Componets first, cables second?

Peter,

Here is a contrarian or minority view.

If cables (a piece of wire) makes a large difference then I would definitely be concerned about the equipment. From my perspective, good and well matched gear should have robust power supplies and high quality interfaces which do NOT change significantly (audibly) with a power conditioner, "better" interconnect or cable.

It is best to avoid finicky equipment that changes response due to the slightest changes in cabling or which has an inadequate built-in power supply. The same could be said for equipment that changes response with time (warm-up or extensive break-ins lasting monnths). I use a power conditioner but I know that it is actually only one item in my setup that seems to require it; since power conditioning could be built in to this component's power supply, I can only surmise that this item is slightly deficient in its power supply build/design.

I guess my criteria for what constitutes good audio gear includes a "robustness" or "consistency" factor. Gear that can sound excellent but which lacks consistency and requires inordinate fiddling (cables/interocnnetcs/warm-up/break-in etc.) to keep sounding excellent is definitely not my thing. I know I am a tiny minority here on these forums who think this way....just two cents as usual.

When you maximize the components,when the time comes to buy cabling it will be easier to decide on them.Synergistic matching of a cable to a bright or dull component generally means that both will need the upgrade at the same time.If you are able to pull as much information from the CD/LP,then the cables will fall in or you will consider a different brand.
Much like assembling a phono set-up.Cart 1st-if the information doesn't get out of the groove,the rest really doesn't matter.Then the arm and its'wiring-transmission of the cartridges' signal and resonance control/damping.Table 3rd,as the arm and cart can be taken off and installed on another,when expendable finances or dissatifaction have occurred.

Shadhorne, I hear you there and although I am not familiar with most of the forums here, I'd say you are not in the minority of my way of think at least. I have chosen components indeed because they do have massive power supplies. Whether they condition the power or not, I cannot rightly say. But I am like you, I do not want fussy components whose sound will change substantially with the addition of a cable. I agree there.

Tpsonic-great analogy to the analogue world. That puts it in perfect perspective for me. Thanks

I'll take a different road to Shadorne's comments. I too have chosen components with serious power supply designs: CAT JL-3 amps, Aesthetix Io and Callisto and APL Denon CDP with the NWO linear power supplies. Pop the hood on any of these components and it's ALL about the power supply. And yet these products respond significantly to interconnect and power cable changes.

The many people that repeatedly claim that cables do not make a difference or that if a component is chosen with robust power supplies, cables should not make a difference, clearly have not heard a system where such cables do make a difference. With all due respect, I can see how this would be the view for a system with $30k in speakers and $200-500 digital source components. Such priorities and philosophies are very different than mine.

If cables (a piece of wire) makes a large difference then I would definitely be concerned about the equipment.

Interesting. At this point from my experience, if cabling does NOT make a large difference, I would be concerned about the resolving capability of the equipment. I am not talking about one budget cable from Audioquest vs. a budget cable of Monster. I am talking about the top tiered cables from Purist, Jade, Stealth, Kubala-Sosna, Dream State, etc.

I do not think it is an issue of avoiding fussy components that respond to cable changes. I think such comments are due to the fact that the current system implementation lacks the resolution to allow for refined cable designs to be heard and appreciated. Let's not confuse fussy with resolving and refined.

Cables are not simply wire. Silver, copper, gold, etc., all contribute to very different tonality. And the implementation of the cable designs very much influences the spatial characteristics of the performance. Far too many systems out there fail miserably in this latter area. For such systems, only cable tonality differences will be heard. But for other systems, the differences in other sonic areas will be dramatic.

I'm with Jmcgrogan2 on this one. It's all about balance. As each link is refined, it exposes the next link as the weakest....sometimes it is a cable, other times it is a component. But to continually update components and stay with "average-joe" cabling will result in serious sonic compromise.

John

whatever will get you closer to your sonic preferences is the best course of action. thus, if you are considering a cd player and/or cable purchase, audition as many combinations within your budget. there is no best cable and there is no best cd player.

if you can't audition components before buying, it's a crap shoot.