I do believe that there are likely differences in the sound of audio components, but to me it still doesn't matter. Consider this test.

Create four rooms of audio equipment, if the rooms are identical then it makes the experiment easier to follow, but it is not necessary that the rooms be identical, the same result will be obtained.

The components, loudspeakers, everything, must be hidden from view - of course the best looking system will always sound the best, that goes without saying!

Ask listeners to rate the systems. Now randomize the components in the variuos rooms. Rate again, (lather, rinse, repeat)

I can say with virtual certainty that the ratings will follow the speakers. Do the other compoenets matter? I am sure that to a certain extent they do, but in the big picture of the whole systems sound quality, they don't really.

The principle that I follow is "benefit bucks". What does one dollar of expenditure yield in sound quality benefit. To me the speakers are the overwhelming factor - always have been, always will be. I then weight my "budget" by the "benefit bucks" (everyone has a budget, and if you don't PLEASE contact me!). In other words, spend your money where it makes the most audible difference. In all of my systems the speakers are budgeted at about 65-80% of the total budget. To me this works out about right.

So back to our test. What about the looks of the equioment. Inexpensive amplifiers don't look "cool". If you buy this stuff based on its looks, then simply buy an empty chassis, place some tubes on it, some chrome, even some gold if you like, and put the Sony receiver in another room. That will save you a ton of money.

I like good looks too, and as far as a piece of sculpture goes - thats what a "pretty" amp is - I love sculpture. I have lots of it, all over the house. This helps to keep my desire for "pretty objcets" at bay when I go out and buy my audio equipment.

So - do audio components matter? Sure they do about 10% worth.

Just some sugestions.

Earl Geddes

"Now the reply will attribute that too phsycological effects but I will disagree. I have no axe to grind favoring the more expensive or complicated equipment; I am too long in this hobby to fall prey to easy explanations like that."

Whenever I see comments like that I have to reply; I am too long in this "profession" to fall prey to easy explanations like that.

Of course your experience is psychological (sp!), you don't mean to imply that there is a physical reason for your reaction do you? I know of no one else who suffers this peculiar malady, do you? I mean even if you did, that's still two in a billion or so people who listen to audio systems.

The one thing that is certain in the audio world (or any other world for that matter) is that there is no explaination for the unique personal experience. I can't explain yours any more than I could explain anyone elses, and I won't try. I can say with some certainty that in a double blind audio experiment there would not likely be a single other experience like yours. And even if there was, one in a large sample is considered an "outlier" and is usually just ignored.

Enjoy your LP's and tube amps. I hope they continue to cure your problem.

Earl

I do agree with you about the relative importance of the speakers in an audio system. I can't comment on the relative importance in percentage terms, but a good speaker can sound very good with mass market electroncs (as did the Summa) while even the best electroncs can't mask the limitations of a poorly designed speaker. The room is also an important factor, as is the quality of the recording. Some highly compressed and equalized recordings wouldn't sound very good in any system.

When we show in Denver, the room will be bare!! Nothing to look at or talk about except the speakers. Got to keep the folks focused!

I know that the percentage issue is hard to come to terms with, but its critical. No matter what the percentage is, to you, it is imperative that you decide what it is or you will not optimize your purchase. I have seen this over and over and over. The budget gets blown on a whim and everything else gets sacrificed. Please do decide this critical point before you buy your next system. You'll thank me for it in the end.

The recording should never be part of the equipment evaluation. Thats why it is crucial that the source material be something which you know very well and that you should not expect to hear anything new from. I have used Moondance for evaluation for years. I know every location where the voice clips the microphone input and I darn well better hear that! On a very new recording of Lion King, which is superb by the way, there is a glitch at about 3 minutes. I always listen for that. If I don't hear it I know something is wrong.