HBen
500+ Head-Fier
What comes out at the end is the sum of all the pieces before it. System synergy plays a very big role, as do personal preferences, individual hearing etc.
Taking all individual/personal aspects out of the equation you end up with this:
The two pieces that have the biggest effect are the two ends of the chain: 1) The quality of the original recording and 2) the headphone or speaker.
Everything in the middle (amp, dac, etc.) plays some role as well as it affects the way the recording is transferred to the headphones. Amplifier and DAC do have a significant effect, especially on system synergy. Better amps and dacs matter more the better your headphones get.
In the end there is no way around trying out different equipment and finding a chain that fits your personal preferences.
Cheers an all the best on your journey
Taking all individual/personal aspects out of the equation you end up with this:
The two pieces that have the biggest effect are the two ends of the chain: 1) The quality of the original recording and 2) the headphone or speaker.
Everything in the middle (amp, dac, etc.) plays some role as well as it affects the way the recording is transferred to the headphones. Amplifier and DAC do have a significant effect, especially on system synergy. Better amps and dacs matter more the better your headphones get.
In the end there is no way around trying out different equipment and finding a chain that fits your personal preferences.
Cheers an all the best on your journey
