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High End System Building. How important is the matching, cabling and room? Thoughts ?

The last 20 years as an audiophile and now a dealer has taught me a very important lesson. Everything matters. The equipment can be great but no matter how much you spend the matching is very important. The cabling is also important. Some think cabling is all about making it sound better. I prefer my cabling to not get in the way. It’s like it can’t be a clogged faucet for your sound.  Materials and shielding are very important. In addition to that the room is very important. You may not have a perfect room but you build your system to work in the room you have. I don’t have all the answers but you can’t just spend money and have a great system. Combination of equipment, cabling and room has gotten me there. I’ve tried a lot of gear and cables and this is how I feel. What are your thoughts everyone? 

calvinj
tony1954's avatar
tony1954
1,121 posts
 

@patrickcarey 

"best advice I can see on your audiophile journey is to try some stuff make sure there are returns or at the very least if you buy it used that you'll be able to flip it and sell it to someone else if it doesn't work for you so you're not risking a ton of money. "

With an unexpected divorce, followed by an unexpected retirement and a suddenly "fixed" income, I use the same methodology. The key is having the patience to put the time in to research and locate what you want. And to get it for a price that allows you to flip it if need be.That being said, if I am sure about something, I don't mind buying new.

patrickcarey
23 posts
 

@tony1954, @ghdprentice


Glad to read you have a similar experience.  Your methodologies are good.  Great sound is certainly a measure of personal taste, and ongoing tuning over time. 

Everything is a component. All the interconnects and hardware as well as room acoustics. 

I'll be digging into some UNobtrusive acoustic treatments in my future.  Might have to move to have a dedicated sound room :)

 

 

 

retiredfarmer's avatar
retiredfarmer
354 posts
 

Another thing of huge importance  is the quality  of the recording. Or of the lp, cd, radio broadcase. 

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,889 posts
 

@calvinj 

As I’m sitting here reading all this, my mind wondered to room treatments.  Have you measured out the first reflection points on your front wall and ceiling?  I to have a doorway next to a speaker and it noticeably messes up the sound, but I covered up my fireplace and put a 2’x4’ absorbing panel above it and for the other side, I bought one of those cheap folding walls and tossed a comforter over it. I have to take it down when company comes, but that’s easy enough. The only thing I haven’t been given permission for, is to put panels on the ceiling,  but I’m thinking you might have to really consider it. Oh, and those smaller corner bass traps, do help a bit. ( but once again, they were not wife approved here.)

All the best.

immatthewj
2,254 posts
 

I am also going to say that in my small untreated flawed room with the speakers and front end that I now have on board, what I now hear that makes the biggest difference in SQ is due to the quality of the source material.

Another thing of huge importance  is the quality  of the recording. Or of the lp, cd, radio broadcase. 

"Garbage in, garbage out"?

 

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