Expert Advice - Hi-Fi Feature

Romesh Anandaraja
Listening Post

What’s the most important component in a stereo system, and where are you best served to spend the most money?

There really is no ‘most important component’ in a system. What makes a system engaging and enjoyable is the synergy between all components and the listening environment. A modest but well-matched system suited to the listening environment will often outperform a far more expensive but poorly matched system.

Having said that, of all components, speakers have the greatest impact on the character of the system. Good audio electronics now have very little distortion. Amplifiers are typically around 0.01 per cent total harmonic distortion; CD players are even better at around 0.0001 per cent or less distortion. Speakers, by comparison, are commonly between one and 10 per cent total harmonic distortion. In short, speakers generate between 1000 and 10,000 times as much distortion as your electronics. This is why speakers add more colouration or character than any other component.

For this reason we suggest choosing a speaker whose character you enjoy first, then selecting electronics that make them sing. As with all things audio, the proof is in the listening. In most auditions, changing the speaker will make a more dramatic difference to the sound than a change in amplification or source. In terms of where to spend your money, the rule of thumb is to spend evenly over source, amplification and speakers. But once again, we’d advise finding a pair of speakers that you really love, and then trusting your ears in respect to amplification and source.

What would be the one thing you would do to improve the sound of an existing system?

One of the biggest improvements you could make to a well-balanced system is the addition of a good quality power conditioner and aftermarket power cables. The power that enters our equipment is full of electronic noise. This noise directly and indirectly adds distortion to the musical signal in the source and amplifiers. This usually translates into added ‘grain’ and ‘glare’ and a reduction in fine detail. A good power conditioner and aftermarket power cables remove this noise before it can enter the equipment, resulting in a smoother, sweeter sound with lower noise floor and added resolution. One word of caution: many power conditioners do this at the expense of dynamics and life in the music. Choice of conditioner is critical for getting the best results.

Source: www.tone.co.nz