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What Component (To You) Has The Biggest Impact On The Sound Of A System? - Page 3

post #31 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:19am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sherwood View Post
So, in your opinion, how much should someone save up for a source before they buy a pair of headphones to go with it? Do all headphones merit a reference level source?
You should start off with headphones, then build a system. The system you have shouldnt necciscarily be built around the headphone, but built around what you want in the future. Once you have a system, you buy more headphones that work with it.
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post #32 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:23am
MY CDS EVERY CD I PUT IN I GET DIFFERENT SOUNDS COMING OUT OF THE SYSTEM ULTIMATE TWEAK EVAR
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post #33 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:25am
98% headphone
1% amp
1% source

IMO.
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post #34 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:27am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shunyata View Post
MY CDS EVERY CD I PUT IN I GET DIFFERENT SOUNDS COMING OUT OF THE SYSTEM ULTIMATE TWEAK EVAR
lmao.

I'm not sure if recording should be part of this.
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post #35 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:30am
I have two sets of phones that are considerably different from each other and these two set the tone and are the foundation of my system. I will then build a system that goes best with these two sets, but then will add additional phones for other purposes within the framework of the developing total system.

....in a chaotically systematic way.
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post #36 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:37am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Azure View Post
1. Headphones
2. Source
3. Amp
4. Cables

Well maybe

1. Amp
2. Headphones
3. Source
4. Cables

If your amp arrives DOA.
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post #37 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:38am
Quote:
Originally Posted by PiccoloNamek View Post
98% headphone
1% amp
1% source

IMO.
Wow, wow, wow!
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post #38 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:43am
I'd say no component is more important. What really counts is synergy, how well your components match eachother, how the system sounds as a whole. It is perfectly possible to construct a system containing only state of the art components that sounds crap!

Or as the old saying goes, it's not the size that matters, it's what you do with it!
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post #39 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:51am
I'm assuming the meaning of "source" is probably mixed here, between machine and recording, so I'll qualify: the quality of the recording.

You can't hear things that don't exist on the recording, and I'm discovering that a lot of recordings (far, far too many!) are super-poor, and level out the differences in my equipment considerably.

Assuming a good recording, I'll vote for the phones, followed by amp synergy (as opposed to overall amp reputation and quality).
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post #40 of 131
7/31/07 at 10:55am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mdarnton View Post
I'm assuming the meaning of "source" is probably mixed here, between machine and recording, so I'll qualify: the quality of the recording.

You can't hear things that don't exist on the recording, and I'm discovering that a lot of recordings (far, far too many!) are super-poor, and level out the differences in my equipment considerably.

Assuming a good recording, I'll vote for the phones, followed by amp synergy (as opposed to overall amp reputation and quality).
But if you do not have a good source to reveal such records, you will never hear what it is. Source 1st in that case.
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post #41 of 131
7/31/07 at 11:28am
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rise To The Top View Post
But if you do not have a good source to reveal such records, you will never hear what it is. Source 1st in that case.

Even compressed mp3s on my iPod get revealed rather obviously as bad recordings if they're bad recordings. Since that happens, are you suggesting that compressed mp3s on an iPod are a good source, then?
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post #42 of 131
7/31/07 at 11:34am
I think the quality of the speakers in the headphone have the most to do. Also the amp, but that might be more of a condition part, if its still good or not.
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post #43 of 131
7/31/07 at 11:52am
Quote:
Originally Posted by granodemostasa View Post
On the sound sig:

1. Headphones
2. Amp
3. Source
4. cables

On the Sound quality

1. Source
2. Amp
3. Headphones
4. cables.
Agreed. While tranducers have most impact on sound signature, sources are responsible for most of the sound quality, in combination with an amplifier and proper cables.
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post #44 of 131
7/31/07 at 12:26pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rise To The Top View Post
Which component of a headphone rig has the biggest impact on sound? Is it the headphone, the amp, or the source? Or even cables (in Patrick's case). Discuss.
"Greatest impact on sound", is the question, if only one component is to be chosen.

I know I disliked the HD-580s & 650s driven by the Meier HeadFive with source being the SB3 and or the Sony ce595 SACDP... I found the k701s much preferable but still there was troubling treble energy, as well as the same with the DT-990s on the recordings of my preferred music of choice, Classic Rock... But still either preferred here to the Senns. So I could say changing the Headphones made a great impact in sound.

However, adding the MHDT Labs NOS DAC settled both their treble presentations to being highly desirable as well as other refinements to the presentation which I would say then had a great impact in the sound. Whereas, I was going to sell the 990s, to their becoming one my favorites. So in this case the source had a great impact in the sound.

So as you can see, the question becomes relevant as to where the system is to start with, as well as a host of other important qualifiers, as have been mentioned already. FWIW

1. The phone chosen will have the greatest impact in the sound heard, with important qualifiers to that statement. IMO
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post #45 of 131
7/31/07 at 12:28pm
I think every link in the chain, including the AC, is important, but if I had to choose where to focus first, I’d probably go with either the source or the headphones. The source makes sense, since it generates the signal, but the transducer is ultimately what produces the sound. Dunno. Can’t decide.
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