Steven31
AKA SonyFan121, Audio Aficionado, Audioholic123, JVC steven, and others
@HipHopScribe why don't you apply some science to your response and attempt to dispute me politely?!
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How much does each component affect sound?
- Thread starter Pansbjorne
- Start date
silent-circuit
Headphoneus Supremus
... And yet many have already agreed with me.
PhonoPhi
Headphoneus Supremus
Oh, here we go again!
Finally, there was a strong consensus that cables are rightly at zero in relative significance, but for some it needed some immediate emotional (for the total lack of any factuals) interjection....
Cables should be exactly near zero - they are just interconnectors.
If cables matter - then there are the problems with source-transducer matching, notoriously the case for low-impedance all-BAs. Like if you are driving a car, and your weight starts to matter - it is not a right match. Then you should think of a different car. Similarly, if cables matter - get a different source.
Finally, why are we here again with all these discussions?
Evidently, because "expensive" cables are one of the most profitable components of the business in this hobby, so there are many people ready to jump in to protect their livelihood, or "credibility", or ego (like 123...)
Jumping in and fuming, and getting the thread close may create an illusion of "controversy", and it constitutes a deliberate attempt to bully people "not to start it again".
But loud and clear, there is no controversy, expensive cables are BS (no facts otherwise), so it is the case where the obnoxious take advantage of the ignorant.
Steven31
AKA SonyFan121, Audio Aficionado, Audioholic123, JVC steven, and others
Deleted.
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Whazzzup
Headphoneus Supremus
I have come to a completely different orbit of sound priorities.
1) music server
2) hp
3) dac
4) amp
5) cables/ interconnects, USB
it all matters but the most investments should be in the server, don’t give me the Pi is just as good story. Even though it’s the fondant cables matter a lot , IMO
1) music server
2) hp
3) dac
4) amp
5) cables/ interconnects, USB
it all matters but the most investments should be in the server, don’t give me the Pi is just as good story. Even though it’s the fondant cables matter a lot , IMO
HBen
500+ Head-Fier
What's important to keep in mind is that the recommended/sensible ratio changes a lot depending on the budget:
If you were about to spend less than 500$ I'd spend 100% of that on headphones and just plug them into whatever source you have already.
If you had a budget of 1000-2000$ I'd spend 70% of that on the headphones and 30% on a DAP or DAC/AMP combo.
If you have a budget of 5000-10000$ I'd spend around 50% of that on headphones and around 25% or Amp and DAC each.
If you have a budget of 20000$ I'd spend around 25% of that on headphones around 25% on an Amp and 50% on the DAC/Streamer.
If you have a budget of 60000$ you are lucky enough to not have to worry about this question any more - since Sennheiser already solved this problem for you by creating the HE1.
You get the point
If you were about to spend less than 500$ I'd spend 100% of that on headphones and just plug them into whatever source you have already.
If you had a budget of 1000-2000$ I'd spend 70% of that on the headphones and 30% on a DAP or DAC/AMP combo.
If you have a budget of 5000-10000$ I'd spend around 50% of that on headphones and around 25% or Amp and DAC each.
If you have a budget of 20000$ I'd spend around 25% of that on headphones around 25% on an Amp and 50% on the DAC/Streamer.
If you have a budget of 60000$ you are lucky enough to not have to worry about this question any more - since Sennheiser already solved this problem for you by creating the HE1.
You get the point
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Oh yea, I've noticed amps and dac's seem to have a much higher price ceiling, so I guess this makes a lot of senseWhat's important to keep in mind is that the recommended/sensible ratio changes a lot depending on the budget:
If you were about to spend less than 500$ I'd spend 100% of that on headphones and just plug them into whatever source you have already.
If you had a budget of 1000-2000$ I'd spend 70% of that on the headphones and 30% on a DAP or DAC/AMP combo.
If you have a budget of 5000-10000$ I'd spend around 50% of that on headphones and around 25% or Amp and DAC each.
If you have a budget of 20000$ I'd spend around 25% of that on headphones around 25% on an Amp and 50% on the DAC/Streamer.
If you have a budget of 60000$ you are lucky enough to not have to worry about this question any more - since Sennheiser already solved this problem for you by creating the HE1.
You get the point
JS27
100+ Head-Fier
This is something of 'cheat' to the question, but how I'd best answer it. "What components would influence, to what immediate degree, a clear impact to sound":
Headphones -> Highest Impact. Greatest overall impact to what you hear, no matter the $ level.
Amp -> Medium to High Impact (depending on selection)
DAC -> Low to Medium Impact (depending on selection)
Interconnect/Cables -> Low to ?
Question for folks...and it seems a non-trivial #....who rate a DAC as having very nominal impact but also list using multi-thousand DAC's in their chain. Why spend big bucks on a Rockna or Holo (or beyond) if your thought is overall impact is a '1'? I would think folks of that mindset would be buying a $100-$200 modern DS and calling it a day. And please read this in a genuinely curious 'voice' (not challenging)....whatever floats someone's boat is A-OK by me. As I read that, it strikes me like saying...."Look folks, spend what you want....but all a car is is four-wheels to get you to what is important in life. Period. Oh, my personal car? I drive a Bentley W12 Flying Spur."
For me....switching between a couple $200 DS DACs...a Bifrost....a Soekris 2541....a new Holo Spring 3 KTE (and a bunch others before that)..... as I move up that line the DAC's impact is readily apparent in the presentation of what I'm listening to (hence my take above).
Headphones -> Highest Impact. Greatest overall impact to what you hear, no matter the $ level.
Amp -> Medium to High Impact (depending on selection)
DAC -> Low to Medium Impact (depending on selection)
Interconnect/Cables -> Low to ?
Question for folks...and it seems a non-trivial #....who rate a DAC as having very nominal impact but also list using multi-thousand DAC's in their chain. Why spend big bucks on a Rockna or Holo (or beyond) if your thought is overall impact is a '1'? I would think folks of that mindset would be buying a $100-$200 modern DS and calling it a day. And please read this in a genuinely curious 'voice' (not challenging)....whatever floats someone's boat is A-OK by me. As I read that, it strikes me like saying...."Look folks, spend what you want....but all a car is is four-wheels to get you to what is important in life. Period. Oh, my personal car? I drive a Bentley W12 Flying Spur."
For me....switching between a couple $200 DS DACs...a Bifrost....a Soekris 2541....a new Holo Spring 3 KTE (and a bunch others before that)..... as I move up that line the DAC's impact is readily apparent in the presentation of what I'm listening to (hence my take above).
nonsense.
Lol
I read that so much and i wonder why i don't experience it like that. If i have a have a great setup with a great headphone i usually prefer the 192 khz super duper mastered track as well as the 320 kbits spotify radio track over the same tracks played from a worse setup. In some occasions like spotify edm i prefer a mainstream tuned medium detailed headphone like the Ananda okay but i can't really say it sounds worse with Utopia or Susvara.
That would make sense if price would indicate something about performance but since there are 500€ dacs and amps that are superior to 5000€ dacs and amps it's pretty hard to say it that way.What's important to keep in mind is that the recommended/sensible ratio changes a lot depending on the budget:
If you were about to spend less than 500$ I'd spend 100% of that on headphones and just plug them into whatever source you have already.
If you had a budget of 1000-2000$ I'd spend 70% of that on the headphones and 30% on a DAP or DAC/AMP combo.
If you have a budget of 5000-10000$ I'd spend around 50% of that on headphones and around 25% or Amp and DAC each.
If you have a budget of 20000$ I'd spend around 25% of that on headphones around 25% on an Amp and 50% on the DAC/Streamer.
If you have a budget of 60000$ you are lucky enough to not have to worry about this question any more - since Sennheiser already solved this problem for you by creating the HE1.
You get the point
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damadaka
Head-Fier
Headphones: 6/10
Amplifier: 3/10
Dac: 1/10
That’s my breakdown, but every headphone is different haha
Amplifier: 3/10
Dac: 1/10
That’s my breakdown, but every headphone is different haha
For the most part basic rule of thumb is Headphone,Amp then Dac and that basically holds somewhat true. I don’t like ratios or percentages in such a personal and subjective thing.
I spent more for my Dac than any of my amps and more than most of my Headphone’s a Schiit Yggdrasil. I had heard it several times at meets with many different amps and the same amps from other Dac’s and for me personally it was what I wanted.
For the most part you are going to get a bigger difference from a headphone than a amp or dac.
I spent more for my Dac than any of my amps and more than most of my Headphone’s a Schiit Yggdrasil. I had heard it several times at meets with many different amps and the same amps from other Dac’s and for me personally it was what I wanted.
For the most part you are going to get a bigger difference from a headphone than a amp or dac.
Steven31
AKA SonyFan121, Audio Aficionado, Audioholic123, JVC steven, and others
ThanatosVI
Headphoneus Supremus
So headphones, Amplifiers and DACs have no impact at all?
That's surprising to say the least
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