Garbage in - Garbage out?

There is no doubt that speakers are an exceedingly important part of the equation. However, I would disagree as to the "digital is digital" argument. I've heard numerous instances where a much better source (e.g., a CD player with great power supply, etc.) has made a world of difference in the sound of the system. Very good speakers can only reflect what is being put through them and they will not make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. However, it is axiomatic that good electronics feeding good speakers will produce a better sound. So, in essence, the "garbage in, garbage out" theory has some validity.

When we tested and set up turntables in the Toronto shop I worked in, back in 1974, it was always easy to tell the difference between units--even through the 6-watt ss amp and minispeakers with the woven raffia grilles which we used to listen with. We mostly did Garrards, Connoisseur BD2s and some ERAs although we never refused even a BSR, but when an Ariston came in everyone could hear how good it was compared with the rest. This was before any of us had heard an LP12.

Perhaps this experience is no longer valid in the digital age, but when I've been asked what to buy now by someone whose dreams were bigger than his wallet, I've always said to get the best source you can now, and upgrade your downstream stuff later on. You will have more pleasure over the long term, because you will spend more time with your system than you would if you bought a cheaper source and better speakers to hear it through.

Perhaps different contexts--digital, or a system which is already well into the high end, or greater knowledge and experience--may make this advice inappropriate. But when the format wars are won, many of us will need a source upgrade. Would anyone care to say now that SACD will be what we all buy ?

There is really no other way to evaluate what effect the other system components have on the sound without the speakers. The system is built around the speakers for the most part. In the end you are matching to the speakers, more than solely evaluating the other gear.

It would be like evaluating a DVD player for movies without a Video monitor. Using good speaker matters as well. You would not use an old Black & White TV for the DVD demo.

Speaker sets the tone and color of the sound, and it is limited by how low it can go usually. Good sources are to have a refined high, show off dynamic as much as possible, and give out good signal/noise ratio. Amplification is taking the signal from source and push speaker honestly to express its tone. Sources and amp can only tune the speaker a little but still the color of the sound is determined majorly by speakers. You can't push sonus faber to sound like Martin Logan no matter what sources or amp you use, IMO, speaker carry the "color" of the sound.

Depending on what is missing to your ear, you fix that part. Gargage can come in from source, or amp, or your speaker.

That is a great post Albertporter!!!
I 100% agree, and have stated that whenever I listen to a system, I always remember that I am listening to the WHOLE system. Not just the speaker, not just the source, but EVERYTHING from the AC in the wall to the speakers.

Unless you are REALLY familiar with a system it is not really possible to judge any one component of a system (except speakers in a general sense), when listening to any given system (unless you have a lot of time to swap out components and really critical listen to differences, this is the way to get a handle of component sound.)

A wise man once told me that the most important components of an audio system are the turntable cartridge and the speakers because they are the only two components that transform one kind of energy into another. I agree, with the caveat that everything else in the chain of system components can impact the sound along the way.

KF