Optimize or buy new gear..?
Recently had the experience of upgrading a single power cable in my system and it made enough of an improvement that I’m not in such a hurry to buy new speakers. Made me think about optimizing / trying to get the most out of your system by working on the interconnects, power cables, speaker cables before say giving up on the other pieces of your system. Wonder if others have had similar experiences?
I've upgraded components and then felt justified in spending more on cables. The cables have made a difference. I have not gone back and tried the old components with the new cables, but I have wondered about it. The new equipment was better than the old gear using the old cables, but I do wonder how the old gear would sound with good cablrs |
I always go through an upgrade sequence: components, positioning, interconnects and cables, power cords, enjoy for seven years of so.
The effect of wires can vary pretty widely. But I guess, in general, I'll get 80% of the sonic improvement from component changes... then 10% from wires and another 10% from positioning and acoustical treatments. You have to balance the likelyhood that you will do some component upgrades. If you think this is likely, do these first... then follow with wires. You want the wires optimized for the components you own.
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I’ve spent considerably more than 50% of the cost of my system on optimizing via better quality cabling, power supplies, power conditioning, grounding, etc. The SQ has improved enormously over time. I’m very satisfied with following this path My modest system can run with some of the big dogs that I hear at audio shows. Yet, there are several important caveats. 1) My primary components were long-term keepers from the start. They were well-respected by reviewers, the marketplace - and most importantly, by my ears. 2) Simply buying a new cable doesn’t mean that it will automatically improve the SQ. The challenge is trying to find the synergy between the components and cabling. For some reason, some cable designs just won’t work out. I spent around 5 years auditioning many, many cables and power conditioners. This means an investment of money and time. It requires ’an audio fund’ for buying and selling gear. It requires patience as a new cabling burns in. Allow at least two weeks for a used cable - a month for a new cable. 3) It requires the type of personality that enjoys fiddling and tweaking. After all, this is a hobby. A hobby should be fun. 4) Be prepared to be not impressed with each purchase. Or each new tweak, 5) Be prepared to take a loss on re-selling gear that doesn’t work out. 5) Upon enjoying this hobby for 20+ years, I think the most important place to start is with clean power. The archives for the AudiogoN discussion forums are filled with a wealth of knowledge. 6) Re: Optimizing vs Buying new gear. Buying new gear does not automatically mean better SQ. It could just be different. New components also need to synergize well with each other. This is where trustworthy dealers can help out. 7) And of course, the room itself is extremely important - as well as the speaker placement. Many, many variables. 8) Your level of expectations. Are you trying to reproduce the sound of real acoustic instruments? Singer/songwriters? Grunge rock? Electronica/trance? Head-banging? - - - - Good luck on your audio journey! |
I discovered the basic principle of minimal acoustic satisfaction level :
Upgrade the component to a good synergy level in relation to your budget... We must buy a minimally well designed system to begin with ...
Then forget all others upgrade proposition especially the costlier one... A---Begin to experiment with basic acoustics ( not only absorption-reflexion-diffusion but with Helmholtz resonators use) and psycho-acoustics concept ( crosstalk-crossfed mechanism etc ) ... B---- Experiment with vibrations control... C---- Experiment with electrical grid optimization and EMI control etc D---- read about unusual "tweaks " for example Schumann generator but only after you had taken the stage A-B-C very seriously ...
Why this road is the only one ?
Because any evaluation of gear acoustic potential effects had no value nor meaning in a speakers/ room which is not under your control, you cannot know the acoustic quality level of your experience in a non controlled system... Period... Any other road is consumers programming by upgrade according to taste (subjectivists) or according to specs measures (objectivist)... But these upgrades by taste or measured specs made no sense or are illusory in a non controlled system , mechanically, electrically and acoustically ... Because in a non controlled room with a non controlled system , there is no way for you to know the real potential S.Q level of your actual gear or the upgrade one, even if the upgrade is really a good choice ...This last fact induce people to be satisfied with no acoustic control of their room because their system satisfy them but they will ignore the the true quality level in an optimized speakers/room...
When this is done you are so happy you read no more publicity about audio, you listen music in ectasy and you pity most people with very costly system instead of envy or jealousy... Why ? Because even if my low cost system can be upgraded with a better one for sure (and i know with what and how) i am so proud of my actual S.Q. with a 1000 bucks system done right that i will not buy anything else just to prove that hi-fi satisfying experience cost nothing if we understand what to do ... I learn it alone almost because most threads promote costlier upgrades nothing else... I promote acoustics experiments ...
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