The Biggest Bang for the Buck?

[MylesBAstor]

I've been thinking about lately what component in our system represents the biggest bang for the buck? After all, the system is only as good as the weakest link.

Based upon my most recent listening experiences, the answer is unquestionable attention to the power being delivered to our audio systems. (in contrast to just a few years ago where choosing a PC or PLC was choosing the lesser of two evils.) Certainly where one lives greatly impacts the final result but AC outlets, AC power cords, power line conditioners--and even for the most fortunate around us that own homes wall panels--can literally make or break the sound of a high-end audio system. While there is perhaps a bigger upfront cost to getting the AC quality under control than buying components, the benefit lasts with you no matter what piece of equipment you have in your system!

The benefits? Lower noise and less masking of information. More transparency. Instruments pop out of empty space and the edges of instruments are better defined. A greater sense of space. Hearing instruments you never heard before playing subtly in the background. Much better dynamics and less harshness (say depending up the quality and CONDITION of your AC receptacles). Everything just sounds more musical and less congested.

What say ya?

[Ki Choi]

Used LPs from the Half Price Book Store!
Mogami cables
Denon 103R variants
Otari MTR-15 and Sony APR 5000s

[Bruce B]

Room treatments......

[Ki Choi]

Room treatments......

If you would include the mega bucks you put into your studio... I am not so sure.

[allenh]

Biggest bang for the buck to me? Dialing in your speaker and listening positions. Before you buy any tweaks, room treatments, better gear, I say work on these two key dimensions. Will take lots of time to dial it in right, but will save you tons of $$ in the long run. After that, I think it's a toss up between clean power/signal paths and room treatments. Both offer great benefits.

[MylesBAstor]

Room treatments......

I know we get into the chicken or egg argument but how do you get your room Rx right if the system's sounds isn't optimized? In my experience, getting the AC right can be as significant as room treatment.

Fact is, everything counts. I changed the RCA connectors and IEC inlet plug on my tape preamp and the improvement was as significant as changing the heads. But if I hadn't changed the heads, maybe I wouldn't have appreciated the connector change as much. Yeah it's crazy.

[Douglas]

I'm re-starting my audio system after moving and retirement. Does anyone have a suggestion for the best turntable for the buck? I have been looking around at Denon, TEAC, Project and Music Hall. Can't afford VPI, or others in that price range. Please let me know what your experience indicates. Thanks in advance, douglas king

[Mortsnets]

I have a U-Turn Orbit Plus I enjoy (https://uturnaudio.com/),

The usual suspects are:
o Pro-ject http://www.tonepublications.com/anal...-latest-table/
o Music Hall
o Rega

Less mentioned are:

o Audio Technica AT-LP1240

http://positive-feedback.com/reviews/hardware-reviews/audio-technica-at-lp1240-usb-turntable/

o Pioneer PLX-500-W (Herb Reichert likes the big brother PLX-1000)

o Denon DP-300F

If you have a audio shop nearby that you like, see what they recommend and you can listen to.

[Kingrex]

Have you seen my Hot Rodded RP6. It takes tinkering, but it makes a hell of a nice player. Joe Pitman has a bunch of VPI at his place now. Very nice for the money and very configurable to your budget.

[Alrainbow]

I've been thinking about lately what component in our system represents the biggest bang for the buck? After all, the system is only as good as the weakest link.

Based upon my most recent listening experiences, the answer is unquestionable attention to the power being delivered to our audio systems. (in contrast to just a few years ago where choosing a PC or PLC was choosing the lesser of two evils.) Certainly where one lives greatly impacts the final result but AC outlets, AC power cords, power line conditioners--and even for the most fortunate around us that own homes wall panels--can literally make or break the sound of a high-end audio system. While there is perhaps a bigger upfront cost to getting the AC quality under control than buying components, the benefit lasts with you no matter what piece of equipment you have in your system!

The benefits? Lower noise and less masking of information. More transparency. Instruments pop out of empty space and the edges of instruments are better defined. A greater sense of space. Hearing instruments you never heard before playing subtly in the background. Much better dynamics and less harshness (say depending up the quality and CONDITION of your AC receptacles). Everything just sounds more musical and less congested.

What say ya?

In digital it's a USB converters two come to mind one being the Psaudio one as it uses cat 5 cabke so you CPU can be in another room and your dac where you want it
the other a REGEN both cleanup any USB sourced dac at 200 or so

[Steve Lefkowicz]

I'm re-starting my audio system after moving and retirement. Does anyone have a suggestion for the best turntable for the buck? I have been looking around at Denon, TEAC, Project and Music Hall. Can't afford VPI, or others in that price range. Please let me know what your experience indicates. Thanks in advance, douglas king

What price range?

Wait, I see in your other thread you mentioned $400. Hard to beat the Pro-Ject Debut Carbon for $399. Have to jump to about $500 to get anything that might be a better table for the price. That opens up more options.

[Goheelz]

VPI 16.5 Record Cleaner. Ten-plus years of reliable service, and a bargain at the price.

[Douglas]

Thank you for your responses . . . The problem is that in Central Florida there are few quality hi-fi shops so auditioning is virtually out of the question. Browsing the internet, however, provides a lot of different choices of which the one I was wondering about is Project which is budget-priced and carries a lot of recommendations. My other issue is what cartridge to get with it - perhaps an upgrade? Since I listen pretty much to Classical only, I think this is an important issue, but cartridges vary all over the lot in price and I need advice on which cartridge works really well with the Debut Carbon . . . any thoughts? Thank you for your advice.

[Douglas]

PS I get a kick out of being a "Junior" member at the age of 76!

[Hawk]

You are only young once, but you can stay immature indefinitely!. Stolen quote from my older brother who drinks much better beer then I do.

[Joe Pittman]

Biggest bang for the buck? Some of the good advice I read about in this forum... Especially the music... Priceless.

[1morerecord2clean]

You're all right and wrong at the same time🤗. Your answers will change by the hour.

[MylesBAstor]

Thank you for your responses . . . The problem is that in Central Florida there are few quality hi-fi shops so auditioning is virtually out of the question. Browsing the internet, however, provides a lot of different choices of which the one I was wondering about is Project which is budget-priced and carries a lot of recommendations. My other issue is what cartridge to get with it - perhaps an upgrade? Since I listen pretty much to Classical only, I think this is an important issue, but cartridges vary all over the lot in price and I need advice on which cartridge works really well with the Debut Carbon . . . any thoughts? Thank you for your advice.

I would definitely check out the ELAC integrated amp and speakers. Nice combo at RMAF.

Maybe also check out the small Dynaaudio, NEAT, Totem or KEF LS50s (used) speakers.