is responsible for whatever dynamics you hear or not. Improve that piece with one that does dynamics better and your dynamics should improve the most.

In most cases, it might be either speaker, amp, pre-amp or source that is the bottleneck. With digital sources, nowadays I think most decent digital sources are less likely than the others to be the bottleneck. I think the same is true in general regarding ICs and speaker wires. With most decent ones, these are less likely to be the bottleneck in most cases.

Also, its not just the individual pieces but how they interface together in terms of impedance that also matters for best dynamics. Higher ratios of device input impedance to output impedance of the device feeding it will help assure that dynamics are retained at each step in the component chain.

A common mistake that often results in bad dynamics is using a high output impedance tube pre-amp with a lwoer input impedance SS amp not designed to work well with a tube pre-amp. or similarly, a tube output source device like a DAC used with a pre-amp with lower input impedance. Both together would be a double whammy in terms of dynamics. However, a combo like this might sound very good in other ways, ie not fatiguing, smooth, involving, etc.

Another is having small or underbuilt speakers that cannot handle dynamics sufficiently,

A third is having an amp that is underpowered or not capable of driving a good pair of speakers properly to to their maximum potential.
charlesdad1,

I understand.

If we are going down this road & i am forced to say something then high sensitivity speakers, probably horn loaded (over 100db/w), with the appropriate amp. Probably a 0 feedback amp with low damping factor is the easiest way & probably the answer the OP is after.

Massive power amps with low sensitivity speakers is a massive no no. I tried it for years...Won't end up with open free dynamics that way.
Chadeffect, with a lower sensitivity speaker you will end up with less noise at lower volume levels, and a much better chance at having a true time and phase coherent sound. I am still waiting for a high sensitivity speaker that can demonstrate the ability to pass anything resembling a square wave. The only thing a high sensitivity speaker does better is providing more ultimate volume in larger spaces with less power. Not something that most residential users tend to need concern themselves with.
Hi unsound,

You must have listened to some really old crap if you feel noise is an issue with high sensitivity.

I have tried numerous bits of kit on my 110db speakers & I have never heard a modern amp or whatever create any noise.

Funny you should mention phase as I am experimenting with something shortly. But I have had phase coherent speakers it's not that big a deal compared to the other gains IMHO.

If you really think horns are just some kind of PA used for filling large spaces, I guess some are & some are not. Mine can go loud but they have crushed everything else for inner detail, transparecy, involvement, dynamic freedom etc. No coloration & über speed. Electrostatic like but on steroids.

I have used just about every type of speaker design type & loved a few. But when I found spherical horns I was done. It had the best compromise.

Square wave is bogus & doesn't exist in music. But if it matters to you we can discuss it in another thread.