Creating a system you love shouldn't be difficult. The Acoustic Frontiers blog is here to help.
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by Nyal MellorMarch 27, 2015
A high end stereo system is something magical. Properly done, a high end audio system will transform how you listen to music and give you immense satisfaction for years to come. A high end stereo system is more than the sum of its parts. Stereo systems, unlike home theaters, have only a few pieces. Each one makes a substantial impact on the experience. The key components of a high end audio system are, in order of importance:
Yes, you read that right, something that you don't buy (the room) has a huge effect on sound quality. To learn why, read on.
Speakers: choose these first.
Speakers turn electrical energy into sound energy. There are two main types of speakers:
Stand-mount speakers, which as the name suggests, are designed to sit on a speaker stand. Bookshelf speakers are a sub-category of stand-mount speakers, and are small enough that they can sit on a bookshelf or on a speakers stand.
Floorstanding speakers. The name is again self-evident. These types of speakers rest directly on the floor and do not need a stand.
Three stand-mount speakers and a floor stander.[/caption] Speakers overlay their own signature on the music much more than sources or amplifiers. Even the best speakers overlay a little coloration, changing how you perceive the sound. That is because no speaker has a flat frequency response. Many high end stereo speakers are actually designed to have a non-flat response! There are a very large number of speakers on the market and most are in our opinion just 'ok'. Maybe it is because the barriers to entry for a new manufacturer are lower in the speaker category than in the source or amplifier category. You can buy drivers off the shelf from major original equipment manufacturers like Seas, get a computer program to design a crossover for you and then build the box in your shed. The results from these types of endeavors are seldom great. The best speaker manufacturers will design all their own drive units in house and will perform extensive measurements as part of the design and QA process. You should start the process of assembling a high end stereo system by choosing speakers. For more see our article "How to Shop for High End Stereo Speakers". These days the main sources used in high end stereo systems are:
CD players.
Music servers for playing back music stored on a hard drive or streamed over the internet from services like Tidal. There are many types of music servers. You can use an existing computer or buy a dedicated piece of electronics. In our opinion everyone who has CDs should really be using a music server, not a CD player.
Turntables. Vinyl is still going strong and many people prefer the sound of vinyl to digital media.
Less common are radio (either AM, FM or that streamed over the internet) and the niche optical media such as SACD and DVD-Audio.
Amplifiers: something that fits.
You can't just connect a source straight to speakers. In the middle you need an amplifier. There are two different types of amplifiers: Pre-amplifiers and power amplifiers.
Pre-amplifiers, or pre-amps, allow you to switch between different sources and control volume.
Power amplifiers take the low level voltages and boost them to higher levels for the speakers.
Generally at the high end manufacturers make 'separates' . This phrase refers to having a pre-amplifier in one chassis and a power amplifier in another. If the pre-amp and power amp stages are
Power conditioners, cables, and the rest: yes you need them, but spend your money on your speakers and room first!
You need to plug your equipment into the electrical outlet, and you should not just plug it straight in. At a minimum you should have a good surge protector. And no we don't mean the generic $10 surge protection strips. We mean a device incorporating effective and long lasting series mode surge protection technology. Cables are required to connect source to amplifier and amplifier to speaker. It's easy to spend a ton of money on audiophile cables. In our experience the differences between cables are small, and it is much more important to invest your dollars in the speakers and room for the reasons we outlined above. Finally you'll need somewhere to put your sources and amplifier. Entertainment cabinets, widely available from many manufacturers work fine. Again in our experience speakers and rooms are the critical things. Sample CTA 1
Sample CTA 2 Cables are required to connect source to amplifier and amplifier to speaker. It's easy to spend a ton of money on audiophile cables. In our experience the differences between cables are small, and it is much more important to invest your dollars in the speakers and room for the reasons we outlined above. Finally you'll need somewhere to put your sources and amplifier. Entertainment cabinets, widely available from many manufacturers work fine. Again in our experience speakers and rooms are the critical things.
Sample CTA 3 Cables are required to connect source to amplifier and amplifier to speaker. It's easy to spend a ton of money on audiophile cables. In our experience the differences between cables are small, and it is much more important to invest your dollars in the speakers and room for the reasons we outlined above. Finally you'll need somewhere to put your sources and amplifier. Entertainment cabinets, widely available from many manufacturers work fine. Again in our experience speakers and rooms are the critical things.
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Sample CTA 4 Cables are required to connect source to amplifier and amplifier to speaker. It's easy to spend a ton of money on audiophile cables. In our experience the differences between cables are small, and it is much more important to invest your dollars in the speakers and room for the reasons we outlined above. Finally you'll need somewhere to put your sources and amplifier. Entertainment cabinets, widely available from many manufacturers work fine. Again in our experience speakers and rooms are the critical things.
Nyal Mellor
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