OP,
You didn't mention a price range, that could certainly define any recommendations in the upgrade path. If the budget is $4,000, then a $2,000 DAC wouldn't be a good choice.
Question: What are some of your best pieces of advise to someone new to the hobby?
I have a friend who is interested in putting together a system and am putting together a little guide for him, compiling information I’ve found over the years, plus some of my own personal tips and tricks. However, I am by no means the end-all-be-all of knowledge and want to incorporate information, tips, and tricks from the community - however basic they may seem - into a nice reference resource.
Without specifically naming any pieces of gear or brands (this isn’t a product recommendation question), what are some of the biggest tips, tricks, important pieces of info to keep in mind, caveats, etc. that you would have for someone new?
*side note - hopefully this post can also serve as a nice reference point for people in the future, as well!
To spend what they are comfortable with but make sure they know that other than us audio-fools they can likely get 10 years out of their investment in listening - if they are careful to put together a system that isn’t strident sounding. |
Understand the recordings sound quality of either an analog or digital recording dictates the audio systems potential. Don’t believe loudspeakers are the most important system component, everything matters. A dedicated 20 amp power line or 2 depending on the complexity of your system should be the starting point. Room acoustics have equal importance but should be your last task as you dial in your system. Look for components that have a low noise floor and lack a "mechanical" sound characteristic, even some budget gear can achieve this. Don’t try to integrate a home theater system with your 2 channel system it will almost always degrade the SQ. Lastly know what your biases are and what you like, because there is not one unanimously perfect audio system.
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