Reading the other thread "source first" made me think of another related question. What equipment has the best ROI as you climb the cost curve?
I know each one of us will have a different answer to this. So instead of a food fight, let's have a fun exchange of what everyone thinks. I will go first. Be nice to me.
Format is the category, followed by grade A through F. "A" means the curve is good meaning you spend more, you will likely get more. "F" means you spend a ton of money more and you might get a little or nothing.
Assume the baseline is a mass market stereo and we go up from there to get more performance. Baseline price: $1,500 for a stereo system.
1. Digital transport: C or D
2. Analog transport: not qualified to say.
3. DAC: C
4. Preamp: Don't know . Perhaps C.
5. Amp: B for the mere reason that spending more will surely get you more power at least if not refinement
6. Speakers: B, maybe A
7. Room treatment/Room EQ: B, maybe A
8. Wires: C or D
9. Power Conditioning: ???
10. Racks, etc: ???
11. Headphones: B
Boy, this is harder than I thought!!! I might have to change some of my answers later.
I know each one of us will have a different answer to this. So instead of a food fight, let's have a fun exchange of what everyone thinks. I will go first. Be nice to me.
Format is the category, followed by grade A through F. "A" means the curve is good meaning you spend more, you will likely get more. "F" means you spend a ton of money more and you might get a little or nothing.
Assume the baseline is a mass market stereo and we go up from there to get more performance. Baseline price: $1,500 for a stereo system.
1. Digital transport: C or D
2. Analog transport: not qualified to say.
3. DAC: C
4. Preamp: Don't know . Perhaps C.
5. Amp: B for the mere reason that spending more will surely get you more power at least if not refinement
6. Speakers: B, maybe A
7. Room treatment/Room EQ: B, maybe A
8. Wires: C or D
9. Power Conditioning: ???
10. Racks, etc: ???
11. Headphones: B
Boy, this is harder than I thought!!! I might have to change some of my answers later.