Best Stereo Upgrade Value

The preamp has been the single most important performance jump. A top DAC the second. Those changes allowed me to maximize performance of the rest of the system.

Getting into this great hobby only a few years ago I went for end game right out of the gate but I would say speakers as well. Happy listening!

Source without a doubt. BUT all others add to the SQ. Without a source you don’t start with the tone of the instruments such as violin, stand-up bass, piano and sax. Those all have a unique sound that the other components cannot compensate for in our opinion as audio manufacturers of each of these components.

Preamp. Compared a 6SN7 based line stage to my 12AU7  based line stage. Put my 12AU7 based unit up for sale the next day. For me, it was all about synergy between components and the 6SN7 unit brought the system to that next level. Plus I learned that preamps have a huge impact on a system’s sound. Preamps are much, much more than a box to switch sources. 

Transducers in the listening chair can provide subtle low frequency vibration similar to Dolby theaters. Less than $100.00.