[mikeg88]

So I've been pondering this for a while now...
I'm sort of 6 months into "non-noob audio" (ie I'm not financially or time equipped to go full audiophile).
My question is, what matters?
For the layperson, spending money on headphones = better sound.
But we all know this is a small fraction of the truth.
So the following is the approximate list (in order) of what ultimately results in a good listening experience (and I think most of us know what good sounds like):

1. Good recording (ie mic's well placed, good environment etc.)

2. Good mixing (ie the dude behind the mixer had a good ear and made the right calls)

3. Good storage media - Digital or analog (allows high fidelity)

4. Good playback of that medium (ie CD player, hard drive or Turntable)

5. Good DAC

6. Good amplification

7. Good cables, interconnects, soldered connections, etc. (insert rant about minimalism here)

8. Well-designed headphones

9. Properly worn headphones/Good listening environment

Feel free to tear my list apart if I forgot something...

Cheers

 

[Tyll Hertsens]

It's a good list, but you'd be way better of posting it in the main headphone forum. A lot's been said about it already, too. Much of revolving around which is more important: headphones; amp; or source.

I think your list is a good start for a thread, though some may whine about it being an old question, you may want to search around a bit first.

 

[mikeg88]

Fair enough - But the current archives are a bit overwhelming.
I'm guessing most of the regular posters have been around since the beginning.
Thanks for the response.