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System building; a meditation

System building; a meditation

This is an offshoot of a posting I made in a different thread; that is, what is one’s approach to building a system out of various components that maximizes the sonic attributes of the combination of particular components?There’s been some push-back on “tweaks” but leave that to the side for now. How does one select what components to include in a system, putting to one side budgetary constraints? (the budget thing can be solved in several ways, including through used and through a deliberate strategy to acquire certain components over time that achieve a certain result- my point being, if it weren’t simply a constraint of capital, how does one choose?)

There seem to be a few rules that we abide by- the relationship of amp to speaker being fundamental. The choice of front end –from DIY digital to high end analog is also a choice, but I’ll be agnostic in this regard even though I came up through the LP and still regard it as the mainstream medium of choice, simply because of the wealth of material in older records.

How do people choose the combinations of equipment they employ? Is it happenstance, the gradual upgrading of each component to a high standard or some other benchmark for what the system is supposed to do that necessitates certain choices?

For what it is worth, I don’t endorse one single approach; I went from electrostat listening (including ribbon tweets and subs) to horns, sort of (Avantgardes plus subs) and SET as one choice, but have heard marvelous systems using larger, relatively inefficient dynamic set ups (Magico; Rockport, TG, etc.) combined with big solid state power that left a very positive impression.

How do you sort through the thicket? It isn’t just specs, and listening within your system to evaluate is an ideal, but I’m opening this up to system building in general—what approach do you take? I’m not sure there is a single formala, but thought it worth exploring since it seems to be an undercurrent in a lot of equipment changes without addressing the “why?” of it or how one makes these choices.

I know that we are mired in a subjective hobby, and almost every system is different, even if the components are the same in a different room, but thought this might be an interesting topic for discussion. If not, the lack of responses will prove me wrong. I don’t have a single answer to this FWIW.


128x128whart
holmz's avatar
holmz
2,328 posts
 
“I really like those..." (...pointing @ the small Maggies'...).
She says that my 2Cs are, “Well at least not as ugly as (my friend) MIke’s monstrosities (Maggies).”

She has had some Ricther bookshelf ported 2 ways for ~30 years, which do not sound bad, and a NAD integrated amp. It’s pretty good for what it is. The wood looking vinyl looking cover falling off them detracts from their beauty IMO.

She knows that her speakers are better, because with mine she cannot even hear the speakers, just the music. ;)

holmz, when the SO enjoys what her prefs are to having a strong opinion as to What to listen to it On....*!*
  • “On” a low volume ;) or… with no music playing.
  • Or… “On” the same content as the picture on the screen.

  • With music, she prefers to have me queue up the Turntable.
  • She always goes for iPad, because it is not complicated. And it is always low background furniture music (in Satie’s terms).

  • And in the car, she normally “Mans” the iPad into the BT… mostly so that I do not choose albums that she doesn’t care for. (Or podcasts that she doesn’t abide.)
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
"I do find it interesting that it does seem as though not a single person has a system that matches somebody else’s. In a sense our hobby is a very powerful expression of individualism"
+1 @pauly,

High End audio offers those who love and genuinely appreciate music to assemble an audio system that is essentially a reflection of themselves. So it is an endeavor profoundly individualistic by default.

This is why I came to the recognition long ago that absolute best does not exist for any type of an audio product. Rather, relative best is obtainable based on
the specific taste and objectives of the individual in question. There are a myriad of paths to get you to your unique and desired destination. @whart, excellent topic choice. 
Charles
daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1
570 posts
 
I see folks who have nice systems but a compromised room. They know it but for one reason or another that’s the way it is.

This time around, I started with money being the first consideration, then research, then room, then speakers. I have been lucky because I feel I got most of my stuff at a very nice price giving me bang for the buck.

Not having local stores does make this difficult in one way. But back in the old days, when you walked into a store you only knew what they had, no ads or discussions on the internet to know what is available. Now the choices are almost endless. I am not sure listening to components in the store helps that much.  I appreciate all the folks who have studied this and helped me learn all the different directions you can go with this hobby.
dcevans
180 posts
 
Great thread Bill!
Mike— where might I find the article you wrote that Patrick referenced?
I don’t think I can contribute much beyond what has been posted above. I do think we have come to realize that the room is probably the most important single component in the sound we hear, and reaching the audio nirvana we all seek. Our ears and tastes are also key I think.
I built a system 12 years ago rather quickly when I finally had the funds after getting a signing bonus, and I was like a kid in a candy store. Seemingly 2-3 years of truly obsessive research (reviews of equipment, how to best allocate funds for each component of the system, but not room acoustics/treatments) went out the window. I bought used Audio Research equipment (Ref3 pre, 100.2 amp, PH-7 phono) listed on Audiogon as being huge bang for the buck, and knowing it could be serviced. Got a smoking deal on some Focal Electra 1007Be standmounts through Music Direct, guided in large part by Robert Harley’s suggestion that investing in a quality 2 way offered the best bang for the buck. The speakers ended up being about 10-15% of my system’s cost, not what is generally advised. Thankfully there was great synergy, and I got a very musical system. I am fortunate in that I do not hear time and phase.
dcevans
180 posts
 
I lost a substantial amount of hearing in one ear about 3 years after spending roughly 30K on my system, due to a cholesteatoma.
I now value immediacy and dynamics, to help feel the music and stir the emotive part of the listening experience perhaps. To that end, I gravitate toward high efficiency speakers. It seems that musicians and those with better hearing value natural tone and timbre first and foremost, but that may be a sweeping generalization on my part
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